Wait'll RF sees this!!

I watched and listened to it to see if there was something I was missing, because I am a skeptic when it comes to advertising. The three things I noticed,

1. the E-TEC had a SS prop. Couldn’t tell, but the Yamaha did not look like it had a SS prop.
advantage to the E-TEC

2. both proped to manufacturing specs. What specs? Could one be proped for towing and another be proped for speed?

3. watch the video closely and you will see the E-TEC start a split second before the Yamaha.
advantage to the E-TEC

All this aside, if I was going to replace my engine, I would seriously consider the E-TEC.

________
Dave dlt.gif
 
At the PBS I wandered by a big screen TV to see this epic struggle unfold before me. An area Evinrude dealer, he was handing out free DVDs of the aquatic tug-of-war. I've owned both brands and it was like watching one old friend vanquish another. The final "death-struggle" was too painful to watch and I turned away.
 
I'm still not sold on the E-Tech. For the price of the engines its a huge gamble. Will the E-Tech last 10 years? Will it have a resale value then? Will it give the user many years of dependable trouble free service? No sales guy can tell you this without lying. Unless he says I don't know.




Chris Bulovsky
 
One thing for sure...I own a Yamaha...and I am gonna be real leery of any E-TEC owners I see hanging around my boat.... I also got a bit squeamish when I viewed the video.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Chris,

You may be right on longevity, but NO manufacturer, or honest sales guy, for any make can honestly tell you how long your engine will last. Way too many variables.

I have a couple of E-Tecs and like them very much. With proper care I'd guess they will last a long time. Some of their older ancestors have been running for years. Very attractive engine for me because of minimum maintenance requirements. I keep my boat in the water and it's a PITA for me to pull it, take it to the dealer for service, etc. Also less polution than any 4-stroke. I also run a Yamaha on the 22 C-Dory and like it. And have run Honda for years - and like them too. Proper service is the key, IMO. They are all good now.

Dusty
 
Dusty- I'm just very sceptical of the E-Tech. Only time will tell if my unfounded sceptism was or is warranted. I do hope that they work out for the sake of an American company. Yeah your right.....lots of variables.

Chris Bulovsky
 
I am running a 1999 Evinrude 90 FICHT , a precursor to the ETEC, I use it for trolling as well as all other aspects of boating and I have had zero problems with it. I take in for its anual check up and t6hey put it on the computer and do a diaaaaaagnostic of it . also change the spark plugs and change the lower end oil and whatever. I am able to run the 87 octane with 10% ethanol and have been doing this since it was new.
if the ETEC performs anywhere like the FICHT then I am all for it. I have been thinking that the TC 255 would be a great application for the ETEC. If I was closer to VA. I would really think seriously about that 255 for sale and buy it without engines so I could put ETEC on her.
 
Me too, Roger, Absolutely love the sound of the E-Tec when you crank it. Great technology. Time will tell, but not sure a twenty year warrantee is what I need. :wink:

Still arm-wrestling with doc about going to the SBS - hope I win!

Happy snowballs,

Dusty
 
Go back in the forums under outboards and check out the 5 page thread titled (E-Tech cold water performance.) It provides an entirely different perspective and is not that old dating from October of 06!
While rigging our boat last year they offered them at a Substantial savings over the Hondas.

Honda Happy Mike, on Huda Thunkit :smiled
 
Aside from the ensuing discussion of the virtues of the e-tech motors from Evinrude, I'd like to go back and point out

1. The video's narator, Karl Sandstrom, is the e-tech Project Manager for Evinrude.

2. The video's origin is a person that goes by the handle of "Screamandfly". His profile says he has produced 15 videos for Youtube and lists his age as 106. (In
Dusty's bracket, or thereabouts!) All the other videos (that I watched) are of high speed boats running wide-open (one clocks 113 mph on the GPS). Is this guy an amature or a pro who works for Mercury? Is it Karl himself?

3. Dave (Oldgrowth) points out above that we don't really know for sure if both motors are propped equally, and the Merc gets a headstart. So much for a fair test. A difference of 2-4 inches of prop pitch could be like putting one truck in 2nd gear and the other in 1st.

4. Outboard motors are certified by the ABYC or something like that to have the horsepower as certified. They can be + or - 10% of that figure.

A 150 hp motor could actually show anything from 135-165 hp on the dynomometer or however it is measured.

5. Most motors are offered in three or more versions where the same basic block is offered in three horsepower configurations, such as 75, 90, and 115. The smaller motor should have more torque proportionately, and may produce substatially more hp than it is rated, as noted above. By carefully picking the motor in one manufacturer's line to match up favorably with that in another's, a substantial advantage could be achieved, where your underrated motor was matched against the competitor's maxed out model.

