Crabbing Motor??

[JimRockfish]

You may have seen pics of the Simmons Sea Skiff I'm building, primarily for crabbing on MD's Eastern Shore. I responded to a question about powering it.. that I would use an Evinrude Etec 40. The boat (only) weighs 500 lbs. and they don't recommend anything larger than 40. Then I got to thinking that I don't know enough about the Etecs although I did see a large number of them in the Keys this past Spring when I went fishing down there. However those were larger boats with big motors and I haven't purchased a crabbing motor for many years. I will appreciate any suggestions and esp. feedback from anyone that has an Etec motor.

[Cam2]

...I have a few Yamaha's, but I have read alot of good about them. Light and powerful, and the owners seems to like them alot. The warranties are great, and lots of people to service them. I think that in this day, all the Manufacturers put great strides forward in making a great product. I'd consider one, and would have probably purchased one if I could have gotten one at the price I liked.

[JimRockfish]

That's good to hear, thanks. I know it's newer technology and I agree that outboards are probably like cars these days, most/all are highly reliable.

[POLECAT]

I saw part of an infomercial recently where BRP advertised they are offerring a 7 year warranty on E-Tecs. That would likely be my motor of choice for the hull you are building.
My experience has been only with the higher HP E-Tec engines, but I have read thet the 90 HP is awesome. The 40 HP can't be much different.
With a 500 pound boat you want to hang the lightest motor you can get on the transom. Check the weight of the E-Tec 40 vs. other 4 strokes of the same HP. It should be substantially lighter.

I am enjoying reading about your project. Please continue posting your progress.

[JimRockfish]

Polecat - Thanks! Jim

[done workin]

There was a recall very recently on some of the E-Tecs although I don't remember which ones. I think they were mostly the larger HP models and I don't remember the issues.

For the money, perhaps a new Honda or like someone else said, the Yammy's.

Jim

You're living my dream right now. I have my eyes on building my own in a year or so with plans from bateau. com that utilize taped fiberglass seams in a "Stitch and Glue" construction method, rather than the lapstrake. You're pictures make me want to start now, but NO $$$$$.

BTW, how did you get "permission" to do anything in areas of the house with a sofa in it?? Living room, jig saw? Hmmmm.

Good luck on the project it's looking very nice so far.


Chris

[Dave Jr.]

The E-Tec 40 HP is 230 lbs. while the Yamaha 40 Four Stroke is 183 lbs. The E-Tec is an inline 2 cylinder direct fuel injected and the Yamaha is a 3 cylinder carbed. I have the 40 HP Yamaha Four Stroke and it's been trouble free for two seasons. I was going to purchase a 50 HP E-Tec but they were just being introduced a couple of years ago. I wanted the lightest engine for my 17' Carolina Skiff and the Yamaha was the lightest on the market at the time. By the way, the Yamaha pushes my skiff with two adults and gear with no problems. At WOT I'm running 30.5 mph and cruising is in the low 20's. I don't think you can go wrong either way but I can only comment about the Yamaha.

[JimRockfish]

Dave - Great points, thank you. I'm sure the Yamaha 40 4-strole is a superb motor and probably very quiet. I'll have to take a look at it because that is a pretty significant weight differential. Jim

[Dave Jr.]

I know that the E-Tec will run very strong for you, they make a great product and seem to have all the bugs worked out on the mid ranged motors. You have some really good options available to you. The ETEC is $4799, the Yam 40 4 stroke is $4299 and another option is the Yam 50 2 stroke at $3499. I'm assuming this will be remote with controls and not tiller, right?

[Dave Jr.]

The 50 HP Yamaha 2 stroke weighs 189 lbs. Here's a pick of my 40 on the skiff.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y169/81889697/TheCove.jpg?t=1167756371

[POLECAT]

YOWZER!!!!!
I never realized the mid range E-Tec motors weighed so much!!!
My old 70 HP Johnsons are close to the weight of the 40 E-Tec!
The weight scale shifts with the higher HP units that I am familiar with. The 250 HP E-Tec is 87 pounds lighter than the Yam 250 four stroke.

For a 500# hull I would rethink my choice of brands regardless of warranty offers.

[JimRockfish]

Nice boat and motor! Jim

[JimRockfish]

My wife is more than understanding and is enjoying the project. I don't know if you are familiar with Maryland, but she was born in Easton and her family is from St. Michaels. Her grandfather had some truly nice wood boats over the years. So maybe it brings back good memories. Good luck with yours. I'm planning my next one. Jim

[Dave Jr.]

Fellas, I don't have the skill to build a boat or atleast I don't think I do. If I was however to try, it would be a wooden skiff like the one you're building. I live on the Eastern Shore and see homemade boats all the time. There is nothing like them in my opinion.

[drumrunner4320]

I have a 50 E-tec and love it. Its quite, more power then you know what to do with and I think the fuel consumption is better than a four stroke. It has a seven year warranty and no maintance for 3 years. My father has a Honda 4 four stroke and the maintance is unbelievable and expensive. I good friend of mine just bought the E-tec and he loves it also. My vote is for the E-tec.

[Cam2]

...change the oil and screw on a new filter. Takes 5 minutes. Lower unit once a season, twice is nice....same as an etec. Fuel consumption better, I wouldn't bet my paycheck on that one....they all suck!!!

[drumrunner4320]

Fuel consumption is better then a straight up 2 stroke carberated.

[Dave Jr.]

