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Author Topic:   New Evinrude Engine Design Criticism

contender posted 05-15-2015 01:11 PM ET (US)
I had some spare time today, so I went down the the Evinrude dealer to get a close look at the new design [of the Evinrude E-TEC 74-degree V6 outboard engines, often called the E-TEC G2 engines]. On display was a 300-HP outboard with the four or five different color sides to select from. Price was around $18,325.
I think the outside design is hidious and useless. The engine cowling has to many spots that are not smooth and round, meaning this is a place were the saltwater can collect and maybe cause a problem--same with on the engine itself and the connections. The other [feature] is now the cowling is a three-part design--more places to leak from--with push in snaps. Being a three-part design now requires more to remove one to work on or to get a full view of the engine. I do like how each connection is now a factory push together and they are each different so even a moron could not connect the wrong ones together. Right now they offered a five-year warranty. The owner of the store told me to purchase it at the boat show in February for a cheaper price and longer warranty. To each their own.
jimh posted 05-15-2015 03:10 PM ET (US)
That sounds like a very attractive price for a new 300-HP engine. When you consider that price includes all-electronic throttle and shift controls, an integral hydraulic steering actuator with programmable power assist boost, a mounting bracket that include several inches of set back, and very innovative digital instrumentation that permits the customer to see engine diagnostic codes on their own engine display terminal, I don't think you can come close to that price in any other engine on the market.
My dealer had one new E-TEC in stock during the dead of winter, but it did not last long. He sold it right away. He as since sold a couple more and rigged them on customer's boats. I think they're hard to keep in stock on the dealer showroom floor.
If you are in the market for a 300-HP state-of-the-art engine--oh, forgot to mention more torque, more horsepower, and better fuel economy than competitor's 350-HP rated engines--you should begin to deal seriously with your dealer. I bet that engine won't have a long life on his showroom floor.
jimh posted 05-15-2015 03:19 PM ET (US)
The E-TEC 74-degree engine has an exoskeleton design that is quite different from prior outboard engines from any manufacturer. I know in the past it was perhaps part of normal operation for an owner to completely remove their outboard engine cowling and take a look at the engine--maybe even poke around at the engine and components. I still do that out of habit with my E-TEC, but in 400-hours of operation there has never been anything happening under the cowling that needed my attention.
I don't think your typical new Evinrude E-TEC 74-degree V6 300-HP outboard engine owner is going to be living strictly according to that tradition. All of the routine maintenance can be performed by removing either of the side panels, which employ the sort of fasteners used in aviation.
The angular lines and general shape of the engine certainly diverges from prior designs seen in outboard engines. If outboard engine appearance never changed, I guess all outboard engines would still look like they did in the 1950's.
Jefecinco posted 05-15-2015 07:11 PM ET (US)
To each his own. At first I found the new design a shocking departure from the norm. A little like the 1953 Studebaker. I now find I like it a lot and find the design to be a practical departure from the old designs. When one removes the one-piece engine cowling from any Verado or other 200 or more HP engine it is a challenge, especially for those of us in their seventies. Once the one-piece cowling is removed it then becomes time to put it down somewhere it won't get all scratched up or roll around. I would much rather deal with panels held on by Dzus (sp?) fasteners.
Butch
conch posted 05-15-2015 09:22 PM ET (US)
How do you add the two stroke oil? Do you remove a panel and use a funnel to pour from a jug to an engine mounted tank? Then I thought I read that the tank is remote. Anyone know which one.
Chuck
conch posted 05-15-2015 10:37 PM ET (US)
Okay I found it after watching some nice videos.The standard tank is an engine mounted 2 gallon you fill from a jug.
Next I will try to learn if the electric shifting has a default to forward engagement if something happens to the fly by wire.
My neighbor ordered twin 300 G2s but I think the rigged price was 55K,a bit higher than what Contender saw.The dealer offered 20K for his present very low hour 300 E-Tecs. I would be all over them but they are 30in legs.
