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Hi everyone..
I'm having an E-Tec 30 put on the back of my 74 Sourpuss next week. There won't be a tachometer so I'm a little concerned about ending up with the right prop.
I'd like to get a stainless steel prop that will give me good all-around performance and operate in the recommended range of 5400-5800 RPM WOT. Speed is important, but of course so is time to plane.
I know someone out there has this engine on their older 13'....Can you please tell me which pitch you're using and how it's performing for you?
Many thanks and Merry Christmas everyone.

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I'm assuming that as part of the install they are putting in an engine-check gauge? For the warranty to be valid there has to be at least one of these. Since they're already doing that, you could spend a bit extra to get the engine-check plus tachometer. That's what I did. Admittedly the gauge is a bit bigger, but worth it in the long run.

Though you probably know this already, make sure they get the engine high enough--AV plate at least even with the bottom, if not a hole or two up. This is one of the key factors in choosing the correct prop. My dealer installed my E-TEC all the way down, despite what I asked for--if they tell you it has to be all the way down they are wrong.

When I finally got the engine raised it was clear that the prop they had decided on for a lower engine was no longer the right one.

Theoretically, if your dealer is good and they install the engine at the correct height then I would let them recommend the right SS prop. If you don't trust their recommendation, then you'll probably have to get some sort of tach to make your own judgement.

John K.

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How are you going to be using the boat? With little boats and little horsepower loading makes a big difference. I actually have three propellers for my 30hp (not etec) motor for that reason.

It came with 12 pitch from the dealer when we bought it. A driver and half a tank of gas put that prop in the lower half of the recommended range. This was the ideal prop for a light load. Ran with it for two years. It would top out just before the recommended range with two people and two gas tanks which was the typical load. It would struggle to get on plane with 4 people in the boat or 2 in the boat and one on a small tube.

Got an 11 pitch which will actually slightly over rev at full throttle with 1 person and 1/2 a tank of gas. But its the right prop for 85% of my use.

Picked up a 10 pitch for short money on ebay. It gets used for towing my daughter's double wide tube (wider than the boat) or getting on plane with five people, two gas tanks, and a cooler.

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I've asked the dealer to check to see if the tach option will fit in the small mahogany dash on the Sourpuss. Even if not, I'm still want the tach now but need to figure out (quickly) where I could mount it.
No, I didn't know about the mounting, so I really appreciate the input.
Gage, which 13" stainless prop are you using? How much speed do you get out of it?
We use the boat for cruising and fishing. I like to just drive it around and I'd like to have a top speed at or above 30 if possible...don't know if that's realistic?!?! I've never pulled a tube with it but the kids would love it. I'm wide open to the multiple props idea...just don't know which ones to get. My 96 Johnson 30 has no trim, an aluminum 13" prop, and i've never considered changing it. I have no idea what RPM it's running at!
Thanks guys...

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I fit the tach on the top of my '69 console--I'll have to get a picture. It would have just fit to the face of the console, but I can see it better on the top.

Question about mounting: do you have power Tilt and Trim or is it manual trim?

I have a few different props. The first is the alujminum one that the dealer put on. I don't remember the pitch at the moment, but once I raised the engine it was wrong (the engine would over-rev). I also have a four-blade aluminum for pulling skiers/tubes, and a simple Solas SS. Frankly, I don't think much of the Solas in terms or performance; it's not that much better than the aluminum prop. I'd been considering a better SS, like a Stiletto, but it looks like I'll be selling the 13, so it's not worth it now.

For top speed I've just cracked 30. Since I have manual trim I can't adjust the engine to the optimum angle underway, but top speed has never been my goal.

John K.

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Robin, I don't know if you are going to be installing a GPS, but a lot of the new ones include the ability to connect to and read data from the motor - there's no need for a separate tach.

Tim

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I've been on the phone with the dealer today and told them to expect to mount the tach/system gauge combo unit on the boat instead of just the system gauge. They have them in stock so I can go either way. If it doesn't fit on the small dash I'll mount it next to the steering wheel. That's an excellent idea and it may even look pretty cool there on the Sourpuss.
It will have power tilt and trim and 30 was the speed I was hoping to see, so that was welcome news.
I'm going in the morning to show them how I want it mounted and where to place the tach on the top if needed.
I'll definitely be checking out the GPS units with tachs too. I'm pretty sure an upgraded Humminbird is already under the tree for me this year though!... Again, thanks for all the input. It has helped a lot.

