On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 04:30:14 -0700 (PDT), Capt John
wrote:

On Mar 11, 12:29*pm, Capt John wrote:
Their's a very interesting article in this months Soundings about a
start up company in Florida that's developing diesel outboards with
some high hp output, most that are around now are low hp output. They
apparently have a working 2.3 liter prototype that put's out "about
200 hp". They had it on something like a 20 foot boat, fuel burn at
WOT, something like 5.6 gph. The article indicated that a typical
outboard of about 200 hp burns about 12 or 13 gph at WOT (I'm doing
this from memory, so I could be off a little). They never gave fuel
burn rates for a normal cruise RPM's, but I'd guess your probably in
the 4 gph range with WOT numbers like that. I'm not an outboard guy, I
like my inboard diesels, but somewhere in the 4 gph range is
impressive (might even be less). Their developing a 3.0 liter engine
as well. The weight of the engine wasn't bad either, like a typical
outboard of the same output. The engines are apparently rated for an
8,000 hour life as well. The prototype had a Mercury lower end (their
working on their own design), and the guy who wrote the article had a
chance to try it on a boat, so it's more than just a pipe dream. I
wouldn't be surprised to see one of the large engine manufacturers buy
them up if the engines look like their the real thing. I sure hope the
article wasn't an "April Fools" joke.

I checked again last night, it's on page 34. The boat was a 22 foot
Glassmaster, weighted just under 3000 pounds. The fuel burn rate was 6
gph, the milage they gave was 5.6 mpg (I wish they would use knots
instead of miles) with full fuel. It sounded like their four cylinder,
four stroke, turbo charged engines. A two stroke is going to need a
blower of some kind for exhaust scavenging. I imagine it wouldn't be
very easy to cram a turbo, a blower, and the plumbing for the air
under a small outboard cover, if it were a two stroke. Also, with the
regulations going the way they are, if it were a two stroke, you
probably wouldn't be able to sell them a few years from now. It was
interesting, if they do what they claim to do, you could probably
throw a pair of 3.0's on a 25 foot center console, get the same kind
of speed, and probably burn like 10 gph. A day trip to the Hudson
Canyon, three hours out, three back, seven hours of trolling, probably
75 gallons of fuel, I would guess that's about half what you would
burn now with gas outboards. These guy's could be the future of
offshore fishing with the way fuel prices are. The only thing that
could kill them would be if the manufacturer got greedy, and wanted an
outragous amount of money for the engines.

I have a 3 liter ETEC 200 hp HO (90 degree block) that accomplishes
about the same fuel efficiency.

I'm also curious about their speed figures - did the article mention
what speeds were attained?

On Mar 11, Capt John wrote:
I imagine it wouldn't be
very easy to cram a turbo, a blower, and the plumbing for the air
under a small outboard cover

Why would you need both???

if it were a two stroke, you
probably wouldn't be able to sell them a few years from now.

Unless Etech has actually found a way to do what they claim to be
doing (lower emissions than current four strokes). Might work for two
stroke diesels as well.

On Wed,, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I have a 3 liter ETEC 200 hp HO (90 degree block) that accomplishes
about the same fuel efficiency.

And you're happy with it so far I take it?
I talked with a dealer the other day and he says they haven't replaced
a power head yet (but I wouldn't expect him to tell me even if he
has).
Etechs haven't caught on around here yet but given the pro-OMC crowd
of the past in my area, I don't know why it shouldn't. We shall see.

Rick

On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:24:45 -0500, lid wrote:

On Mar 11, Capt John wrote:
I imagine it wouldn't be
very easy to cram a turbo, a blower, and the plumbing for the air
under a small outboard cover

Why would you need both???

if it were a two stroke, you
probably wouldn't be able to sell them a few years from now.

Unless Etech has actually found a way to do what they claim to be
doing (lower emissions than current four strokes). Might work for two
stroke diesels as well.

On Wed,, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I have a 3 liter ETEC 200 hp HO (90 degree block) that accomplishes
about the same fuel efficiency.

And you're happy with it so far I take it?

Drooling all over myself happy. :)

I've had people actually switch from Optimax to ETEC and I know one
guy who has a Verado 300 who is thinking of switching to the new 300
ETEC based on a ride on my boat.

I talked with a dealer the other day and he says they haven't replaced
a power head yet (but I wouldn't expect him to tell me even if he
has).

I'll admit I had some software problems initially with my ETEC, but it
was very unusual (like most things that happen to me). What happened
was that my engine is a 90 degree engine. The installed software was
for a 60 degree block and there were some issues with the clock.

I have seen one with a busted piston, but apparently the owner played
with the software and screwed something up.

Once that was figured out, it's hasn't even burped.

Etechs haven't caught on around here yet but given the pro-OMC crowd
of the past in my area, I don't know why it shouldn't. We shall see.

I'm seeing more and more of them and guys I know who own the 90 ETEC
swear by them as the best outboard engine ever built.

On Wed, 12 Mar 08, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I'm seeing more and more of them and guys I know who own the 90 ETEC
swear by them as the best outboard engine ever built.

Even so, they've got their work cut out getting the market back from
Yamaha. The most well known long time OMC dealer here doesn't sell new
motors at all anymore. They keep the shop doors open by maintaining
everybody's old 2 strokes. They've got a loyal customer base.
Most people here don't even know we have an Etech dealer. The store is
new and known more for selling jet skis, four wheelers, and bicycles.
I think the old OMC dealer could do a much better job at competing
with the Yamaha dealers. I'm not sure how it ended up like this. But
frankly, everything is still topsy turvy around here after Katrina.
It's a different world here.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out though.

Rick

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Mar 08, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I'm seeing more and more of them and guys I know who own the 90 ETEC
swear by them as the best outboard engine ever built.