Chuck
jimh posted 05-16-2015 07:22 AM ET (US)
The electrical motor that operates the transmission on the E-TEC 74-degree V6 is located in the gear case assembly. There is no mechanical linkage that extends out of the gear case, and I don't believe there is a way to operate the transmission other than via the electric motor. An analogous situation to the windows of a car that are operated by an electric motor.
jimh posted 05-16-2015 07:28 AM ET (US)
The Evinrude 74-degree V6 engines have an oil tank at the engine. There is a capped filler port on the top of the engine cowling for adding oil; it is normally concealed by a decorative top panel. A remote tank can also be used, if desired.
jimh posted 05-16-2015 07:36 AM ET (US)

quote:
On display was a 300-HP outboard with the four or five different color sides to select from.
The cowling side panels are available in five standard colors, and the accent trim comes in 14 colors. That makes 70 combinations possible. The top panel can be a contrasting color, making 350 combinations possible in the standard colors. The side panels are also available with custom colors to match certain boat manufacturer colors. And the side and top panels could be painted to any color desired, at much less cost than painting the entire engine.
seahorse posted 05-16-2015 07:45 AM ET (US)
There has been no outboard that defaulted to forward gear since 1972. The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 took care of that.
Other makes of digitally shifted outboards, to my knowledge, do not have any quick and easy means of mechanically shifting the gearcase in the event of an actuator failure.
Only the digitally shifted (ICON Controls) G1 Evinrude E-TECs have accessible shift linkage which can be used to shift the motor manually into forward by removing a clip.
seahorse posted 05-16-2015 07:54 AM ET (US)
The G2 Evinrude E-TEC does have a redundant safety system that may be unique in the marine digital controls arena.
The ICON II digital throttle and shifting signals utilize a separate private network cable separate from the NMEA2000 network in the boat. Should something happen to the private network such as a broken wire or connection, the system automatically switches over to the NMEA2000 network to control the shift and throttle to prevent any loss of operation.
The boat operator may not even be aware of the moment of the switchover because it happens instantly. A visual alarm is activated - a flashing neutral light on the control head indicating that the throttle and shift activation is now carried on the boat network.
conch posted 05-16-2015 08:18 AM ET (US)
Seahorse--thanks for the information.
If a remote oil tank is used, does it refill the engine tank, Yamaha-style? Or is there some other arrangement?
I think the Yamaha [digital electronic controls] can be overridden to allow a shift in event of a failure.--Chuck
conch posted 05-16-2015 08:34 AM ET (US)
From some Yamaha literature:
quote:
"We try to build as much safety as possible into the system," says Dave Wheeler, the product information manager for Yamaha Outboards. "Command Link is based on NMEA 2000 protocol, so it's been thoroughly tested. If communication is lost, you can still take the engine cowling off and manually override the shift using a No. 2 screwdriver. So you always have get-home capability," he explains.

Chuck
jimh posted 05-16-2015 08:36 AM ET (US)
CONCH--If the Evinrude remote oil tank did not work like a Yamaha remote oil tank, would this be an important influence in your decision to purchase the Evinrude E-TEC 74-degree V6 engine?
conch posted 05-16-2015 08:45 AM ET (US)
It might, because their system could be greatly improved over Yamaha and I would not mind knowing the answer. The remote tank sounds alot better than standing in the transom engine well and pouring oil into a pair of engines costing over 50K.
Chuck
seahorse posted 05-16-2015 08:51 AM ET (US)
Conch,
The optional remote oil tank contains an internal pump that automatically replenishes the on-engine 2 gal. tank as needed. The remote tanks come in 1.8 or 3 gal sizes or a pump unit can be installed in the 10 gal. oil tank.
The old 2-stroke Yamaha remote oil tank refilled a small oil tank on the motor also using an electric transfer pump. Merc used a pressure transfer system.
conch posted 05-16-2015 09:10 AM ET (US)
Seahorse thanks again for the new info.With the Yamaha system there was not an alarm to tell if oil was not flowing into the engine, only that the tanks were full or not.
