Montauk 90 E-TEC musings
Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2016 8:00 pm
Musings of a new E-TEC 90 owner [after] logging 12-hours in first fishing outing, in weather that ranged to flat calm to 25-kts wind in 7-foot seas with 8-secoind interval and very yucky stuff:
The good:
--Very quiet for a two stroke engine (especially at idle).
--Fuel consumption at lower RPM very very impressive. Much better than older 90 Mercury, 35% better. Fuel consumption at mid-upper ranges still improved, but not as drastic, 15% better. May be related to prop and speed mentioned below.
--Oil consumption better than expected even through the break in period.
--[acceleration at full throttle from a standing start] was acceptable; mid range "pop" was great as in going from 3400 to 4500 RPM; little-to-no blow out when cornering. I have yet to waterski, so loaded [acceleration at full throttle from a standing start] is [to be determined].
--Nice to have a engine that starts every time without too much feathering; I hope this continues for life of the engine.
-three-year-maintenance free: it’s gonna be hard not to tinker on the engine.
The bad:
--Trim/tilt is rather slow. Past outboard had a two speed trim and tilt and hence faster for full tilt and trim in and out of the water.
--BRP [top mounting remote control] is rather awkward and not ergonomical on a classic console. It is narrow and tall, and slightly (1/4-inch) longer and larger than the flat surface on the console it mounts to, hence a slight bit over overhang. The older Mercury or Qucksilver was smaller and one could rest hand and hold on to throttle lever on whilst driving.
--it shakes the console and one rail whilst at idle. Past engine physically shook more; but did not bother boat, E-TEC has very stiff dampening and shakes the boat more. Tail wagging the dog syndrome. All hardware is bedded, but the one sloppy (egged out) railing standoff is the offender.
-A little slower than expected, or requiring slightly higher RPM (150-200) to achieve same hull speeds; see comments below.
Fine tuning the mounting and propeller: [see drawing below for mounting height] running a Viper 19 pitch, my top speeds 33.8-nautical-miles-per hour or 38.9-MPH at 5,500 RPM. The boat had bottom paint, 15-gallons fuel, anchor and other common gear, battery in console. This top end speed seems off to me; it seems I should crack 40-MPH or 41-MPH, which is only 1 to 2-MPH away. Against the Mercury prop calculator this means 22-percent SLIP with the Viper 19P at 5,500 and 2.00:1 gear.
http://www.mercuryracing.com/prop-slip-calculator/
I can’t tell if I am hitting the rev limiter; is it hard RPM stop at 5,500-RPM? Or, is higher like 5650-RPM? As I hit 5500 and still have a little more travel on the throttle lever, but not sure if there is anything there.
Also my intermediate speeds seem slower too. Specifically, I used to get 19 to 20-nautical-miles-per-hour at 3000-3100 RPM on my old Mercury 90, with a Mercury 19P (but professionally re-cupped so little slip). I have to push the E-TEC up a little higher to 3300 to 3400 to get that speed.
Tried to search the old forum for a like-like comparison, but found Montauks with jack plates, or different props etc. Another member recently talked about a 17 Viper 3 holes up (which seems odd). -- Any one else with a Viper 19P on the forum. Any other notes to compare against.
I hate to “try out” mounting heights, as that’s a lot of 4200 to break up. The dealer had several classic whalers in the lot. So confidence in their work, I am a bit puzzled. -- I have not had an extensive chance to do quality speed runs on reciprocal course, I hope this weekend to have clean water to do so. (My speed test was done with slight wind chop, but I was able to trim out as warranted.)
Mounting height (I'll get a measurement of inches above keel CL to the cavitation plate is, as there are a lot discrepancies on hole position vs resultant height.)
o
o<-This one
o
o
The good:
--Very quiet for a two stroke engine (especially at idle).
--Fuel consumption at lower RPM very very impressive. Much better than older 90 Mercury, 35% better. Fuel consumption at mid-upper ranges still improved, but not as drastic, 15% better. May be related to prop and speed mentioned below.
--Oil consumption better than expected even through the break in period.
--[acceleration at full throttle from a standing start] was acceptable; mid range "pop" was great as in going from 3400 to 4500 RPM; little-to-no blow out when cornering. I have yet to waterski, so loaded [acceleration at full throttle from a standing start] is [to be determined].
--Nice to have a engine that starts every time without too much feathering; I hope this continues for life of the engine.
-three-year-maintenance free: it’s gonna be hard not to tinker on the engine.
The bad:
--Trim/tilt is rather slow. Past outboard had a two speed trim and tilt and hence faster for full tilt and trim in and out of the water.
--BRP [top mounting remote control] is rather awkward and not ergonomical on a classic console. It is narrow and tall, and slightly (1/4-inch) longer and larger than the flat surface on the console it mounts to, hence a slight bit over overhang. The older Mercury or Qucksilver was smaller and one could rest hand and hold on to throttle lever on whilst driving.
--it shakes the console and one rail whilst at idle. Past engine physically shook more; but did not bother boat, E-TEC has very stiff dampening and shakes the boat more. Tail wagging the dog syndrome. All hardware is bedded, but the one sloppy (egged out) railing standoff is the offender.
-A little slower than expected, or requiring slightly higher RPM (150-200) to achieve same hull speeds; see comments below.
Fine tuning the mounting and propeller: [see drawing below for mounting height] running a Viper 19 pitch, my top speeds 33.8-nautical-miles-per hour or 38.9-MPH at 5,500 RPM. The boat had bottom paint, 15-gallons fuel, anchor and other common gear, battery in console. This top end speed seems off to me; it seems I should crack 40-MPH or 41-MPH, which is only 1 to 2-MPH away. Against the Mercury prop calculator this means 22-percent SLIP with the Viper 19P at 5,500 and 2.00:1 gear.
http://www.mercuryracing.com/prop-slip-calculator/
I can’t tell if I am hitting the rev limiter; is it hard RPM stop at 5,500-RPM? Or, is higher like 5650-RPM? As I hit 5500 and still have a little more travel on the throttle lever, but not sure if there is anything there.
Also my intermediate speeds seem slower too. Specifically, I used to get 19 to 20-nautical-miles-per-hour at 3000-3100 RPM on my old Mercury 90, with a Mercury 19P (but professionally re-cupped so little slip). I have to push the E-TEC up a little higher to 3300 to 3400 to get that speed.
Tried to search the old forum for a like-like comparison, but found Montauks with jack plates, or different props etc. Another member recently talked about a 17 Viper 3 holes up (which seems odd). -- Any one else with a Viper 19P on the forum. Any other notes to compare against.
I hate to “try out” mounting heights, as that’s a lot of 4200 to break up. The dealer had several classic whalers in the lot. So confidence in their work, I am a bit puzzled. -- I have not had an extensive chance to do quality speed runs on reciprocal course, I hope this weekend to have clean water to do so. (My speed test was done with slight wind chop, but I was able to trim out as warranted.)
Mounting height (I'll get a measurement of inches above keel CL to the cavitation plate is, as there are a lot discrepancies on hole position vs resultant height.)
o
o<-This one
o
o