E TEC or Optimax?

[JAWS]

I have a 2003 Crestliner Fishhawk SC 16' which I currently have a Mercury 700 on (1978 motor).

I am ok with the performance of this motor when I fish by myself, but I end up fishing with one or two other people a lot and am unhappy with the performance with additional people.

I am considering repowering with a 90hp Optimax, or a 90hp E-tec. With the current incentives I could get 5 years of warrenty on the Optimax plus $300 to help rig the new motor on the boat. With the E tec I believe I would get a 7 year warrenty.

My question is which one of these motors would perform better on my boat?
Which one of these motors would give me the better top speed?
Which one would give me the better holeshot?

Does anyone have experience with either of these motors? (I realize both are new this year, but someone has probably run them already)

What pitch stainless prop would I need with either of these motors?

I know there are a lot of questions here, but I am trying to make an informed decision, and there is not much information out for these motors yet.

[Dave in Walker]

I too am wondering about this? Now I know the Etecs just came out this late fall but isn't there somebody out there who is lucky enough to live where there isn't ice who can give us a on hands report? Now I hear there is no tiller handle available as of yet for the Optimax? that leaves me out.

[JAWS]

Alright, I spent last night reviewing the spec sheets on these two motors and have come up with a couple of questions regarding these two motors.

If I go down the specs I see the following.

Both motors are inline 3 cyl.
Both would be in 20" shaft.
Both are 3 star rated.

Optimax weight 375 (360 in brochure)
Evinrude weight 305
Is 70 pounds enough difference to concern myself with?

Optimax displacement 92.96 cu-in
Evinrude displacement 79 cu-in
Will the additional displacement the Optimax has provide additional torque, to improve holeshot?

Optimax max rpm 5750
Evinrude max rpm 5500
Optimax gear ratio 2.33:1
Evinrude gear ration 2.00:1
So by my calculations the Evinrude will turn the prop faster, but will the Optimax be able to turn a higher pitched prop to make up the difference?

Optimax has a 60-amp alternator
Evinrude has a 75-watt alternator
According to their literature the Optimax has 12-amps dedicated to battery charging at idle and 40-amps at wide open throttle, the Evinrude has 25-amps dedicated to battery charging.
Is one of these necessarily a advantage over the other? Or are both good enough that I do not need to worry about them?

Sorry to add so, much but I am trying to answer a lot of questions before I spend that much money.

[beetle]

Those are very good questions. Hope someone in the know reads them and can give answers.

[John from IL]

>I too am wondering about this? Now I know the Etecs just came
>out this late fall but isn't there somebody out there who is
>lucky enough to live where there isn't ice who can give us a
>on hands report? Now I hear there is no tiller handle
>available as of yet for the Optimax? that leaves me out.


Try these links for some owner reports:

http://www.boatsetup.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001405

http://www.boatsetup.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001424

http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=035503

[John from IL]

Couldn't make the links work, try this instead:

http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=17;t=035503

http://www.boatsetup.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001424

http://www.boatsetup.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=001405

Sorry about that, hopefully these will work...

John

[Mark Klossner]

>Alright, I spent last night reviewing the spec sheets on
>these two motors and have come up with a couple of questions
>regarding these two motors.
>
>If I go down the specs I see the following.
>
>Both motors are inline 3 cyl.
>Both would be in 20" shaft.
>Both are 3 star rated.
>
>Optimax weight 375 (360 in brochure)
>Evinrude weight 305
>Is 70 pounds enough difference to concern myself with?
>
>Optimax displacement 92.96 cu-in
>Evinrude displacement 79 cu-in
>Will the additional displacement the Optimax has provide
>additional torque, to improve holeshot?
>
>Optimax max rpm 5750
>Evinrude max rpm 5500
>Optimax gear ratio 2.33:1
>Evinrude gear ration 2.00:1
>So by my calculations the Evinrude will turn the prop faster,
>but will the Optimax be able to turn a higher pitched prop to
>make up the difference?
>
>Optimax has a 60-amp alternator
>Evinrude has a 75-watt alternator
>According to their literature the Optimax has 12-amps
>dedicated to battery charging at idle and 40-amps at wide open
>throttle, the Evinrude has 25-amps dedicated to battery
>charging.
>Is one of these necessarily a advantage over the other? Or
>are both good enough that I do not need to worry about them?
>
>Sorry to add so, much but I am trying to answer a lot of
>questions before I spend that much money.

[Jackpinesavage]

See this link I think it is a good endorsment for Evinrude

http://www.compeaus.com/adven/tommy2.html

copy and paste in your URL

Jackpine

[Jackpinesavage]

Copy and paste John from IL web addresses, make sure to copy the whole thing, to your URL and will see other good things about the E-Tec

Jackpine

[jegervais]

Thanks Jackpine. I tried that earlier and should have offered that suggestion. I couldn't figure out how to make it work as a link, and didn't want to keep posting "dead" links too...

-John

[WestCoaster]

Ok.....so I'm not going to give you what you exactly what you asked for, but I have an interesting data point for you. I have a 1977 AMF Crestliner Tri-hull that had a 1978 Merc 700 Triple. It worked like a dream right up to the day I traded up to a four stroke Merc 50 two years ago. The downgrade to 50HP bothered me, but the sales associates at the local dealership said I would be pleased, and if not, they would dismount the motor and let me have full credit toward any other motor they carried. I'd say they were very confident. Well, as it turns out, the four stroke 50 has power Trim/Tilt, and this feature makes all the difference in the world. The boat out accelerates the old 70HP two stroke and has a higher top speed due to the ability to fine tune the trim. It sips gas in comparison and is wayyyy quiet. My boat with two people and full gear tops out at 34 mph (GPS) which isn't too awful bad for a small but heavy, hand laid-up, fiberglass boat. I enjoy using this boat for knock-around purposes and leave my newer Crestliner I/O for comfort fishing. Anyway, I thought I'd give you something to think about. Good luck!

[JAWS]

My 700 (3 cylinder) has the power tilt trim, it was the aftermarket add on. Right now by myself I can hit 34mph GPS. With anyone else my max speed is 28. My biggest complaint is how long it takes to get up on plane. The boat the 700 was on was a 1978 Hy-rider tri-hull, it would still be on that boat, had the hull not rotted out.

I am looking forward to the increased fuel economy. I would like the motor to be quieter at idle, but I kind of like the noise at full throttle. The motor runs great, but I have heard that the outboards in the 70's and 80's were rated at the powerhead, and the newer motors are rated at the prop. I believe the 700 would be a 55-60 horse motor today.

I have read all of the links to the posts about the E-tec, but would really like to see any available information on the Optimax. Also anyone who could tell me what pitch prop would be used on my boat, for each of these two motor would help me out a lot. The E-tec information I have read has a 17 pitch prop on a 16ft Sylvan. Mercury's site says I would need a 26 pitch prop (90 classic, same gear ratio) which seems awfully high to me.

Thanks for all the comments so far!

[rebelrn2001]

The 70# wt difference can definitely make a difference. I just went from a Merc 75 hp (305#) to a 75 hp Honda (about 384# I think) and noticed my boat sits a lot lower in the water (probably 2" at rest). It also sits deeper when up on plane. Plus, I weigh 250# so all that wt HAS to hurt me sitting that far back in my boat (Pro V 1775).