posted 05-26-2008 02:13 PM ET (US)        

Bombardier currently has prototype motors in the field for testing. The new 25-HP and 30-HP motors are, as you might expect, compact and low profile. They are two-cylinder motor. The E-TEC injectors look similar to the ones used on the rest of the E-TEC line, however the fuel distribution system has been changed. To keep things even cleaner and simpler, the vapor separator and electric fuel pump are now incorporated into a molded assembly that connects directly to the fuel inlets and outlets on the E-TEC injectors. This eliminates all rubber fuel hoses downstream of the vapor separator.

Bombardier has also developed a steering tiller assembly with shift and throttle controls built into the handle. The tiller also has a trolling speed bump button which electronically shifts the engine speed up or down in 50-RPM increments to permit precise control of boat speed. These long tiller accessories are popular with fishermen who don't opt for remote steering, throttle, and shift controls.

The engines will be available in a wide variety of models. The preliminary information indicates that there will be four basic variations in the engine. Weights in parenthesis are for the [short (15-inch) and long (20-inch) shaft] models:

--Rope starting, tiller control (142-lbs, 148-lbs)
--Electric starting, tiller control (148-lbs, 154-lbs)
--Electric starting, remote control (169-lbs, long shaft only)
--Electric starting, remote control, power trim and tilt (178-lbs, long shaft only)

Early testers reported that the 30-HP motor ran at 35-MPH with a 14-foot aluminum boat with three adult men aboard.

This "spy camera" photo shows the new E-TEC with tiller arm.

We have E-TEC's "Lake-E" under surveillance and will try to get some more pictures of the new motor in action.

posted 05-27-2008 10:50 PM ET (US)            

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these Evinrude E-TEC 25 and 30-HP models will be the perfect motor for re-powering all those 40-years old Boston Whaler 13-footers that still need a 15-inch shaft motor due to their low transom height.

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What makes them a perfect match? Evinrude is not the only manufacturer that makes a 15 inch shaft motor in the 25 and 30 HP class.

posted 05-28-2008 09:52 AM ET (US)            

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Mercury and Honda also make them and are similar in weight

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A Mercury 30 in its lightest configuration is 172 lbs. According to the "spy report' an E-TEC 30 in its lightest configuration will weigh in at 142 lbs. That's a 20 percent difference. Generally I would not call that similar and particularly not so if that 30 lbs of additional weight is residing on a classic 13 transom.

As far as clean 30 HP outboards go, it looks like it will be the lightest. The Honda BF30 is the next lightest at 152 lbs but that's before you throw the necessary 40 to 50 lb starting battery into the boat. Realisticly, an operational Honda BF30 puts close to 200 lbs in the boat, and with a classic 13 Whaler, the battery is typically located in the stern near the transom so some of that 40 to 50 lbs is putting additional weight load on the transom. The Suzuki DF30 seems to be the heaviest at 212 lbs.

In my opinion, the most "perfect" motor match made for the classic 13 transom was the pull start, 32 cubic inch, 2 cylinder, 2-stroke Johnson/Evinrude made between 1976 and 2005. That motor was simple, darn near bulletproof, spunky and light at 120 lbs or less depending on configuration.

Presuming the new E-TEC 30 has 30+ cubic inches of displacement, it should have quite a bit more low end torque than the 4-stroke 30s of similar displacement, which is important when you are trying to plane off a loaded down classic 13. One in pull start form keeps it simple. So when Jim said

quote:

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That means that these Evinrude E-TEC 25 and 30-HP models will be the perfect motor for re-powering all those 40-years old Boston Whaler 13-footers that still need a 15-inch shaft motor due to their low transom height.

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posted 05-28-2008 01:16 PM ET (US)            

So if 170 lbs of Evinrude on the transom was fine, 172 lbs of Mercury on the transom would also be fine.

posted 05-28-2008 04:24 PM ET (US)            

I don't know whether you remember the days when the pre-smirk 13 Sports with their 15 inch transoms were powered with mid 1960s Evinrude Lark and Johnson Super Sea-Horse 40s with the electric pushbutton shift (shift-by-wire) but those motors at 160 lb coupled with a 40 to 50 lb starting battery in the stern and a full gas tank or two put a lot of weight on the transom. Those motors were really too heavy for the 15 inch transom version of the 13 Whaler. You could see it whenever one of these Whalers came off plane too quickly because they just about buried the motor under water if you didn't also get a wash of water in the full length motor well. Also, those Whalers powered with those motors always sat with their stern pretty low in the water when on a mooring.

Those were Evinrudes and Johnsons and they weren't perfect for the classic 13 with 15 inch transom.

posted 06-12-2008 11:50 AM ET (US)            

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The new two-cylinder engines offer the highest fuel efficiency, lightest weight, and most power in their competitive engine class. The engine technology and superior results are proven with five years of E-TEC technology success and a rigorous testing program. With a 35.3 cubic inch (576 cc) displacement and 142-pound weight, boaters will enjoy the advantages of quick acceleration, high power and low fuel consumption these new lower horsepower engines provide to them. Ergonomically designed for easy operation, the new 25- and 30-horsepower engines feature a more compact and integrated pull handle that locks in place; standard electronic adjustable idle speed control; and a trim and tilt switch that is located at the end of the twist grip that can be operated without moving your hand. The sleek, compact design includes a folding tiller handle for convenient carrying and storage. The tiller handle also incorporates a unique touch troll button, which acts like a cruise control to allow boaters easy adjustment and maintain optimal trolling speed. Boaters can rely on the high 15 amps of net output for additional power to operate onboard electronics. Each model, regardless of configuration, includes a rope starter.
These new outboard engines fill a vital product segment in key markets worldwide, added Chris Dawson, vice president and general manager, BRP International. With the launch of the new 25- and 30-hp models, as well as the 250HO and 300-hp models released earlier this year, we are delivering on our promise to expand the line above and below the current offering. All these new models are expected to bring great enthusiasm from our worldwide dealer network, stated Dawson.
The new engines feature the same E-TEC technology that provides superior benefits found throughout the line.

