Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I am almost done with my 20ft 1979 MA (pics to come). And after all that work, I need to decide what engine and horse power to use. So far, I am considering the new E-TEC from Evinrude because of the weight issue over the four strokes. But HP...I am not sure between the 150 and the 200. Will a 150 hp be enough for this type of boat? Given that I would like to get on a plane without extreme efforts and cruise a decent speed.

thanks in advance for the help......Rob

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

IMHO, and I am new to both the boat and the site, but from reading past post and my own experience, I don't know what you will gain by putting a 200hp on there, it seems the hull maxes out around 50mph give or take, there are some folks running 140 Zukes and 175 mercs that due as well as my 200 Yami, soo for the $$ spent and the fuel burn$$$$$ Besides, how often are you going to run at 50? I think in retrospect if I had gone with a 150 it might have been better, that being said if I find a good 225, might have to try it!!!!!

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I seem to agree with you Caymanboy ....I just hope that a 150 will put me a bit over 40 mph......maybe????

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Hell...a 115 ETEC would be just fine in my opinion..propped correctly etc. etc.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

yes...the correct prop will make a difference (i hear) ...will this be based on trial an error, starting with a 19 or 17 pitch?

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

The data on my 78 MA puts a limit of 175 HP...I would not go overthat or insurance may be tough to get.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

good point dat!..thanks

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I was thinking the same thing Datngrizz was thinking. if you go over the max horsepower rating, you run into insurance coverage issues. Plus, as noted on many threads over the last three or four years I have frequented this site, the 20 footers seem to be a little stern heavy and can have some drainage issues (at the scuppers) if you have have too much weight in the stern. My dad and I had a 20 ft MA for about twenty years. Fantastic boat, but it is not a flawless vessel, but what vessel is. We had a 1978 150 merc and subsequently a 1986 175 merc. It absolutely screamed with the 175, and it was not a very heavy engine compared to the newer four strokes. The newer two stroke 150s are probably as strong or stronger than the 1986 175 we had. IMHO, the e-tec 150 would seem to be good match for the 20 footer. It is relatively light and strong. If you get a bracket, like the one HERMCO builds you would probably have more options. You could also consider "ball scuppers"; never have I used them but I have heard good things.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I am very happy with my Merc 115 Opti on my 20. Can hit 40 gps without max rpm.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

GREAT INFO...I MAY JUST GO WITH THE NEW 150 ETEC. NOW, WHAT ABOUT THE PROP?...DOES ANYONE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THIS ON A MASTER ANGLER?

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I have a 78 20 MA and she's powered by a 150 ETEC. I top out at a little over 40 MPH, but I need to tweak my prop. Currently I'm turning a 14 x 19 3 blade stainless wheel. I think I'm going to try some props suggested by Bushwacker.

Speaking of Bushwacker, he has a 20 Seafari with 150 ETEC and hung on a bracket. He ghets top ends in the middle to upper 40's. I hope he chimes in here.

As for overall performance of the engine, I'll just say right out that its outstanding. I only have half of one season on the engine, but I'm impressed so far. Fuel efficiency, holeshot, etc are all excellent. You don't need 200 HP for that boat, honestly if the 130 ETEC was around when I was putting new power on I would have gone with the 130.

I normally cruise at 3300, which yeilds a speed of about 22 knots and fuel milage of about 4 Nautical (or 5 statute) miles per gallon.

If you have any questions please feel free to PM me.

-Alex

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

i still gotta check that boat out.
i have a 200 merc on mine. it doesnt seem to be really too stern heavy. i dont have a bracket either. my motor is just an old 2 stroke which is probably why its lighter.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Great info...and thanks to all for your comments.

Based of what I know now, I think I will very likely go with the 150 hp. Etec seems to be the winner because of its simplicity (compare to a 4 stroke), weight and performance.

....Now, if I could just find one at a good price (2008 model).....I am just dying to get the engine and put the boat in the water. It does look really good after the paint job "Lady Fighting Yellow with White and black stripes"

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I think you're making the right choice, any DI 150-200 hp is a great match for this hull. You'll love the torque, hole shot, efficiency, etc. I think e-tec builds a 200 from the same block as its 150. Personally, for the same weight, I'd go with more power. With that being said, a 150 is plenty.

