experiences with Evinrude Etec 60 (or 40/40HO/50)

[marco.A]

Hey all,

At the moment I have a 60 autolube on the back of my avon SR4.
Absolute beast of an engine but also a bit thirsty

I'm looking into possible replacement and lean towards the Etec 60hp.
I know 4 strokes ar more quit but I'm afraid I will miss the "fire" of a 2 stroke. Especially in a go kart like boat like the SR4.

And the etec is know for its torque?

So the question is, can people over here inlight me with the below:

Sound (compared to 4 stroke)
Fuel consumption (the autolube is using 25/30 liter on 60km with avg 50km/h)
oil consumption
torque / power feel
General feel of the engine

Thanks already!

[Locozodiac]

You can get a better fuel comsumption is the motor runs towards it's max wot rpm range factory stated, for that will need to prop it right. Once there, can throttle at a much less throttle range than before while maintaining excellent plane at less rpm if happens that the current prop is not doing its homework right ?

Happy Boating

[marco.A]

I dont have a rev counter.
The previous owner has been sailing around with this combo for years and i dont have the feeling the engine over revs or cant give its full power.
It is a really smooth combo.

The 50km/h is more or less 3/4 throttle. Top speed is 67km/h.
1L on 2km isnt that bad for a 1988 autolube.
But i just need to take a lot of fuel for the larger (100km +) trips

[Pikey Dave]

The 60hp Etec has had problems with breaking saddles. If you can run to the 75hp, it’s a much stronger engine both in power & construction. It depends on what the boat will take.
Generally I like Etecs, I had a pair of 115s on a 6.4m RIB. Great torque & acceleration with 4 stroke economy. Low maintenance & servicing costs. The 60hp is probably the weakest engine in the lineup.

[marco.A]

Thanks Dave.

The max for the SR4 is 50hp the current 60 is oke but anything more than that would be nuts. Also when it comes to the weight on the transom.

I'm looking at second hand engines at the moment so the weak spots should be out of those. But the saddles is a good one to look out for!

Grtz,

[Ferryman]

I put an Etec 50 on my SR4, only because Powertech Marine, a main dealer we’re about a mile from our house on Hayling Island.
It was excellent, it is the max HP for the hull and after a few of these boats, I always thought it was enough.
It did give chine walk flat out with 2 up and trimmed right out the hull was at it’s max!

[marco.A]

Originally Posted by Ferryman

I put an Etec 50 on my SR4, only because Powertech Marine, a main dealer we’re about a mile from our house on Hayling Island.
It was excellent, it is the max HP for the hull and after a few of these boats, I always thought it was enough.
It did give chine walk flat out with 2 up and trimmed right out the hull was at it’s max!

Sounds good. How was the etec one fuel and oil?
A good 50 would also be an option. For the top speed it doesnt really matter and i'm not sure if i will notice the 10 hp in the whole shot..?

[Ferryman]

Oil wasn’t really an issue - expensive but lasted for ages, I used the etec branded one.
On economy it was also great, I wasn’t really counting but I went from Hayling Island around the Isle of Wight on 35 litres once.
It wasn’t as quiet as a 4 stroke but you could easily have a conversation at 30ish knots and it was noticeably much quieter than my old Yamaha 50 from the early 90s.

[Ferryman]

I just googled it and I think that’s about 70/80 miles give or take a bit!

[marco.A]

thanks!
That fuel consumption sound a lot better that the autolube
That they make a bit more noise than the 4 strokes i can life with.
I kinda like the sound of the yammie but it is pretty loud

[pagick]

I’m running a Etec60 on my zodiac futura mk2.
I built out the controls/seat that makes it heavy compared to tiller setups. I love the combination. My top speed is lower than others stated, 37 mph at WOT 5800. The speed tubes make the boat have very good stability but I’m suspicious they are actually slowing the boat not making it faster as advertised. My hull just has more surface area in the water.
As far as nose level it’s louder than the merc efi 40 I had but I am not bothered at all with it.
I run a 12 gal tank and it gets me 60-70 miles at full speed.
I’ll guess the oil after breakin is 4-6 trips with the xd100 oil.
I have some videos on YouTube. Search “Zodiac Futura 60 hp”

[Ferryman]

I loved the old Yamaha until it died of old age but with the Etec 50, it was the first time on flat water that I got an SR4 absolutely flat out, trimmed up, nearly airborne big fun!

[pagick]

A fact perhaps some don’t realize. The etec 40,50 &60hp are built as 60 hp. Same parts, same weight, but the software is where the 40-50hp get restricted. At least that’s what the dealer told me.

[marco.A]

Originally Posted by pagick

A fact perhaps some don’t realize. The etec 40,50 &60hp are built as 60 hp. Same parts, same weight, but the software is where the 40-50hp get restricted. At least that’s what the dealer told me.

Yes, thats why there is this 40 H.O. version. Basically a 60 hp with 40 on the hood. Never understood why they didnt sell these as normal 60's though..

[marco.A]

Originally Posted by Ferryman

I loved the old Yamaha until it died of old age but with the Etec 50, it was the first time on flat water that I got an SR4 absolutely flat out, trimmed up, nearly airborne big fun!

What was your top speed and how was the whole shot with the 50 etec?

[Ferryman]

With the flooding hull, the SR4 is never too quick off the mark and holding 8 knots is a pain but the pain is worthwhile to me for the stability at sea if you like to drift!
For a 4m boat it gives amazing capability.
Top speed on the gps was 38 knots downhill with a following wind! 1 up with no fuel - I am a 6’8” ex rugby player so a big load up but as I said before, the hull was flat out imo.

[two stroke mick]

I have 60hp etc. The saddles are weak. I broke one and twisted it's brother. The engine was set high with the bearing part of the saddle about 1inch above the transom. I have since filled this area. To provide support to the saddle. The engine has been good besides but in my opinion the saddles do not make it a wave jumping engine. From my research this problem is only on the 60hp and I have only seen it on ribs.

Tsm

[marco.A]

Thanks Ferryman. At the moment with the 60 and the flooding hull she takes of like a rocket. I dont mind to give a little on that but it is kinda adictive :-)

Mick, Those breaking saddles. Is dat because of the forces of the hydraulic steering? The engine is bolted on the transom so with jumping (what i do on the rivers) the saddles dont get that much of stress or am i seeing it wrong?

[Northern Pike]

40 50 and 60 ETEC are the same engine, with software differences, plus one big difference with the 60: It has a solenoid and water valve which allows water to enter the exhaust system and change the tuning at high revs, to gain those extra 10 ponies.

This is the best site for all things ETEC:

https://www.etecownersgroup.com/categories

From what I saw at the Boat Show this year, apparently the newest ones are completely different, with an extra cylinder added this year.
That's irrelevant to the OP, looking for a used one.

I have had a 50 for a number of years. Its my third Evinrude. The previous ones were totally reliable and bullet proof. That's why I bought another.
The ETECs have the same blocks as the older engines, but with new modern fuel delivery and lubrication systems.
Mine is far better on fuel than the 40 I had before it. Its also much quieter.
I love it. It has a heavy duty gear case, same as used on models with higher horsepower.
I like that durability.
I haven't heard of this issue with saddles.

[pagick]

I just today fired my 60hp up on the stand. It started on the first rotation. It’s 3 years old. Sat 6 months. Love it.