I enjoy staying informed about the new engines.I first became a certified tech for Johnson outboards half a century ago at Waukegan, Illinois. My 15 Sport has a 1998 70hp Johnson fitted.
Chuck
seahorse posted 05-16-2015 10:05 AM ET (US)
Conch wrote:
I first became a certified tech for Johnson outboards half a century ago at Waukegan, Illinois

Do you remember the instructor named Pat Patakee (sp) and the training manager Larry Serino from back in the mid '60s?
jimh posted 05-16-2015 10:13 AM ET (US)
A sensor to detect the flow of oil has been part of the Evinrude oil system from the first days of their VRO oil-mixing pump design. All E-TEC engine have a sensor that detects the flow of oil from the reservoir to the distribution manifold.
conch posted 05-16-2015 10:51 AM ET (US)
Seahorse, I no longer remember the names of the great people I met there. I still own some of the equipment I purchased at the Stevens electronic classes. I had been an apprentice for two years before I got to go. First time to see the Great Lakes. Had to be certified to do warranty work.I was paid a percentage of the shop ticket for other work,and we used the flat rate manual which clearly was not written with saltwater in mind.
Chuck
conch posted 05-16-2015 11:14 AM ET (US)
Seahorse, I do not know if Larry or Pat are still alive, but if they are, we were the first integrated class.Management took lots of pictures.Also about a third of the class were veterans. They came from the, I think it was called, Manpower Act. I would be drafted not long after.
Chuck
martyn1075 posted 05-16-2015 11:49 AM ET (US)
I'm also dumbfounded by such a drastic exterior design. However I do relize a person with real money who is in the market for a 300hp motor would likely consider the features and function first. Also beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Reminds me a bit of the post classic Boston Whaler boats. Such a drastic change in appearance so much, that many cannot except it and find themselves ever owning one. I think we can safely say the boats were designed to be more advanced in ride and efficacy but a pureist will say no! They would rather buy a boat that is 25 years or older and fix it up.
With E-TEC I think they are simply trying be evolutionary with outboard design looking towards the future. When car companies try doing this it's either a hit or a disaster. We will see what the future holds for the company. I own a Honda Ridgeline it's hideous from some angles but I have 150,000-miles on an 2006 and it runs flawlessly. I change the oil and standard stuff and it just keeps going. A friend has a 2013 Ram 1500 beautiful looking truck and he can't keep it out of the shop. Warranty repairs all the time.
jimh posted 05-16-2015 01:21 PM ET (US)
I wonder how often Evinrude will lose a sale of their new 74-degree V6 E-TEC to a competitor because the customer dislikes the appearance of the engine, if one considers the E-TEC is probably:
--ligher
--faster
--has more power and torque
--significantly reduces emissions
--requires less maintenance
--has beautifully improved rigging
--has integral power steering with user adjustable boost ratio
--has innovating diagnostic features in its electronic instrumentation
--has equivalent or better fuel economy
--may be less expensive
than competitors' engines.
More than ten years ago, when the first E-TEC was being developed, Evinrude conducted a survey of boater preferences in outboard engine features, asking to rank them in importance. The result of the survey was reported as follows:
ORDER OF PREFERENCE IN OUTBOARD ENGINE FEATURES:
--1. DQR - Dependability, Quality and Reliability
--2. Ease of Maintenance
--3. Easy starting
--4. Performance
--5. Economy
--6. Style/appearance
The inference in this ranking is that the least weight or influence or importance in an outboard engine is the styling or appearance. There is substantial evidence of the low ranking of appearance in boater preference seen in the popularity of four-cycle outboard engines, which, to date, all have a rather grotesque appearance with cowling sizes beyond all prior imagination would be necessary to house an outboard engine of a particular horsepower. Yet the popularity of four-cycle engine has been growing despite their awful appearance. I suspect that the sale of the Evinrude E-TEC 74-degree V6 engines will be similarly unconstrained in any significant way due to their appearance, which, when seen alongside some of the four-cycle monstrosities, will look quite diminuitive.
martyn1075 posted 05-16-2015 01:53 PM ET (US)
Your probably right but it's not the size it's more the choice of shape that's puzzling you must admit it's oddly shaped. Everything else seems great how could one complain. The colour option choice is extreme but clever and user friendly, the weight is not a problem and of course the function is fine. Also if we look back at the older design it to is standard classy, so even if they just constervitly updated many would not be asking what happened.
