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Made the second real run on the new engine yesterday. 2019 Evinrude e-tec 90 hp. Couldn't be happier. And neither, it seems, could the boat.

Very pleased with the power/torque and response of the new engine.

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1st run

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2nd run -- Striper fishing yesterday :) This engine is incredibly more quiet than the 1984 VRO 90 it replaced.

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First a Quigley, now a new E-tec. I'm envious..

But no striper? And you look cold.

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Living the dream, I guess :) It was cold, and spitting rain a little. But we were dressed for it.

Stripers were quite uncooperative. Still, we were out on the water, lines out and motor running great. Rather an enjoyable afternoon. Real rain came just as we finished putting the mooring cover back on :) Perfect.

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Congrats to ya! Cold or not I would go too.

I'm far removed from finishing my boat. Delayed by taking on a huge project at work. May miss the end of season fishing again this year.

Turned down a crab trip this morning.....sigh.

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The Evinrude E-Tec 90 hp 3 cylinder inline outboard motor should be bolted to a blue hull 16 footer transom at the "three holes up" mounting position. Your boat will perform better with a faster holeshot, less draft, less drag, better economy, and better top end full-throttle speed.

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I would raise that puppy up as well.

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Top speed mow is pegged at 32 kts which is plenty for me. Not sure I would want the boat faster than that anyway as she is getting a little age on her and I don't want to beat her to death. Rarely have water flat enough for that, anyway. And if I feel the need for speed, I can always jump on the Waverunner ;) 32 kts was good enough for Arleigh Burke so it's good enough for me! So far, draft hasn't been an issue, and because it replaced a semi-tired 1985 VRO 90, the improvements in speed, torque, efficiency and everything else have been impressive and mask any losses I might be experiencing from having the engine mounted too low.

Worth checking into, though, so thanks -- I will take it up with my dealer.

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You are correct, it is not all about the full throttle speed performance of your Sakonnet 16 boat with the installation of the brand new E-Tec 90 3 cylinder in-line outboard.

Probably the most important factor for outboard performance and longevity is the max RPM reading when the outboard is operated at full throttle. The factory range spec is 5000-5500rpm. If your boat is not reaching that minimum range of 5000 rpm, you are lugging your outboard and such a condition will definitely shorten the life span of your motor.

Have you and/or your dealer tested your new outboard's max RPM at full throttle? Such a test is a standard practice before the dealer signed off on the owner ready for use document. Most Evinrude dealers do not know the proper mounting position for a Sakonnet 16.

Fortunately, your fellow members here at Whaler Central and owners of 16 hulls have done all of the experimentation and performance records for many brand of outboards, which includes the E-Tec 90 3 cylinder inline, dating back now more than 15 years.

We have moved beyond opinion about what is the best rigging practice, to facts concluded about how a 16 footer will perform with the E-Tec 90 mounted at 3 holes up. As feedback, 36 mph full throttle speed suggests there is something out of the ordinary, either the weight of your boat, and/or the mounting height of your motor.

And then there is the question of propeller selection to further enhance performance. Stainless vs Aluminum? pitch/diameter? how many blades? etc. All of that information about propeller selection for your motor is available on this site.

It is not difficult for one person to raise an outboard motor already bolted to a 16 transom. I accomplished the task recently in about 1 hour time on my Sakonnet 16 boat.

The search feature on this site will reveal many discussions about the proper techniques for raising an outboard to a new mounting position.

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Weatherly,
Sorry to have taken so long to respond ... life got in the way. At any rate, thanks for the response.

Skipping to the chase ... As you may see from the photo, if we mounted the engine any higher, the anti-cavitation plate would be out of the water (leading to prop cavitation and other evils) on plane. Currently, with the engine in neutral trim, it pretty much aligns just below the level of the keel.

Granted, it's been a few years since Naval Architecture and Hydrodynamics class (and we were mostly concerned with non-planing displacement hulls -- big grey ones ... with guns ;) ), but I'm assuming that's where we want it?

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I have the same hull as you x 2. 1964 and 1966 both with Yamaha 2-strokes. One a 70hp and the other a 90hp.

I finally after many years of reading the suggestions here about raising the motor did it with the 70hp. The difference was signifigant and so as soon as I purchased the 90hp I raised it also.

It looks like you have a stainless painted prop. That is part of why you can raise without cavitation issues. You will get better fuel economy also.

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Stove -

The anticavitation plate should be ~1 1/2 - 2" above the bottom of the keel.

When at med/high speed, one should be able to see the anticavitation plate out of the water if one looks over the transom.

As Weatherly said - It's about running efficiently at all speeds, not just about WOT.

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Stovebolt
I looked at your personal page. On the last pictures there is a scum line that looks like the stern sat low. Did the PO leave it with water in the stern maybe?

Seems to sit fine in all the pictures.

Looks like a nice place to boat, if you ever come to Annapolis let me know, I have a pier where you could tie up and there is a ramp down the street.

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Stovebolt: I served 2 years on the very first gas-powered turbine propelled US cutter in American naval history. It never performed the way it was designed. I wrote monthly casrep reports about the malfunctioning reduction gears.

Anyway, I have owned more than a dozen 16 hulls and I have repowered them with the venerable E-tec 90 3 cylinder inline outboard.

But most importantly, I am a graduate with honors from the Tom Clark Graduate School of Outboard motor proper rigging of propeller selection.

Tom and I will never steer you wrong.

Just raise the outboard to three (3) holes up. Forget about the location of the cavplate, aka Anti-ventilation plate. See how the plate is swept back? You want to have that plate located higher than the bottom line center keel. This is the secret that BRP/Evinrude will never reveal to you as an owner. But we will because we have found from numerous instances the E-Tec 90 inline 3 cylinder performs best on a FP16 hull at three holes UP.

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Fine. We'll try it your way, then ;) But I have to ask ... Weatherly, a) where was that cutter built? and b) More than a dozen hulls?? What are you doing to them?? :)

mtown -- sounds like a plan. It's been a long time since I was on the Severn. I once lived in Annapolis ... for 4 years .... And if you're ever down this a way, let us know. The lower Potomac isn't the high life like Crabtown, but it has its charms.

Beat Army!