6. Individual motors coming off an assembly line vary as much as 15-20% in power produced when tested. Often this differential cannot be accounted for when examined, such as when looking for differences in fuel mixtures, ignition timing, etc. Some think certain motors just happen to have better balance than most. If you were going to do the test above, would you select your best one after testing?

7. The video and test were obviously made to prove that the e-tech was a stronger motor than the Yamaha. How many factors did they hedge on to get the results they did, and do you think they would have posted it if the results were different? Of course not! Consider the motivation, then try to decide just how fair they might have been.

Just some thoughts to consider.................Joe.
 
Or it could just be that the weedeater kicked the Yami's butt!

If you watch the start real close. you'll see the Yamaha boat drops in the stern a hair before the other guy gets going, which makes it look like the Yami did indeed power up and actually get a jump on the E-TEC.

The narrator says the motors are propped to manufacturer's reccomendation. It ain't Johnson's fault if Yamaguchi can't figure out what prop to use. They need to talk to DoD.

If you ask little old layman me though, it is more a test of prop slip than torque. Now if they hooked the output shafts together, that would be a torque test.

C'mon, Joe, give 'em a break. It is an ad for E-TEC. They tried it against Honda first, but they ain't showing you that one.
 
Dave---Joe

Don't have a horse in the pull. Would consider either manufacturer for motor replacement. Run Honda now.

Agree with both of your assessments except for it sure looks to me like the Yamaha got the second or so head start instead of E Tec. Viewed quite a few times trying to determine for sure.

Jay
 
Jay and Mike – if you watch carefully, you will see both drivers were giving a little throttle at times before the start to keep the strap tight. I believe that is what you saw in the Yamaha just before the start. If the Yamaha had given it full throttle, there should have been some prop wash behind the boat. If you watch in stop motion you will notice there is none from the Yamaha until a half second after the E-Tec.

I don’t have a dog in this fight anyway. I have a Honda and if it is replaced, it will probably be with the new Honda.

________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Dave

Yes, I too noticed they were both working at getting the slack out. Watched it again several times. Whats odd and makes it hard to determine for me on who or if anyone gets the jump is I don't see any prop wash behind the Yamaha at all during the pull. Thought maybe it was due to the E Tec pulling it backwards over the wash, but that's only a guess.

Jay
 
Dave

On even further review---Have to admit I think you're right. They both get the slack out with the Yamaha pulling a little harder to do so. Then the E Tech hits it and between 1 and 2 sec later after the Yamaha is already moving in reverse, It starts thrust. Diffenently a advantage to E Tec.

Jay
 
Not that I care. I don't get paid to use any of them, but. What a poor demonstration of power. Magicians trick, really. The power difference between the two engines should not be that dramatic. I think either one can win. Just get the prop to slip on the other boat first and then yank like hell. I like how the professional driver on the yamaha slips it in gear and the boat lurches forward and to the right. Then the E-tec pulls it backward and then accelerates. This is how you get prop slip. Once this happens your, well, spinin your prop so to speak. :thdown

Watch how the yammie driver then turns the wheel back to the left after prop slip is insured thus making it easier to get his boat inline and moving backward. This is why they need those professionals. :smiled Yes, the yamaha's extra 70 pounds helps it take on water and sink faster once the boat is moving in reverse. If the yammie engine is running at this point the propwash would help create a wave to help fill the boat. The camera angle/driver conveniently blocks the yamaha throttle from view but not his hand jockyin the wheel. I wonder how many times they practiced this to get the desired outcome? :beer

A more fair start would be with both boats in gear at idle. This would allow even my wife to keep the boats straight. With E-tec power it should drag the yamaha backwards even at idle. Or as the guy says at ANY GIVEN RPM. SO, lets run both tachs up 1000, then 2000, then 3000... with a camera mounted to show both tachs. If both engines are really workin I would expect to see a struggle with a bit of turbulent water being moved.

One more thing. I thought the e-tec was quieter than four strokes? All you hear is the e-tec whine. Can't even hear the four stroke?? Did he pull the kill lanyard?

E-tec engines need to be on SEA TOW boats with all that power.

Hull manufacturers might need to add a data plate disclaimer.

"HULL not warranted against E-TEC power" :cry
 
How come they NEVER mention Suzuki in ANY of their comparisons ?
Hmmmm......
BTW I am an Etec,Suzuki,Yamaha and Honda dealer. My bias is my customers satisfaction.
Marc
 
Back
Top