It just seems the design engineer got a bit loopy overzealous on the style.
There is no doubt they are proud of it and so they should be so in conclusion the outcome was certainly on purpose the appearance of the new E-TEC motor.
contender posted 05-16-2015 02:11 PM ET (US)
First let me say I have always been and Evinrude Fan...I understand that the new Evinrudes are by far one of the nicer engines out there with probably the best technology. I think they have just done a major failure design in the cowling dept. The other issue, being a company why would you want to make so many different panel colors for the same engine (meaning one or two colors would have been fine, because the cost now is transfered to the customer for keeping so many different panels in stock that will be out of service (new degign) in 3-5 years) What they could have done was make the same panel with differnt color decals for the purchaser installed by the dealer. The price I saw I think was for the engine only, no controls, prop, or mounting. Also the Evinrude dealer I use has been in business since the 60's, (they can and do give some of the best prices) they build their own boat (Dusky) on site with many different options. They also carry Suzuki engines as well. They have their own welding shop (towers and seats) and a big fiberglass/paint shop. They are a one stop boat shop with equipment/electronics/gear/coolers, anything you want. Jim I agree with you I do not think that Evinrude will lose a sale due to the looks of the outboard, I just think they could have done a better job after spending millions to develop the new engine...To each his own
jimh posted 05-17-2015 08:00 AM ET (US)
Re the "oddly shaped" cowling of the Evinrude E-TEC G2 outboard: I don't find its shape any more odd that some other recent engines. I have seen engine cowlings that look like a lady's hair dryer from the 1950's. I have seen engine cowlings and overall engine shape that look like a giant Shrimp.
I suppose if the shape is really offensive to someone, they could just order the engine in black, with black side panels and black accent colors. Making the engine all black would perhaps help to conceal its offending shape, while at the same time perhaps giving it a slimmer look. I have seen the effect on women with black dresses.
jimh posted 05-17-2015 08:07 AM ET (US)
Re the ranking of criteria I mention above, I think we can actually eliminate one of them entirely: easy starting. These days it is more or less universally expected that an outboard engine--really any engine--will start easily and at the turn of its ignition key (or at the push of a button in the case of many E-TEC engines with electronic controls). The days of having to crank and crank and crank an outboard engine to get it started are, mercifully, long in the past for most of us, and any new outboard engine design available for sale today must exhibit very easy starting characteristics, or it could never survive in the marketplace of modern outboard engines.
martyn1075 posted 05-17-2015 11:16 AM ET (US)
I suppose its just a matter of getting use to it. The Verado when it came out was also very advanced in its appearance. I seem to remember it too had some eye catching comments. Now that the dust has settled its more or less accepted and understood. The Verado is overly rounded and long where as the ETEC looks to be more boxy. It is certainly not a fat and chunky over weight looking motor especially when comparing it to a other 300 hp motors. In that respect its appealing.
I don't think it would effect many sells for those who are interested in a good cutting edge engine which is the first on the list when large amounts of money is being transfered these days. The other consideration is that not everybody owns the beloved classic whalers anymore. The size of the transoms on many of the new boats are so massive these engines don't look all that out of place.
george nagy posted 05-18-2015 08:54 AM ET (US)
You needn't wonder if Evinrude will loose a sale to me due to the new design the answer in my respect is YES!!!!! Aesthetics is VERY important, perhaps more important than we realize. As JimH hinted to above, today almost all engines will provide reliable performance so there is a tangible reason to disregard the new designs based solely on looks. For me Suzuki will most likely be first choice in engines above 200hp especially now that they come in white.
Jefecinco posted 05-18-2015 09:37 AM ET (US)
Time heals all. Just ask Mercury if the incredibly ugly Verado took a little getting used to.