No maintenance including three years or 300 hours of no dealer-scheduled maintenance; a three-year non-declining warranty; no oil filters and no oil changes; no belts or chains to adjust or replace; and no valve or throttle linkage adjustments required. These benefits give E-TEC owners significant savings in maintenance costs. E-TEC engines are so well-engineered and precision-built that no break-in period is required.

Clean and quiet performance minimizes impact on our environment withextremely low carbon monoxide emission at idle; CARB 3-star rated, EPA and EU compliant; low particulate matter emissions; no crankcase oil to dispose of; and exceptionally quiet operation.

Durable and reliable through reliable design and parts including a new multipoint oiling system; NASA-developed alloy pistons; 100-percent power and emissions testing; oversized, robust gearcase; and same proven E-TEC family design.

Best-in-class power and performance with more displacement; up to 40 percent more torque; superior hole shot; faster top speed; and excellent fuel economy up to 15% better than competitive 4-stroke engines in this horsepower class.

SPECIFICATIONS:
2 cylinder loop charged
35.3 cu in (576cc) most in class
145 lbs. lighest in class
gear ratio 2.15:1
RPM Range 5,000-6,000 rpm
Alternator 15 amps (most in class)

25 hp models
E25DR, E25DRL (15 and 20" tiller/ rope) MSRP $3,570/$3,580
25DTE, E25DTEL (15 and 20" tiller/ electric)MSRP $3,990/$4,045
25DTL (20" tiller.electric start/power trim)$4,445
25DEL (20" remote/electric/man trim) MSRP $3,990
25DPL (20" remote/electric/power trim) MSRP $4,395

30 hp models
30DR, 30DRL (15" and 20" tiller/ rope) MSRP $4,490/$4,525
30DTEL (20" tiller electric) MSRP $5,050
30DTL (20" tiller electric Power Trim) MSRP $5,465
30DPL (20" tiller remote electric Power Trim $5,345

All are easy to own
3 year/300 hour no dealer secheduled maintance
3 year non declining warranty
True 15 amp alternator
Lightweight design
Easy to transport

Clean and Quiet
CARB 3-Star, EPA and EU compliant
Extremely Low carbon monoxide at idle
Low particulate matter emissions
No crankcase oil to dispose of
Very quiet operation

DQR
Multi Point Oiling
NASA Alloy developed pistons
100% power and emissions testing
Oversized, Robust gearcase

Power and Performance
More Displacement
Up to 30% more mid range power
Superior Hole Shot
Faster Top speed
Excellent Fuel Economy

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posted 06-17-2008 10:57 PM ET (US)            

It was speculated that it would take years for other outboard makers to catch up to Mercury with their digital throttle and shift (DTS), but E-TEC has added digital throttle to these new E-TEC motors. The speculation has ended: Bombardier has digital throttle on their newest motor! OK, now we can speculate about digital shift.

posted 08-10-2008 05:36 PM ET (US)            

I noticed the E-TEC webpage states only remote on the longshaft.

posted 02-22-2009 03:48 PM ET (US)            

--these are two cylinder engines; at low speeds a two-cylinder engine may not run as smoothly as an engine with more cylinders;

--the E-TEC engine in general gives fantastic fuel economy at low engine speeds because it uses a stratified charge combustion mode.

I don't know if it is common for other 30-HP engines to have more than two cylinders, but, if you happen to find a three or four cylinder 30-HP engine, then I would expect it might run more smoothly at idle and trolling speeds than this two-cylinder E-TEC will run. The E-TEC ought to run more smoothly than a four-cycle motor with only two cylinders. I say this because the E-TEC is going to provide a power stroke on every piston cycle, so it will provide two power strokes per revolution of the crankshaft. A four-cycle engine with two cylinders is only going to have one power stroke per revolution of the crankshaft, as the cylinders will alternate their power strokes. How this might affect the comparative performance of the E-TEC I will leave to you to draw your own inference.

The use of stratified charge combustion mode permits an engine to run at low speeds by using a smaller volume of fuel in the cylinder than would otherwise be needed. The result is generally an improvement in fuel economy. Considering that this is a small displacement engine to begin with and the cylinders may not be that big, the use of stratified charge combustion might not be as significant as it is on larger engines. When I tested an E-TEC V6 250-HP engine, I was very impressed with the fuel economy it produced at idle speeds; it was absolutely phenomenal. I don't know if you will see the same with the 30-HP motor.

posted 02-22-2009 05:31 PM ET (US)            

DFI makes a 2-stroke idle far more smoothly than any carbureted or EFI 2-stroke. This is quite noticible when listening to the exhaust signature of a DFI 2-stroke idling out of the water. For example, on ear muffs, the exhaust sound on my 225 Ficht DFI V6 2-stroke outboards is much quieter and much more uniform than it is on my Johnson 150 V6 2-stroke of similar vintage. There is none of that idle pop-pop-pop that you get with the carbureted 2-stroke at idle. I suspect that the tiny amount of fuel used at idle speed coupled with the stratified charging mode in this particular implementation of DFI 2-stroke is one reason.

Regarding fuel consumption at a 750 RPM idle, Evinrude reports a measly 0.07 GPH for the 30 HP model. In one performance report, that was good for almost 33 MPG at 2.3 MPH! I seriously doubt any 25 HP 4-stroke could top that.

posted 07-21-2009 06:00 AM ET (US)            

Thanks