All I do is change the lower unit oil and the engine oil, change the spark plugs and hit the water. The smaller engines are easy to take care of. I'm not sure about the bigger ones but anything up to a 90 HP you could service yourself.

[JUKN412]

Jim,
I have 1999 Mercury 30hp 4 stroke if interested. THe motor is brand new still in original crate and has not seen water. Could save you some money!! Let me know
Thanks
Skip

[JimRockfish]

Skip - Here's why I can't buy your motor and why someone else on this board should. I got hooked on boats as a kid when my grandfather took me out on a beautiful Arkansas lake, largemouth bass fishing, when I was only 6 years old. The year was 1960. We were skimming across the water when another boat crossed our bow and I remember that distictive high-pitch sound. Grandad said "boy, that's a Merc...you can tell from the sound. They're too high strung, stick with Johnsons." I bought a 1970 Larson 17 and repowered it in 1981 with a 1980 Evinrude 100. I gave it away 3 years ago but the boat and motor are still going strong today, 36 years later. My 21.5 Seaswirl Striper is Johnson powered and my grandson's Simmons 18 will be probably be Evinrude or Johnson powered. Not because they are better than Mercury but simply for nostalgic sake. It's that "pass it on" thing and I hope you understand. - Jim

[Water_boy]

Jim,
I'm very impressed with your boat project, will it be ready to show at the winter Snood Feast?. I'd love to do something like that but I'd never find the time to finish, at least not for the next 20 years or so.

I question some of the information posted here about spec's, especially regarding engine weights. Go to Yamaha and Evenrude's website's and compare for yourself. I own a 2 stroke Yamaha today and will re-power with the E-Tech next chance I get, I'm almost hoping the Yamaha starts crapping out soon. :D

After looking at your boat project I'd say you shouldn't be too concerned with speed and performance, I bet that boat will scream with a 25hp on it, with a 40 you'll be like a hydroplane racer but the hull slap could tear it to splinters. It's a classic looking boat, slow down, relax, besides most of the time you'll be operating at idle speed anyway so I would think the most important specifications for the engine should be quiet, economical, reliable, and weight.

ps. I have a 35 year old Evenrude that my dad gave me for my 12th birthday that still runs great, once bought a brand new Merc that seized the very first day I ran it and crappy for the rest of it's short life.... NEVER AGAIN will I buy a merc. sorry JKUN

[JimRockfish]

JKUN - That Evinrude has sentimental value as well, I'm sure. My 1980 is running like a champ and always got me out and back, literally 1000s of hours. Thanks for the kind words about the boat project and interest, it will take me awhile to complete. It might ready for next year's Snood Fest : } I have to visit my in-laws this weekend in NY and there are many such work delays lately but I'm not in a big rush. I'm enjoying every minute of the build and hope to get others interested. It's really not difficult if you have a place and some basic equipment. I finished 2 coats of epoxy on a layer of fiberglass in my garage and will be ready to final sand, re-coat and mount on the bottom next week. I have a kerosene heater and it will be needed for sure. You're right about how I'll use my boat and since this is for my grandsons for their first boat, I definitely don't want to over-power it. I'm excited about buying a NEW Etec and appreciate the feedback from everyone. I'm sure the Yamahas, Hondas and Mercs (some Mercs) are great also -- Jim --

[seastallionmate]

Hey Jim,

I was able to get my hands on Evinrude's Profile Drawing for both the e 40-etec manual tilt and the 40-etec power tilt models. I will bring you a copy when I see the boat (too grainy to fax though I could scan and email it?) Just in case you want to double check the motor well size before going too far.

-D

[JimRockfish]

D - Great. I don't plan to cut any more out of the top arch to get a full tilt-up, as long as it goes up high enough. Some do but it looks weird. I was reading the Wooden Boat edition last night with the transom and saw where Ellis used Sapele for the transom. Jim

[Neighbor Dave]

Jim,

I own an Evinrude FICHT, it's the predecessor of the eTEC. Mine is a 98 - 150...probally the worst Evinrude ever made and the one in my opinion sank OMC. I've got to tell you I love the engine. I put about 200-250 hours a year on it, mostly crabbing. Only major problem was a rebuild powerhead at about 1000 hours. I would not hesitate to buy an eTEC. I am sure all the major bugs are worked out by now.

My one recomendation is to ONLY use 100% synthetic oil in these engines and preferably Bomb XD-100 oil. All 2 strokes have a tendancy to develop carbon buildup behind the rings (called ring jacking) that will lead to scarred cylinder walls - especially when you run them for long periods at low RPM's...like a crabber does. The use of 100% Synthetic oil should minimize this.

Good luck and be sure to let us know what you decide.

[crabber5]

There is a product called Carbon Guard. It reduces the carbon build up around and under the rings including the pistons. worth it's weight in gold. i swear by it and my mechanic friends have showned me the differnce it makes. Seeing is beleiving!!

Scott

[JimRockfish]

Dave & Scott - Good advice about the synthetic ol and carbon guard, thanks. I have a soft spot for Evinrudes after having one (100) for 25 yrs. that probably saved my life a few times... meaning too young and dumb to know better, i.e out farther than I should have been. Literally two and half decades of fishing, crabbing, waterskiing and having a total blast. It always started and more importantly, got me back in safely. Only one small repair in all that time... $200... which was from my stupidity. I left the prop up one winter and ice froze in the lower gears. Yes, can't wait to get another one. Jim

p.s. The Chesapeake Bay is like Heaven on Earth and if people try to tell you otherwise, you know better