Butch
Binkster posted 05-18-2015 09:53 AM ET (US)
I like Evinrudes and think the design is kind of cool, but before I would shell out over 50+ k for a pair of any outboards, I would sell whatever Whaler I was contiplating installing them on, buy a 31' Bertram that needed new power, and install a pair of Yanmar diesels.
rich
boatdryver posted 05-18-2015 10:13 AM ET (US)
The new features concealed within the unusual Evinrude G2 cowling seem to be welcome to all.
But I agree with others that an outboard cowling of this shape on the transom of a beautiful classic Boston Whaler (or any other traditional design) hull might evoke an outbreak of nausea. I suspect he shape of the G2 and all the color choices will be welcome to the multi color bass boat/wakeboard crowd.
But is the cowling's shape really new? To me the design recalls the cereal box look of the mid 70's Chrysler outboard motors.
The marketing team's design of the G2 cowling has certainly created unprecedented free discussion and recognition of a new product, and the vertically oriented graphic "Evinrude" is more easily read with the motor tilted full up, which is the way these motors spend most of their lives, thus giving Bombardier thousands of free signboards.
JimL

contender posted 05-18-2015 05:06 PM ET (US)
Bink I guess you and I kinda think alike, I found a 31 bertram local (no power bad engines) but the hull was in nice shape with a tower. Boat Master trailer was $10,000 for this boat (special build) I figure by the time I was done would be around 75k, with new fuel tanks, painted interior, new steering, trailer, and 2 new Rudes for power...would make a great boat...
msirof2001 posted 05-18-2015 11:15 PM ET (US)
It was interesting looking through Evinrude's G2 300 performance bulletins. There were a couple of 25 foot shallow-V inshore saltwater boats and the performance was fairly close. And then, there was a smaller inflatable/hard bottom boat which had a very light weight without engine and the performance stunk in comparison. True, the 130 gallon fuel tank was full but that shouldn't have made up the difference with the 25's. There was a 25' offshore center console and the performance was pretty good. Looking through all of that, it made me feel that Evinrude continued along the slope of the line that they and other manufacturers were on. For example, the Yamaha 2-strokes were pretty good and getting better before they dropped them. I think Evinrude has come up with a great 2-stroke. That inflatible in the performance tests is probably close in size and weight to my Outrage 21 and that test worried me. I hope they post more reports so someone can come up with a blended average. When looking at the Yamaha F200XB, there were about 8 comparable boats with that engine. I knew what I was getting into and got what I expected. Hope they do the same.
I don't believe looks should be a huge deciding factor. I would hope that Whaler owners would get white with red panels to go with their logos. The overall shape and appearance reminds me of a children's book I had as a kid called "How I built the Boogle House". Maybe the kid who was the main character in the story grew up and designed cowlings.
Peter posted 05-19-2015 07:24 AM ET (US)
"There were a couple of 25 foot shallow-V inshore saltwater boats and the performance was fairly close. And then, there was a smaller inflatable/hard bottom boat which had a very light weight without engine and the performance stunk in comparison."
Perhaps you can elaborate further because this doesn't tell us much about anything. How did the performance stink? What were you using as a baseline for determining that the "performance stunk"?
jimh posted 05-21-2015 09:33 PM ET (US)
There is no accounting for tastes.
jimh posted 05-22-2015 07:05 AM ET (US)
George Nagy--who, as I recall, is employed as a professional in design--has put forth the notion that the appearance or style or aesthetics of a modern outboard engine will become very important or perhaps of paramount importance based on the notion that when modern outboard engines are judged by the other criteria--dependability, quality, reliability, ease of maintenance, ease of starting, performance, and economy--there will be little differences among them. If it were true that all modern engines had nearly the same dependability, quality, reliability, ease of maintenance, ease of starting, performance, and economy, then it is reasonable to believe that styling, appearance, color, and aesthetics may carry a greater influence.