Even so, they've got their work cut out getting the market back from
Yamaha. The most well known long time OMC dealer here doesn't sell new
motors at all anymore. They keep the shop doors open by maintaining
everybody's old 2 strokes. They've got a loyal customer base.
Most people here don't even know we have an Etech dealer. The store is
new and known more for selling jet skis, four wheelers, and bicycles.
I think the old OMC dealer could do a much better job at competing
with the Yamaha dealers. I'm not sure how it ended up like this. But
frankly, everything is still topsy turvy around here after Katrina.
It's a different world here.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out though.

Rick



Yamaha's may be hurting soon also. Was just down in Costa Rica and talking
to the owner of Jungle Tom's tours. He supplies the boat transport for a
different tour companies, as well as observation of the boats in Tortuguero
area. All travel via boat of planes, as no roads. Suzuki seems to be the
ruling motor now. The Johnson's on the boats are 115-140 hp models and the
captain said they are Suzuki powerheads. Cheaper than Yamaha's to purchase
and run as well. Asked him about Etec's. A few around. Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. Too noisy and reliability is bad. Said
you will see a lot of the boats with twins will have one Etec up as it is
dead. Also said Etec will never be a big brand until it is like a Hyundai.
Parts readily available and reasonably priced. Etec injector is about a $1k
each. Will psot in another thread a trip report.

On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:06:29 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

A few around. Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. Too noisy and reliability is bad.

That right there tells me that Jungle Tom and Elvis don't know what
they are talking about.

Sorry Bill, ain't buying it.

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:06:29 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

A few around. Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. Too noisy and reliability is bad.

That right there tells me that Jungle Tom and Elvis don't know what
they are talking about.

Sorry Bill, ain't buying it.


Well, of course!

snerk

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:06:29 -0800, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

A few around. Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. Too noisy and reliability is bad.

That right there tells me that Jungle Tom and Elvis don't know what
they are talking about.

Sorry Bill, ain't buying it.

There money is made via boating. They have no reason to lie. They are
correct about parts cost and availability. One had the same comment about
Honda's. Expensive and if you need a part, is not readily available.

Calif Bill wrote:
wrote in message
...
On Wed, 12 Mar 08, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I'm seeing more and more of them and guys I know who own the 90 ETEC
swear by them as the best outboard engine ever built.
Even so, they've got their work cut out getting the market back from
Yamaha. The most well known long time OMC dealer here doesn't sell new
motors at all anymore. They keep the shop doors open by maintaining
everybody's old 2 strokes. They've got a loyal customer base.
Most people here don't even know we have an Etech dealer. The store is
new and known more for selling jet skis, four wheelers, and bicycles.
I think the old OMC dealer could do a much better job at competing
with the Yamaha dealers. I'm not sure how it ended up like this. But
frankly, everything is still topsy turvy around here after Katrina.
It's a different world here.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out though.

Rick



Yamaha's may be hurting soon also. Was just down in Costa Rica and talking
to the owner of Jungle Tom's tours. He supplies the boat transport for a
different tour companies, as well as observation of the boats in Tortuguero
area. All travel via boat of planes, as no roads. Suzuki seems to be the
ruling motor now. The Johnson's on the boats are 115-140 hp models and the
captain said they are Suzuki powerheads. Cheaper than Yamaha's to purchase
and run as well. Asked him about Etec's. A few around. Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. Too noisy and reliability is bad. Said
you will see a lot of the boats with twins will have one Etec up as it is
dead. Also said Etec will never be a big brand until it is like a Hyundai.
Parts readily available and reasonably priced. Etec injector is about a $1k
each. Will psot in another thread a trip report.



Uh-oh...the SW Tom Etec Defense League will be forming up soon.

On Mar 13, 6:26*pm, HK wrote:
Calif Bill wrote:
wrote in message
.. .
On Wed, 12 Mar 08, Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
I'm seeing more and more of them and guys I know who own the 90 ETEC
swear by them as the best outboard engine ever built.
Even so, they've got their work cut out getting the market back from
Yamaha. The most well known long time OMC dealer here doesn't sell new
motors at all anymore. They keep the shop doors open by maintaining
everybody's old 2 strokes. They've got a loyal customer base.
Most people here don't even know we have an Etech dealer. The store is
new and known more for selling jet skis, four wheelers, and bicycles.
I think the old OMC dealer could do a much better job at competing
with the Yamaha dealers. I'm not sure how it ended up like this. But
frankly, everything is still topsy turvy around here after Katrina.
It's a different world here.
It'll be interesting to see how it all shakes out though.

Rick

Yamaha's may be hurting soon also. *Was just down in Costa Rica and talking
to the owner of Jungle Tom's tours. *He supplies the boat transport for a
different tour companies, as well as observation of the boats in Tortuguero
area. *All travel via boat of planes, as no roads. *Suzuki seems to be the
ruling motor now. *The Johnson's on the boats are 115-140 hp models and the
captain said they are Suzuki powerheads. *Cheaper than Yamaha's to purchase
and run as well. *Asked him about Etec's. *A few around. *Statements by both
J. Tom and Elvin my Tarpon guide. *Too noisy and reliability is bad. *Said
you will see a lot of the boats with twins will have one Etec up as it is
dead. *Also said Etec will never be a big brand until it is like a Hyundai.
Parts readily available and reasonably priced. *Etec injector is about a $1k
each. *Will psot in another thread a trip report.

Uh-oh...the SW Tom Etec Defense League will be forming up soon.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well, I like Tom, but I won't be in the league. I'm a Mercruiser kind
of guy, that is unless I can find the deal of a lifetime on a 28 ft.
pontoon then I can put my old 115 hp Evinrude on it...