Post the pics!

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Call this guy on a motor - he also has some other Etec's from '07 I think but worth a call at least. An FS memeber called every dealer and he was best. Mike @ American Marine 727 938 9796 and be sure to tell him where your from here, BRP is very touchy about dealers quoting prices on the phone.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Alex, I would have chimed in sooner but I just got back from a 4 day cruise in the Seafari! :) Me and an old buddy that I grew up with spent 4 days and 3 nights on the boat exploring the St. John's River from Sanford to Palatka and back. Ran 236 miles (per GPS) and burned 55.3 gal for an average of 4.3 mpg overall, loaded VERY heavy, about 3800 lbs total load. For this trip I switched to a lower pitch prop, a 4B 15x15 Powertech, which would turn about 5400 with this load. Top speed was only about 38 with this setup and heavy load but it was a bear on holeshot! The I-command gages show % of full throttle opening and I never had to use more than about 50% to easily get on plane! Optimum cruise was about 3600-3700 at 35-36% throttle at about 26-27 mph and 3.8-3.9 mpg. Overall mpg is higher because low speed mileage is in the 8-12 mpg range. (The E-Tec's beat ALL other motors, 4-strokes included, below 2000 rpm because they run so lean in that speed range. This is significant - most folks don't realize how much time they spend at low speed!)

Weight has a significant impact on performance, and this same rig with just me, a full tank of gas, and the big bimini top folded has run 49.8 MPH (gps) with my 4B 14 1/8 x 20" Michigan Apollo; optimum cruise in this configuration is around 3200-3300 rpm/25-26 mph and about 5 mpg! However that prop will only turn about 5000 with the sort of load I had on this trip, and I felt it would lug the motor too much.

The "150" is actually about 165 by BRP's own brochures, so it is definitely plenty of power for the 20, especially the CC's and MA's, which should be a couple of hundred pounds lighter than the Seafari. I probably would have bought a 115 E-Tec if they had been available when I repowered, since I ran this boat for over 30 years with a 1975 "115" (about 90 hp at the prop!). After this trip however, I'm glad I went with the V-6 . . . it's also a little smoother than the V-4 at low speed.

I also agree that 50 mph is about the practical limit for the 20' hull unless you put way more than 150 hp on it, and then you get into balance and CG issues with heavy engines. I bought mine from Brown & Hauptner Marine - Frank Brown and Mark Hauptner knew as much as anyone about making a boat go fast. Frank crewed for Moesly on the racing 21's and Mark raced hydros since he was a kid. Hauptner had a Seafari with an old I-6 Merc that would run about 50, but it was definitely "tweaked", and he told me it was really hard to get that hull much over 50, no matter how much power you put on it, since it really wasn't designed for "speed at all costs". Denny

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

The 150 is fine, if you get a deal on something bigger take it -they all weigh the same its $$$ now, thats why I said call Mike

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Thank you guys for such great input...it does really make a difference in my decision, specially when I am about to write a check for approx. 13K (engine, prop, cables, installation...etc)

Egg, I will for sure give Mike a call, hopping that he would have some last year special or a particular deal on a demo engine. And you said before, at this point its all about the $$$$$....given that I want that 150 hp E-TEC installed and ready to go ASAP.

I will soon post some pictures of the whole rebuild, which I hope would include the new engine.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

I'm up here in Lauderdale, give Joel's outboard a call, ask for Joel, 954 763 7745, he might have something, I could introduce you guys, he is a good guy, be around a long time.

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Good info Caymanboy. Will call Joel this morning and see what he has in stock...thanks

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

my 2 cents. Never had a GPS to measure true MPH/KNTS. I had a '83 20' w/ ttop w/ 200 mariner and it was "fast" at cruise speed (4200 RPM), also had a '84 20' no ttop w/ 175 Merc and it was "fast" at same (4200) now I have a '78 20MA no ttop w/ 175 yammi and it is "fast" at (4200). I never use top end and find with the right prop you'll be happy w/ a 150 -225!

Re: Re-Powering my 20 footer MA
 

Red..what kind of prop are you using ...SS 17 or 19? Because as I mentioned before, I will going with a 150 Etec. And with the right prop, my 20 MA should yield a decent performance.