Question on power

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Jeckler

Thanks for the info.It still concerns me toting around extra weight.I have seen another 20 in my area with a 135 etec and it really looks like it squats.

It probably does squat a little. The 25" shafts are about 390 lbs. The hull was designed with a 300 lb motor in mind. Moving batteries forward and countering the weight some may all you need. And a good vortex scupper insert of course.

I'd love to get some performance numbers on an e-tec 90. I'm guessing they'd be very close to my 115 Merc inline 6 with exceptional economy.

[Terry England]

I have an E-tec 90 on a 19' SeaCraft. Yes a 19'. it is an old bowrider that I stripped down years ago to haul freight out to Cayo Costa in Boca Grande.
Remember, when they first built these boats the BIG motor was a Mark 78, 75 HP "tower of power" Merc. Everybody said I needed a 200, but I stuck by my guns. My 19 with the 90 E-tec turning stock Evinrude 3 bladed aluminum props goes as such:
13-3/4 x 15" 3200 RPM - 18 Knots cruise, WOT (4800) 33 Knots 3.8 MPG
13-3/4 x 13" 4200 RPM - 18 knots cruise, WOT (5800) 27 Knots 4.5 MPG
The boat is very light, but this data is with three divers, 7 tanks, two coolers and 70# of ice, plus dive gear. The marina that begrudgingly installed the motor after they took a Johnson V-4 VRO 120 off were shocked at how well the boat ran.
I just ordered a 14" SS pitch (X13-1/4" dia) from Ken at PropGods in Sarasota because the 15" was not letting me turn up full RPM and the 13" had me spooled up to the rev-limiter. There is a picture of the boat on the Moesly web-site under "Proud Owners - 19's". It's the last one on the page.
The secret is that the 90 E-tec is rated at 5,000 rpm and all other E-tecs are rated at 5500 - at 5500 rpm the little 78 cubic inch, harmonically balanced triple make 101 HP! The down side is that they are super-sensitive to water of crud in the fuel. The VRO's were like garbage disposals as long as you disconnected he oil pump!

[McGillicuddy]

Terry, Thanks for the feedback. What prop models were you running before, and what model are you going to.

[Terry England]

Originally Posted by McGillicuddy

Terry, Thanks for the feedback. What prop models were you running before, and what model are you going to.

They were standard issue, John-Rude three bladed props. I went out in the garage and looked at the boxes they came in and they don't refer to them as anything special. After consulitng with Ken he said the 15" seemed to have "negative slip" numbers, whatever the heck that is. He said the 13" nembers looked right, but agreed I was "spooled up" too much at 5800 WOT. He suggested a Powertech S.S. NRS3 13-1/4 X 14. Along with the difference in cruising speed I noticed a big differennce in my ability to lift the bow. The old Moesly Bowriders had a little bigger forefoot or something because the boat will carry a ton of weight in the front and still ride "bow high", No matter what I put in the front it will not ever "plow". With the dang 15" I could have another 1' of lift if I need it when thiings got really sloppy.
I run a lot up at Bayport (Weeki Wachee) and all the channels look like the one coming out of Pineland Marina down on Pine Island. That place will destroy skegs, fold up props and occationally shear off lower units with the limestone bottom. I run aluminum up there because I'd rather repair and aluminum prop than replace a driveshaft!
McGillicuddy, I will let you know how things run with this new wheel from Ken as soon as I get a chance to try it. It looks like the last weekend of Gag Season will be raggity, so I'm liable to just leave it on the trailer until it eases up some. I've been beat up for so many years trying to go when it was snotty out. Now I just don't think there is any sense in spilling your wine, just because you have a SeaCraft.

[McGillicuddy]

Roger that, don't spill the wine, rather, dig the girl...I be waiting to hear the results. It's an interesting choice to me. Seems like you'd want to get the stern up in the skinny waters. That prop is considered hard to turn with its "extensive cup and 25 deg rake" so I wonder what the thought process is. I guess it will allow you to run the motor higher. Look forward to hearing more. Seems it will make the bow run high.

[eggsuckindog]

That 130 range has recently changed - the 115 and 130 were both V4 motors - the 130 or maybe 135 now was recently changed to a V6. If its a V6 that is probably why, as the 400lb's like I have doesn't really squat and scuppers work pretty well - mine is an MA and that may make a difference - there are water pics of my boat in the last west central meeting.

[DonV]

"Now I just don't think there is any sense in spilling your wine, just because you have a SeaCraft"

Amen brother!! Three years ago, on the last day of a guys weekend fishing trip, we went out in the 'ol 23' Seacraft into what the NOAA/NWS folks said it would be "5' to 7' seas, and It was more like 7' to 9' and it was so bad I was hoping and praying no more fish would hit the lures. That was it....in my case, never again, no more spilling the beer!!!!