E-Tec 60 @ 5mph speed limit

[Ali T]

Hi I have owned my 5m Rib for 3 yrs now and having done all I ever hoped to, out and about in the Forth, I had intended, now I have retired, to leave the waves and tides and head inshore, specifically The Union Canal.
my plan was to sell my Rib and buy another larger sib I already have a 3.1 zodiac Fastroller
I realise that once my Rib is gone She is gone forever
so

I am now considering entering the canal via Grangemouth next spring and using a 5 day permit, motoring to Fountainbridge Edinburgh

I have no aux and would want to use my 60 but worry how well she would cope

I would welcome any feedback

I would prefer to use the Rib

Cheers Ali

[Chris]

Originally Posted by Ali T

Hi I have owned my 5m Rib for 3 yrs now and having done all I ever hoped to, out and about in the Forth, I had intended, now I have retired, to leave the waves and tides and head inshore, specifically The Union Canal.
my plan was to sell my Rib and buy another larger sib I already have a 3.1 zodiac Fastroller
I realise that once my Rib is gone She is gone forever
so

I am now considering entering the canal via Grangemouth next spring and using a 5 day permit, motoring to Fountainbridge Edinburgh

I have no aux and would want to use my 60 but worry how well she would cope

I would welcome any feedback

I would prefer to use the Rib

Cheers Ali

The E-tec has been very much designed with the US Bass fishing users in mind.

At "trolling speeds" it is incredilby frugal and you will be probably using about 2-3 litres of petrol per hour at 5 knots. However like all 2 strokes they do like a good run to clear the cylinders out.

If you are going to do this then make sure you are set to run the XD100 oil and use XD 100 oil as this will help avoid too much carbon build up. THen when you get the chance give the engine a good full throttle run every few hours.

How often you need to give it a good run and how many hours you could pootle along at 5 knots is not a question I can answer. However you may find a better response here www.etecownersgroup.com

Chris

[Hightower]

I knew of someone that took their 200 Etec through the French canal system from North Brittany to South Brittany with no apparent problems.

It might well be worth considering a much finer prop, otherwise you're going to be at tickover all the way. Something else to consider is a rudder either on the outboard or next to it, because as we all know steerage is an issue at low speed.

[Polwart]

Ali,

What engine do you have on your SIB - can you not move it over?

However a few things to beware of - the canal is quite bad in places for weed and in others for random rubbish dumped into it. It might be worth finding out when the canal boats are making the full trip and following within a few days of that and let them do the dregding!

I've thought about taking my little tub through the canal (as my house backs onto it so it seems odd not to!) but once your are past the falkirk wheel and the tunnel under callendar park it could get a bit dull at the (4 knot?) speed limit. I've cycled all of it a few times so there is nothing new for me to see. There are no locks - so little activity to break up the trip. Were you planning to take it out at Fountainbridge (is there a slip?) or then do it all in reverse (which would make the total trip 60+ miles at walking speed).

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Polwart

which would make the total trip 60+ miles at walking speed.

Have you considered a trailer?

[Ali T]

Hmm I will check out the Etec owners club and see what i can find there, I do use XD100

I am thinking mebbe nows the time to finally fit an aux I already have a yam5 but it's short shaft

yes i do intend to do the whole 60 mls at walking speed but being retired I have a lot of spare time now

a new prop also seems a good idea

the French canal has always appealed to me so mebbe use the union as a warm up and if all goes well mebbe think about that

thanks again

Ali

[Pikey Dave]

No problems running the Etecs at low speeds for long periods, the fishing lads troll for hours at tickover. What you want to avoid is running them in the 1800-2000rpm ish area on a planing hull (RIB) as they can overheat as they try & climb over the hump.

[gotchiguy]

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

What you want to avoid is running them in the 1800-2000rpm ish area on a planing hull (RIB) as they can overheat as they try & climb over the hump.

We have had repeated first hand experience of this Either throttle up, or throttle down, and the temp shoots straight back down. We have seen it as high as ~105deg, but AFAIK it is only at ~120 when serious issues arise.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

We have had repeated first hand experience of this Either throttle up, or throttle down, and the temp shoots straight back down. We have seen it as high as ~105deg, but AFAIK it is only at ~120 when serious issues arise.

I've had it meself on both engines at the same time, coming out of the harbour in the 6kn zone, both engines went into SAFE mode. I watch for it now & avoid it. The Gurus on etec owners forum reckon it shouldn't happen but it does. My personal theory is the engine is trying to get over the hump & is working hard, but the boat speed is relatively low so the water flow is low. Also at around 2krpm the stratified fuel flow changes, so below 2000rpm ish, it's running lean so the fuel isn't cooling the pistons. At least it's predictable, so therefore avoidable.

[Chris]

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

We have had repeated first hand experience of this Either throttle up, or throttle down, and the temp shoots straight back down. We have seen it as high as ~105deg, but AFAIK it is only at ~120 when serious issues arise.

are you talking celsius?