It may also be in George's case, due to his training and profession, that style, color, and aesthetics of an object carry a greater weight with him than might be found in an average boater.
george nagy posted 05-22-2015 08:13 AM ET (US)
Jim, I might tighten up on my assessment of the importance of style and aesthetics in outboard design by stating that it may not be as important to the average buyer but perhaps be more of an issue for those who have a greater appreciation for those things like in the group of classic boston whaler owners, many pf whom have written negatively here about other more radical modern boat designs such as searay and bayliner.
george nagy posted 05-22-2015 08:18 AM ET (US)
I recently saw a bass boat with a E-TEC G2 on the back, and I will agree that the design aesthetic of both the engine and boat were matched very well. Having said that, I don't think either were very aesthetically pleasing and neither did my lunch companion who has very little training in design or aesthetics, but is an avid boater and boat owner.
elvis posted 05-23-2015 07:42 AM ET (US)
Anyone here bought a new G2? I haven't yet seen one on a Whaler. When I began looking for new power, the G2 engine's [power] steering, electronic controls, and looks were interesting, but I'll just say "ahead" of my thinking--a bit overwhelming, perhaps. That said, a few months ago I opted for a new 2015 150 H.O. E-TEC for my 18-foot Boston Whaler.
For starters, I enjoy a simple and streamlined look. The classy E-TEC graphics exceeded my expectations while remaining reasonable, conservative, yet with enough spice to make a bold statement and put a smile on my face.
Maintenance in, like, three years, and the engine has 7 year warranty. Acceleration and speed are impressive; it starts simply, is quiet, smooth, and sips fuel. Hard to beat all of that but glad they are trying.
jimh posted 05-23-2015 10:23 AM ET (US)
My thinking and George's thinking may tend to align somewhat on the topic of the styling and aesthetics of some bass boat designs. They often are a bit too gaudy and flashy for me. I do not dismiss bass boats completely from my appreciation of good design, however, because in them I have found very complex engineering systems for electrical power storage and distribution, extensive electro-mechanical accessories, multiple SONAR and navigation electronics, complex water pumps, water tanks, wells, drains, and valves, elaborate storage compartments, sophisticated hull designs--all integrated beautifully in boats of 20-feet or less overall length and not even to mention they go 70-MPH all day long--and in comparison to these bass boats, a classic c.1980 Boston Whaler center console boat is extremely simple and unsophisticated. It is possible to be mislead about bass boats by their somewhat strange paint and coloring, and to overlook the excellent design and engineering they possess, dismissing them as just a boat lacking in good taste, but that would be an error in judgement.
It would also be an error for an engine manufacturer to ignore the potential sales of new outboard engines into the bass boat or other specialized angler's boat market, which must have many more sales to be made than selling into the classic Boston Whaler boat re-power market. So one can perhaps understand that if the Evinrude 74-degree V6 engine styling is not the perfect fit on the transom of a c.1970 16-foot open utility boat or even on the transom of a c.1980 18-foot moderate V-hull center console, that does not mean those engines will not be a good fit for other boat transoms.
Evinrude seems quite content to continue to manufacture and sell their E-TEC engines in their original style along with the new G2 versions.
jimh posted 06-01-2015 11:04 AM ET (US)
Recalling that one participant in these discussions of opinions of the design of the Evinrude G2 boldly stated that they would NEVER put an Evinrude E-TEC G2 on the transom of their modest, older Boston Whaler boat even if given the engine for free, I have to offer this endorsement of the Evinrude E-TEC G2 by the yacht builder TRUE NORTH. Please see this image of a TRUE NORTH 34 powered with twin Evinrude E-TEC 74-degree V6 outboard engines.
http://tnyachts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/TN34OE_websites21.jpg
TRUE NORTH makes very classic, very custom, very expensive small yachts, and I believe someone will be paying more than $500,000 for the TRUE NORTH 34 shown in the image above. For more about the TRUE NORTH 34 Express Outboard boat, see
http://tnyachts.com/true-north-34-outboard-express/
More images are available in a gallery of images, including this one:
http://tnyachts.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/021415BTPF-6399.jpg
Although the Evinrude E-TEC G2 might not meet the apparently rigorous aesthetic requirements of certain owners of 25-year-old to 40-year-old Boston Whaler boats, it seems to blend quite nicely with the classic appearance of a new TRUE NORTH 34 Express Outboard. If anyone wanted to give me those engines on that boat for free, I would be quite pleased to have them.
