Re: Evinrude e-tec or Yamaha 4 Stroke
The International Committee of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) is basically a statistics gathering house for everything marine around the world an international version of the NMMA if you will a manufacturers association. Although they have various committees which meet up to 3 or 4 times per year, they appear to have no policy or legal enforcement powers (my opinion after spending quite a bit of time reviewing their web site). In the U.S., enforcement is generally left to the US Coast Guard and/or individual state agencies such as the DNR. ICOMIA, does have a standards link on their web site, it looks like ICOMIA maintains the library of international standards, such as all those symbols that appear on gauges and in owners manuals. But again, here in the states the ABYC (American Boat & Yacht Council) sets the standards for U.S. marine manufacturers.<br /><br />Based on ICOMIA provided statistics, the average recreational boater runs their outboard motor about 35 to 50 hours (depending which document you read) per year this is what Backfire has alluded to. They also state the average recreational boater runs their engine as follows:<br /><br />40% @ idle rpm range <br />25% @ 2000 rpm range <br />15% @ 3000 rpm range <br />14% @ 4000 rpm range and <br />6% @ 5000 rpm range<br /><br />The 3 years/300 hours (which ever comes first) no maintenance claim is based on these statistics. <br /><br />BTW, just uncrated an E-TEC 90 horse yesterday for display. The owners manual, under the maintenance section says:<br /><br />
Routine inspection and maintenance is necessary for all mechanized products. Periodic maintenance contributes to the products life span. The following chart provides guidelines for outboard inspection and maintenance to be performed by an authorized Dealer.<br /><br />IMPORTANT: Outboards used for rental operations, commercial applications, or other high hour use applications require more frequent inspections and maintenance. Inspection and maintenance should be adjusted according to operating conditions and use; and environmental conditions.
Additionally, there is a maintenance chart, and there are a couple of foot-noted items like grease fittings. The foot-note says:
Annually in salt water applications.
Should the operator pull the prop off once in a while and inspect for fishing line wrapped around the prop shaft? Hell yes, thats what the first statement is telling us!<br /><br />But, these advantages still arent lost on the charter or guide service that may choose to use them (obviously youve excluded yourself here Forky). The vast majority of engines are on a 100 hour maintenance schedule. (I've seen a million owners manuals and ton's of service manuals, if you don't believe this statement, check your local library or visit your local dealer - the info is available and free for the viewing.) Foot-noted items listed for those engines typically say Every 30 days for salt water use or Lubricate more frequently for salt water use. So for someone who may have the opportunity to run 300 hours a season, rather than having three scheduled/ required services (dealer or DIY), theyre down to one annual service. A reasonable person, I would think, can still see the benefits.<br /><br />Also based on these ICOMIA statistics is the oil use claim. One tank of oil (which is 2 quarts for 40/50/60 & 3 quarts for 75/90) will last a season. Well that would be approximately 50 hours when programmed for E-TEC oil, or approximately 35 hours with the TCW-3 programming. But guess what? The not so average recreational boater who runs slower will use less, or the one who runs WOT all the time will use more. Common sense rules apply boys & girls in other words, read thru the marketing pitch.<br /><br />Digest this factual information which I found on the EPA and CARB web sites regarding emissions certification: To attain the 3-star rating, an engine cannot produce more than 16 grams per kilowatt-hour (gr/kw-hr) of total Oxides of Nitrogen (Nox) + total Hydrocarbons (HC). <br /><br />The E-TEC 40/50 certified @ 13.44 gr/kw-hr and E-TEC 75/90 certified @ 12.32 gr/kw-hr. These figures exceed (are cleaner than) the 3-star rating. What difference does it make
when the engine was certified? It appears (to me anyway) that
they achieved their stated goal. Most 4-strokes in the same hp range (40 thru 90) fall into the 11.4 to 15.4 gr/kw-hr. Some are a little cleaner, some not, but keep in mind these emissions measurements are the sum of total Oxides of Nitrogen (Nox) + total Hydrocarbons (HC). HC is unburned fuel (or fuel/oil in the case of a DI 2-stroke) and Nox is a by-product of combustion. <br /><br />What is not represented here is Carbon Monoxide (CO), you know, the one gas that can put you to sleep
permanently. While most 4-strokes emit about 100 to 246 gr/kw-hr of CO, Honda has one of the cleanest, with the BF40 at 82 and also some of the worst (BF8 & 9.9) with 513 & 336 respectively, they also hold the honor for what appears to be the worst CO emitter, the BF2 @ 639! Yamahas 4-strokes range from 102 to 259, however, their worst is also a little one, the 2.5 hp @ 466. By and large, the biggest CO emitters were the 4-stroke kicker outboards 15hp & smaller (all brands).<br /><br />In comparison, The Evinrude DIs (Ficht) emit from 85 to 125, Mercs OptiMax 79 to 166 and only four Yamahas HPDIs were listed (150, 200, 225 & 300). They emitted from 46 to 105, about half the CO of their 4-stroke counterparts. However
(comma, add pause for effect) the Evinrude E-TECs CO emissions range from 66.49 to 69.8. IMHO, this is quite a bit less then the average 4-stroker.<br /><br />The proof is on two different government agencies official web sites.<br /><br />Now regarding gearing, propping and boat performance: While many of you understand (some all too well) the theory and speed calculations, it's also obvious to those of us who rig, set-up and repair boats & motors on a
daily basis that the finer points of optimal set-up are lost on those of a stuborn mind set. Cuz when you start tweaking a set up and creating less hydro-dynamic drag in the water, it blows the theoretical/ mathematical formulas right out of the water. <br /><br />These theories
do not take into account diameter (and therefore blade surface area), blade thickness (the difference between aluminum, and stainless = resistance or drag) and those neat little features like extra cupping in certain locations (thrust). I'm highly speculative if the formula even considers that todays propellers do
not have a constant pitch.
But, I won't go there. Pitch is actually progressive and changes over the length of the blades - the pitch stamp on a prop is merely an average of the pitch measured along several point on the blade. IF someone wants to play the caped crusader and single handedly clear up misinformation, then at least "get it right".<br /><br /> Oh, BTW, if someone out there does have an E-TEC, please chime in & share your thoughts - it's too stinkin' cold in this neck of the woods for me to want to go out & run this one now.<br /><br />-John
