Have just bought a new 26m from the factory to be shipped to Mauritius. Need some advice on the outboard. A 50hp 4 stroke yamaha is almost double the price of a 40hp 2 stroke yamaha when bought in Mauritius. Is it worth the extra money for only 10 hp extra
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INMHO
In My Humble Opinion, I would stick with the 50hp. The best weight/power ratio would also be a 2 stroke. The 50hp Evinrude Etec is by far the a better choice in two major ways; 1. You can use a larger prop than 4 stroke 50hp. Can take off (hole-shot) a 4 stroke with the greatest of ease (comparing 50hp to 50hp). 2. Maintenance-wise there is no break-in period for a new Etec and moreover you don't have to bring it in for its first warranty checkover until 3 years after you purchase it!
In My Humble Opinion, I would stick with the 50hp. The best weight/power ratio would also be a 2 stroke. The 50hp Evinrude Etec is by far the a better choice in two major ways; 1. You can use a larger prop than 4 stroke 50hp. Can take off (hole-shot) a 4 stroke with the greatest of ease (comparing 50hp to 50hp). 2. Maintenance-wise there is no break-in period for a new Etec and moreover you don't have to bring it in for its first warranty checkover until 3 years after you purchase it!
What's Available
Let me address it from the two Yamaha options you have listed in Mauritius. If the two stroke is about half that of the four stroke, that's the way I'd go unless you really feel you need to get maximum speed under power. I'm just guessing, but I'd think 10 HP, and with the weight break you get on the transom with a two-stroke, it's a three or four knot difference and you might be able to narrow that gap with a different prop. If absolute max speed is your criteria and you have unlimited money to spend then get the 50HP. Personally, if it were me, I usually am pretty practical, I'd get the 40 HP two stroke.
Let me address it from the two Yamaha options you have listed in Mauritius. If the two stroke is about half that of the four stroke, that's the way I'd go unless you really feel you need to get maximum speed under power. I'm just guessing, but I'd think 10 HP, and with the weight break you get on the transom with a two-stroke, it's a three or four knot difference and you might be able to narrow that gap with a different prop. If absolute max speed is your criteria and you have unlimited money to spend then get the 50HP. Personally, if it were me, I usually am pretty practical, I'd get the 40 HP two stroke.
Depending on your cruising territory
May dictate the difference as to what you may need. If you cruise inland waters like rivers lakes and streams then a lightweight 10hp 4 stroke may work for you there. If you find yourself cutting a trail through some tough tidal currents, then an engine with plenty of low-end torque is the ticket. In that case a 2 stroke is best. They will handle such current without having to wind them up to where they scream and drown out your Led Zeppelin music! sardo
May dictate the difference as to what you may need. If you cruise inland waters like rivers lakes and streams then a lightweight 10hp 4 stroke may work for you there. If you find yourself cutting a trail through some tough tidal currents, then an engine with plenty of low-end torque is the ticket. In that case a 2 stroke is best. They will handle such current without having to wind them up to where they scream and drown out your Led Zeppelin music! sardo
Yamaha 50hp 4 stroke vs Yamaha 40hp 2 stroke
Trevor, the 50hp/4S will be heavier then the 40hp/2S therefore the 40hp lightness should compensate for the -10hp. The 40/2 will not be as fuel efficient as the 50/4 which is some compensation for the difference in price. The 2S is noiser and needs oil/petrol mix but with modern engine technology this isn't as much a problem as it used to be. The other problem is how effective the 40/2 would be in getting the 26M up on its plane, on the 26X a Honda 40hp 4S would sometimes struggle to lift and maintain a full plane and the X is lighter then the M. (especially when all the extra weight of stuff needed for cruising is loaded aboard) The ideal would be to try both but that is usually not possible so its really back to you. The new 2S e-tec engines seem to be very good and the Susuki 4S engines are lighter then most of the others but thats another mix in the question Cheers Morris
