[riprunner]

First off I don't own an E-Tec but will certainly consider one. One the the biggest advantages to an e-tec over a four stroke is repowering an older boat. Many new boats today were designed for four stroke power, but not older boats. The extra weight of four strokes can change the ride characteristics in many boats as well as put the scuppers too low in the water.

One example is the 26 Regulator pre-2002. The brackets weren't made to hold 4 strokes and to intall 4 strokes properly the old bracket needs to be replaced with the new model version. Another example on a smaller boat would be the 22 Edgewater notched transom,they wouldn't hold the weight of the 225 Yamama or Honda(they were the first big 4 strokes to come out) without the scuppers going under water. Edgewater re-designed the boat to hold the heavier motors.

Both the E-Tec and 4 stroke have their pluses and minuses, you need to decide which factors are important to you. Etec's you have to buy and add oil, but you don't have to do oil changes, or have as much dealer scheduled maintenence.

Now for the Blackfins, the original 32 with 300 HP Detroits weighs 18,000 pounds dry and cruises at 20-23 knots. Put in 370 Cummins and the cruise moves up to 24-27 knots. Add 420 Yanmars and the cruise stays about the same as the Cummins, she just doesn't want to cruise more than that. Changing to outboards will shed A-LOT of weight, no shaft angle/drag etc.... but 62 MPH with twin 250's is very very hard to believe. a 31 Fountain CC with 225 Opti's will only do 60-62MPH that's with a pad transom and half the weight of the Blackfin.