(Thanks to correspondent Paul M for alerting me about this.)
Peter posted 06-01-2015 01:34 PM ET (US)
It is interesting to see that True North has posted pictures of a Red hull with both the Red Evinrude E-TEC G2 250s and the Gray Yamaha F250s. To me, the Evinrudes look integrated, the Yamahas don't. Of course, one could spend extra money having the Yamaha's painted to make them look more integrated. I have heard quotes of something like $3,000 to paint a Yamaha a custom color.
msirof2001 posted 06-01-2015 01:46 PM ET (US)
Call me old fashioned or call me whatever you want but the True North, to me doesn't look good with either the G2's or the Yamahas. If you do a search on boat models within their website, you'll come across the inboard version of the 34. Now THAT looks good. I understand outboards on center consoles of that size or larger, and dual consoles. But on that kind of boat? No, not for me. This is a totally different beast. What? One day are we goung to see a 100' megayacht with 9 or 12 outboards on the back on some apparatus that makes it look like the Wells Fargo Stagecoach with outboards instead of horses, in the rear pushing instead of in the front pulling?
jimh posted 06-01-2015 09:19 PM ET (US)
People who have $500,000 to $600,00 to spend on a new 34-foot boat and who can wait a year to get one built can probably figure out if they want it with an inboard or an outboard.
The terrific attraction of an outboard engine for me in my 22-foot boat would be the same in a 34-foot boat: I can tilt the engines up, clear of the water, I can reduce hull draft, I don't have to worry about losing all the running gear in a grounding. If there is an engine problem that is really catastrophic, a replacement can be bolted on in a few hours.
But the argument here is not whether 250-HP outboard must not be used on $500,000 luxury yachts. We talking about the design of the E-TEC, and collecting criticism of it. I can't find much to criticize in those images of the TRUE NORTH 34 Express Outboard. It looks great.
macfam posted 06-01-2015 10:42 PM ET (US)
We see many True North boats here on Cape Cod, especially when visiting Edgartown or Nantucket. Beautiful boats. This new outboard version with the G2 Evinrudes is no exception. Simply awesome.
Peter posted 06-02-2015 07:59 AM ET (US)
One of the unique aspects of the True North in-board version of the boat is the "garage doors" in the transom that let you haul things like an inflatable boat into the cockpit. This feature is given up in the outboard version for a shallow draft. Another example of how boat design is about compromising.
Hoosier posted 06-02-2015 08:45 AM ET (US)
Since a lot, most (?), of this discussion is about styling, and you can order the cowling in various colors can you also order the EVINRUDE graphics applied horizontally instead of vertically? Or, maybe better yet, vertically this way:
E
V
I
N
R
U
D
E
like a traditional marquee?
jimh posted 06-02-2015 10:09 AM ET (US)
PETER--I do like that open transom feature on the inboard TRUE NORTH 34. It will make going over the side (to see how badly damaged the propeller and shaft are after a grounding) much easier. (Just kidding.)
Seriously, that is a trade off in selecting to power with outboard engines. Perhaps with outboard engines, the draft is reduced enough that you don't need to have a dingy to get to a dock.
DAVID--No, I don't think there are options for the text orientation. The concern expressed about that aspect of the engine graphics seems to be to be completely over the top and out of proportion to any serious consideration of the engine's design.
Mambo Minnow posted 06-12-2015 04:12 PM ET (US)
[Changed topic; the new topic is now its own thread.--jimh]
Russ 13 posted 07-09-2015 11:25 PM ET (US)
I think the styling is defiantly on the edgy side add takes some getting used to. While out boating last weekend got passed in a slow zone by a new, large Edgewater that had a pair of 300's on it. They were very quiet at idle, although the look takes some time to get used to.

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