Repower for my 20ft CC SF
 

Looking to avoid any buyers remorse as I am about to pull the trigger on a new 115 hp E-Tec for my 74 20 ft. CC SF. Dealer incentive is pretty good with 5 year warranty, SS prop and rigging thru 3/31. I also like the weight to power ratio.
I have had a good experience with a 90 E-tec on my Seaway for the past 5 years but just want to get a final read from any of the willing CSC membership as to the pro's and con's of their E-Tec experience.

Any input/ comment is most appreciated.

Thanks!

Fishing from the Piscataqua to Buzzards Bay, I have similar power that is heavier (100 hp four stroke Yamaha) on a 20 footer and I am happy with it. I think that a light 115 hp outboard would be great. I don't own an E-Tec, but the 50hp we used in the chase boat at work was reliable.

I cannot comment on the e-tec but here's what i can tell you.

I restored mine spring of 2012. Found a deal on a new in crate 2005 yamaha 115 2 stroke carb'd motor. Didn't really want to buy it (thought it was underpowered) but couldnt turn the deal down. Quite simply it is a very good match for my boat.

Mine will cruise all day long 27 mph at 4200 RPM. WOT i can touch 35 mph on flat water, trimmed out with a light load. At cruise mine sips fuel. I cut the tank down to 55 gallon and i dont even know what my range is, but it's alot.

That 115 etec is more ballsy than mine. If your boat is light i would not be at all surprised if you can get into the upper 30's with a light load. At 25 mph with my engine trimmed all the way down, i can skip across a typical 2 foot Chesapeake Bay chop and ride by other similarly sized boats that are taking a beating.

Just something to consider I was quoted a price for a 115 and 150 etec and the price difference was $1200. It's a great deal for sure with five year warranty and free gauges, controls. I am leaning towards keeping my thirsty 1988 blackmax that has not let me down yet.

do you have a top?

repower
 

Do have a T-top!!

I do not have a top on my boat.

My focus for the 20 was a very simple fly fishing and light tackle platform. Since i am a terrible fly caster, the top just gets in the way on such a small boat.

That's why, when mentioning my performance, i always note how light my rig is. I don't know if a 115 would perform as well on a boat carrying some water, and with a top. However, there are others on the forum with similar thoughts carrying much heavier loads that i do.

Certainly the hull will handle a 150 or bigger, mine does pretty well with the small, light 115.

-Mike

remember that these boats came with smaller motors and definetly with less power per rating than what your considering. If i was having to repower i would probably go with the E-tech also, and im running a 200XRI mercury now. love my motor 395lbs and big balls!!!!! only down side is shes old and likes fuel! but still runs great.

Thats a pretty strong 115 by what all of us are used to, I had a 115 merc on my 18 and it was fine, that will be stronger. When you jump to V6 the weight changes alot, either the 115 or the 130 which are 4 cyl, not sure on any price dofference but the 130 seems a very good match, can't be much difference.

Wish. Could help. But I never saw the gaps when I took mine for a power trial before I bought it. After I bought it I started taking it apart. Mine is also a 20 with a 19990 merc 115. Wehad40 gal inboard and two men, if I were to guess we topped out at 33 or 34. Just a guess. Can't wait to get it back together and test it out. I'd guess a115 will be just fine. For me a 130 would be perfect. But I'll run the 115 into the ground first.

Merc 115
 

Elijah,

My Merc 115 (1998) is available for $1600 but its a 20 in. shaft!

I've had my E-Tec for almost 7 years and over 400 hrs and have had very few problems with it. My local dealer also sells Honda's and Yamaha's and said he's had the fewest problems with the E-Tec's. They're strong running motors and BRP is sandbagging by up to 10% on the hp ratings! The "115" actually puts out about 125 hp, and the "150" is about 165 hp! The 115 is a great match for the 20, and as you mentioned, is one of the lightest modern motor in it's class, but the 20's will actually perform quite well with a 90 if it's not loaded too heavy.

They're basically very simple low maintenance motors with extremely sophisticated fuel injectors and computer/EMM, but if you have a laptop, you can download diagnostic software for free and buy or make a cable that will allow you to connect the laptop to the EMM. The software will let you run the same diagnostics and read fault codes that the dealer can do, i.e., shut off the spark and enrich or derich individual cylinders, etc. The only thing it won't let you do is change the oil ratio from the factory TCW-3 setting to the lower ratio for the XD-100 full synthetic oil. (I run XD-100 on the reduced ratio setting to minimize carbon build-up, and seem to use 1 gal of oil to about 100-150 gallons of gas.) Make sure you deal with a Platinum Certified dealer that knows how to set it up properly and that they use the BRP fuel system tester on it to check for leaks and restriction in the fuel supply system. There is also a great "CSC quality" owners forum, http://www.etecownersgroup.com/ supported by some very knowledgeable techs that can provide very useful info on the motors.

repower
 

Thanks very much to all for the great information......for eveything else there is mastercharge.....and I am off to use it!

I love my Merc Opti 115 2 stroke. Did have a computer and coil failure when new, covered by warranty but no problems since then. Top end is 41 GPS.

remorse
 

Feel no remorse E tec is a top of the line motor and if you live in a cold wx place winterizing is a snap no yard fees its all do it your self and those 115 sip the fuel hope this helps