Trevor, the 50hp/4S will be heavier then the 40hp/2S therefore the 40hp lightness should compensate for the -10hp. The 40/2 will not be as fuel efficient as the 50/4 which is some compensation for the difference in price. The 2S is noiser and needs oil/petrol mix but with modern engine technology this isn't as much a problem as it used to be. The other problem is how effective the 40/2 would be in getting the 26M up on its plane, on the 26X a Honda 40hp 4S would sometimes struggle to lift and maintain a full plane and the X is lighter then the M. (especially when all the extra weight of stuff needed for cruising is loaded aboard) The ideal would be to try both but that is usually not possible so its really back to you. The new 2S e-tec engines seem to be very good and the Susuki 4S engines are lighter then most of the others but thats another mix in the question Cheers Morris
Hey Boys, Check this out
Click on the link, then after the page loads up, click on Etec Challenges. Enjoy sardo
Click on the link, then after the page loads up, click on Etec Challenges. Enjoy sardo
50hp+
To amplify another post, yes sailing venue should be your first consideration, you don't need a lot of horsepower on a small lake. Now, on the other hand, if you are on a huge lake as in the Great Lakes or coastal sailing in the ocean then don't stop at 50hp, the Evinrude E-tec 50hp and 60 hp are the same engine, just that the 50 is de-tuned to put out less hp, go with the 60hp E-tec and you won't regret it. Recent rumors indicate that the factory recommended engine will in fact be the E-tec 50-60 engine. So there you have it. Now if you have some extra cash, consider the Etec 90hp, and you will definitely experience the true duality of the Macgregor powersailer and enjoy planing in the true sense of the word. I have 50HP Honda on mine and that poor engine screams its' guts out at WOT without quite making it up out of the hole and planing on its' bow wave. The Etec-60 might be the ticket to planing and if I was buying my first engine I would settle for nothing less. I sail in the PNW and regularly challenge tidal currents, sure the Honda works but it really struggles under load. My next engine will be an E-tec 90hp, just have to save up some cash. I know of several Mac owners who have upgraded to 75hp, 90hp and beyond with no regrets, the more hp the merrier. Also consider more hp extends the reach of your sailing grounds and on extended trips you can cover more miles per day. Advantages of more hp far outweigh the added weight especially with the better hp to weight ratio of the E-tec series. As for a 40hp, a great big mistake, don't do it, you will live to regret it.
To amplify another post, yes sailing venue should be your first consideration, you don't need a lot of horsepower on a small lake. Now, on the other hand, if you are on a huge lake as in the Great Lakes or coastal sailing in the ocean then don't stop at 50hp, the Evinrude E-tec 50hp and 60 hp are the same engine, just that the 50 is de-tuned to put out less hp, go with the 60hp E-tec and you won't regret it. Recent rumors indicate that the factory recommended engine will in fact be the E-tec 50-60 engine. So there you have it. Now if you have some extra cash, consider the Etec 90hp, and you will definitely experience the true duality of the Macgregor powersailer and enjoy planing in the true sense of the word. I have 50HP Honda on mine and that poor engine screams its' guts out at WOT without quite making it up out of the hole and planing on its' bow wave. The Etec-60 might be the ticket to planing and if I was buying my first engine I would settle for nothing less. I sail in the PNW and regularly challenge tidal currents, sure the Honda works but it really struggles under load. My next engine will be an E-tec 90hp, just have to save up some cash. I know of several Mac owners who have upgraded to 75hp, 90hp and beyond with no regrets, the more hp the merrier. Also consider more hp extends the reach of your sailing grounds and on extended trips you can cover more miles per day. Advantages of more hp far outweigh the added weight especially with the better hp to weight ratio of the E-tec series. As for a 40hp, a great big mistake, don't do it, you will live to regret it.
