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So I repowered my 1995 Montauk with a 2012 Evinrude Etec 90 with 137/8x17 Viper stainless prop.
I have not been 100% happy with the performance of the motor so far.
Here are the issues.
* It vibrates something wicked at low RPM, the rail rattles and windshield shakes.
* It pops a little at cruising speed.
* Max speed I have hit is 37mph at 4900 RPM. (Im afraid to trim up to far how do I know if I have maxed out the trim is question 1)

From reading Tom's response to Eggeritys motor questions possibly the motor is mounted a little low. It is in the second hole down from the top (of four possible holes).

I am going to run out this tank of gas which includes a few gallons of old gas from last season and see if she evens out but to date it seems like the performance isnt on par with the 42 mph people are quoting.

Note my boat is light. I weigh 165, + 12 gallons of gas, 1 battery and no other extras.

Any insight?

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Uh, that is NOT normal. I have never experienced an Evinrude E-TEC 90 doing anything like that. I would return it to the dealer immediately. What do you mean when you say "it pops"?

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Im having a similar vibration issue. I questioned it when I took delievery and did the bat test and the dealer said it was normal on cold days on initial starts. Well, last night it was almost 80 degress and it was rattleing so bad at idle that the screws in the Rps fell out.
Time to haul it our and trailer it to the dealer.....

Seems like everything I touch is broken for the past 3 weeks.


Casey, lets keep in touch on this and compare notes.
GRRRR

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Casey-

After spending $9k, the dealer should ensure you are pleased. Be polite and FIRM. This is not okay.

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I really would like a testimonial from guys with a similar model Montauk (1995) and engine (2012 90 hp e-tec with Viper SS 17" prop).
I am looking for speed, RPM, and mounting height data. As stated above I am obviously have performance issues...with the motor. I am going to ask the deal to move the engine up from the one hole up position it is in to either two or three (all the way) up position.
Has anyone experienced cavitation from mounting at the three hole up position? Anyone have speed/tach numbers at WOT from this position?

I am going to have the dealer come down and listen to the motor this week. At 2500-2700 it skips a little bit still.

Any info will be useful

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I have posted my results on another thread. I get about 40.5 mph at about 5100 RPM... My engine is one hole from the highest.

I have the same prop as you do.

yesterday I had 2 people sitting up front while cruising and I had to trim the engine down lower than normal because I did get some cavation. This also could be fron a heavy following sea and the bow was dropping into 3-4footers.

I was out on friday alone and was able to really open it up and trim it way up and the boat was just about starting to chine walk, I felt like I really had to be carefull of not jerking the wheel or I could loose controll. At that point I could not even look down for speed results.

I did sit at the dock and increase the idle at neutral with the throttle and bringing the RPM up to about 720 or 730 got rid of most of the vibration and rattle. I am going to have to tie down the laddeer on my swim platform because tat is one of the places that most of the vibration comes from.

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Casey & Egerrity,

When I first started my new 2010 90hp E-Tec this spring I had some of the same vibration issues (rails, hatches, etc.). Once I got the old fuel out of the boat and filled it with 93 octane, it has improved a lot. The funny part is my old Merc used to shake like crazy with no boat vibration....the E-Tec is rock solid steady, with boat vibration????

The 16SL is a lot different boat but just as an FYI, so far my speeds are:
13" x 19" Rogue 4 blade stainless - 44 mph @ 4,900 rpm
12.7" x 19" Comp prop 4 blade - 42 mph @ 5,200 rpm
Have a 17" pitch composite & a stainless on the way.

Also noticed less vibration with the composite prop vs. the stainless prop????

Please post your findings and what the dealers say. Thanks!!!!

Jon B.

Note: my motor is mounted two holes down from the top which places the main cavatation plate about 1 1/2" above the bottom of the V.

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Jon
Interesting point... my mueller tank had 15 gallons of fuel from last year in it with Startron stabilizer. I refilled the tank yesterday with fresh 89 and I though I was crazy when i got back to the dock after running it hard and it seems to be better. Time will tell.
Still need to get it back to the deal to fix the trim indicator and trim gauge that stopped working.

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As noted above, bring it back to the dealer. You paid $9k for the dealer to rack his brain, not for you to figure it out.

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I have minimal faith in the dealer figuring it out on their own. They did send me home with the outboard mounted low it the first place. Also I just got a less than warm reception when I called and said it still wasn't right and that I wanted it at least one hole higher.

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If anyone wants performance data, mounting height and prop recommendations, it has already been posted.

You guys should use the search feature.

By entering Montauk E-Tec 90hp and selecting "must contain the words" you will find dozens of threads.

I would guess there are 10 or 12 members who have repowered their Montauk with an E-TEC 90hp.

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Caseyuconn, maybe you could tactifully mention to your dealer that you are a member of a website with 20,000+ members & will gladly recommend their service and brand to those members, or not.

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If you have an E-TEC there is no better online resource for the engine than http://www.etecownersgroup.com/group.com/. The site is run by a long time Evinrude dealer and the moderators are dealers and mechanics. The mid range HP motors can cause vibration and it can be adjusted for and your dealer will need to make the adjustments via the software.

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Agree with Jon's comment a few up the chain, even though he has a different model. I have a '79 Montauk and I replaced the original 90hp Merc Tower with a 90hp Etec in 2007. The old motor used to dance around while it gurgled at idle or low rpm...but there is minimal movement with the new motor. The rails on my Montauk, including the console grab rail, rattled around pretty good. I have since riveted them with stainless rivets which resolved some of the issue. the new engine clearly projects vibrations through the hull.

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Where we're all u guys with the vibration info prior to me buying this engine? Nobody ever mentioned this. We are all to wrapped up with mounting height.