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Smaller size motors do not have the NMEA2000 capabilities to use a network to display engine data on gauges or screens.

Evinrude E-TECs 40hp and up have NMEA2000 certification

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Bummer - I know the NMEA capabilities are working their way down the food chain, but I guess they have not made it to the 30-horse level for Evinrude yet. And the eTec 40 is a big jump in weight.

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Well Guys...Got her back today and it is both great looking and great performing. Trimmed out today at 5800rpm I got 32 MPH on 2 different GPS readouts with the BRP 13 cupped stainless prop I had the dealer mount during the install. It was me and my 11 year old and 10 gallons of gas the dealer had put on.
It's unbelievably quiet, smooth, and just as good on the hole shot as the 96 Johnson 30 we replaced. The top speed on my Johnson was 25, but we never had the power trim working for us like this E-Tec, which is really a treat.
I did have the Tach installed as suggested and also specified the AV plate be at 1-2 inches above the lowest part of the hull...I measured it tonight and it's 2.5 inches...based on the performance, I think it's fine.
Now....above 29MPH it really did start to porpoise, and I'd like to get that under control. The Johnson had a little hydrofoil and never porpoised. Have any of you used one? Do you know what kind of speed I may lose with the drag? any other ideas.... I called the dealer back and they said to continue to experiment with the trim, recommending against any hydrofoil due to drag. What do you guys think?

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Congratulations, sounds like they installed it just right!

I'd suggest no foil. Because I don't have power tilt my trim is always a compromise. I tried a foil in order to be able to set trim at one more hole out, but took it off after a couple of runs. I didn't like the way it affected steering and ride. Since you do have power trim just trim the engine in at higher speeds. You may lose a couple of mph, but the 13's not a speedboat IMO. You can also experiment on weight distribution. That's what I did for example, moving the battery up behind the front seat. Or just have your son in the front seat!

John K.

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I agree with your dealer and others....

NO foil.........

You have other choices...
Try different props.

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Hit the lake again today since it looks like the colder weather is coming Monday. Today was 70 and calm wind. No passengers...just me and 6-7 gallons of fuel. I recorded the numbers for those of you that care. I know I wanted details before I got the E-tec so I'm posting this to help others.
With the Sourpuss I 'm centered, which is good, with a 13 Gal tank under the aft seat and a battery centered behind that. I mention all that because I could tell today it mattered...A LOT. When I moved forward on the seat edge and got my shoulders over the steering wheel I could ALMOST dampen out the porpoising at 30 MPH...above that...didn't matter. ..it went crazy.
The hole-shot is great. Trimmed full down it just pops out and on plane almost right away. It was better today than yesterday without my son sitting next to me.
The dealer installed a Stainless BRP 3x10x13 Part Number 765178.
- at WOT, RPM was 5500, trimmed down a bit, with a smooth ride at 29MPH.
- trimming up, at 5600, speed was 30mph with a moderate porpoise that I could dampen by leaning forward. A passenger (or moving the battery or fuel) up front would prob do away with that......By the way, on yesterday's ride with my boy, he never sat up front...just beside me.
- at 5700, speed was 31 and with a heavy porpoise.
- at 5800, speed was 32, but the porpoise was too much to keep it up for long, even on the glass water.
- I could actually trim to 5900-6000, still 32 MPH.....but it was so rough I couldn't take it.
So I saw 32 MPH by myself today and yesterday with a 90 lb passenger. I also can get to 6000 RPM, which is too high, but maybe the foil would pull that back to 5800 and I'd still get the speed...not sure. I'm not that interested in the foil but I'd love to get the smooth ride by myself at or even above 30MPH....I prob could do that by just moving the battery up under the steering wheel....but before that I plan to try a different prop.
Regarding speed, I know many of you don't care that much....but some do. I do. I wanted 30. 27-28 was fine today, but 30 seemed perfect for me and this boat....I just need it to stop the mild porpoise at 30. Next time I take her out a passenger will surely be along (and I'll put them up front)...so I'll post again if any of you want the details.
Thanks again for all your advice.
OH...and I found a typo in yesterdays' post...they mounted it with the AV plate 1/2 " above the hull...not 2 1/2"

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Actually WOT range for the 30HP is between 5500-6100 RPM so 6000 RPM is not really too high. It seems like you have the right prop and the right height so I would try shifting weight around. Weight placement on the 13 is pretty important. See if you can move somethings forward and possibly play with the trim before putting the foil on.