90 hp Tohatsu
I went with the 90 hp Tohatsu and enjoy both the sailing aspects of the M and the motoring aspects. Sunday I had a great sail with 4 men onboard my oldest son and two of his Army Iraq war buddies and a 300# outboard motor and we still hit 9 mph sailing max speed according to the gps. Best all over cruise was a sustained 6 mph on a broad reach. Under motor with the 90 hp Tohatsu my M will run wot 25 mph at 5400 rpm top speed and will cruise at 4500 rpm at 19 mph. I enjoy the full range of pleasure derived from both the sailing and the motoring aspects of the M. Many have had problems with a 50 hp motor being under powered and many have not had that problem. Some can't even plain their boats with their 50 hp motors, however no one that has tried the larger motors on the M or X that I have ever discussed this with has ever regreted going with a larger motor than a 50 hp. Just do a search of the archives on this subject and you'll get a lot of history of opinions and then you can decide what's best for you. Kind Regards, JonBill
I went with the 90 hp Tohatsu and enjoy both the sailing aspects of the M and the motoring aspects. Sunday I had a great sail with 4 men onboard my oldest son and two of his Army Iraq war buddies and a 300# outboard motor and we still hit 9 mph sailing max speed according to the gps. Best all over cruise was a sustained 6 mph on a broad reach. Under motor with the 90 hp Tohatsu my M will run wot 25 mph at 5400 rpm top speed and will cruise at 4500 rpm at 19 mph. I enjoy the full range of pleasure derived from both the sailing and the motoring aspects of the M. Many have had problems with a 50 hp motor being under powered and many have not had that problem. Some can't even plain their boats with their 50 hp motors, however no one that has tried the larger motors on the M or X that I have ever discussed this with has ever regreted going with a larger motor than a 50 hp. Just do a search of the archives on this subject and you'll get a lot of history of opinions and then you can decide what's best for you. Kind Regards, JonBill
JonBill
I looked into a Tohatsu early on when I was certain about buying a MACM26. Would have been my motor of choice (the 50hp), however the Tohatsu dealer and I could not agree on installation costs so therefore I kept my word to him and went down the street and purchased an Etec and got it mounted for just the price of the engine. Never considered a 90hp although 300 pounds is not that bad, barely 50lbs over what my 50hp Etech weighs. You know, looking at it in a different light, my Mother-in-Law weighs 410 pounds and it didn't seem to bring the bow up much if any. sardo ;D
I looked into a Tohatsu early on when I was certain about buying a MACM26. Would have been my motor of choice (the 50hp), however the Tohatsu dealer and I could not agree on installation costs so therefore I kept my word to him and went down the street and purchased an Etec and got it mounted for just the price of the engine. Never considered a 90hp although 300 pounds is not that bad, barely 50lbs over what my 50hp Etech weighs. You know, looking at it in a different light, my Mother-in-Law weighs 410 pounds and it didn't seem to bring the bow up much if any. sardo ;D
Thank you all for the very informative replies. Have got a good deal on a 60hp Mercury. Same weight as the 50 just electronically upgraded. Now just waiting for the boat to arrive in Mauritius. Takes about 45 days by container ship from LA to here Regards Trevor
Funny
Sardo, That was really funny and I laughed out loud when reading your post. That's true that the difference in weight between the Tohatsu 90 and most 50's out there is about the weight of one 8 or 9 years old kid. So unless your racing (sailing) it doesn't matter. But the extra it provides under power is awesome. Kind Regards, JonBill
Sardo, That was really funny and I laughed out loud when reading your post. That's true that the difference in weight between the Tohatsu 90 and most 50's out there is about the weight of one 8 or 9 years old kid. So unless your racing (sailing) it doesn't matter. But the extra it provides under power is awesome. Kind Regards, JonBill
Bigfoot
Trevor, In regards to the Mercury 60hp, be sure it is the bigfoot model, the main objective here is to swing a 14" diameter prop, the bigfoot 60 does, not sure of the vanila one. Most but not all of the 50hp engines barely swing a 12" diameter prop and really, to get these big boats moving efficiently, a 14" diameter prop is the ticket. Mercury/Yamaha have both a Bigfoot/HighThrust model and the regular model. The prop diameter has a big impact on performannce and manouvering, you may even wish to consider a 4 blade prop for even more water surface contact. Do yourself favour and double check on this.
Trevor, In regards to the Mercury 60hp, be sure it is the bigfoot model, the main objective here is to swing a 14" diameter prop, the bigfoot 60 does, not sure of the vanila one. Most but not all of the 50hp engines barely swing a 12" diameter prop and really, to get these big boats moving efficiently, a 14" diameter prop is the ticket. Mercury/Yamaha have both a Bigfoot/HighThrust model and the regular model. The prop diameter has a big impact on performannce and manouvering, you may even wish to consider a 4 blade prop for even more water surface contact. Do yourself favour and double check on this.
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