Ribcraft 4.8 - Which E-tec??

ZodiacFuturaMk2 · 24 March 2009, 00:47

Hi

I have a Ribcraft 4.8 with a Mariner 50hp 4 stroke. I am looking at upgrading to an Evinrude e-tec and was wondering which would be better either a 60hp or a 75hp.

E-tec 60hp - 109kg - 863cc - 5500-6000rpm (2-cylinder)

E-tec 75hp - 145kg - 1295cc - 4500-5500rpm (3-cylinder)

Is the extra 15hp worth 36kg...???

I have seen the 75hp on quite a few 4.8's even though the max hp is 60...plus I will be using the boat for skiing and boarding.

I think the 60hp is a tuned version of the 40 and 50 e-tec and the 75 is similar to the 90 but have heard that the 60 can be unreliable compared to the 75hp.

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Many thanks

Gareth, Canterbury, Kent

Markyboyo · 24 March 2009, 01:58

I think I'd go for the 75. I'd prefer the smoother running of the 3 cylinder over the 2 pot 60. Don't ribcraft say you can go to a 75 if the boat is going to be used for skiing? Sure I read that on there a while ago when I was researching my boat. It's a cracking boat. There is a nice one on Ebay at the moment with an E-tec 75.

TonyC · 24 March 2009, 02:39

I think the max hp for a ribcraft 4.8 60hp so you may have insurance issues if you use more than that.

Markyboyo · 24 March 2009, 04:38

I've just had a look through their website and can't find any reference to a 75Hp on a 4.8.
I'm sure there was when I was looking to buy my rib a couple of years ago but things may have changed.
On that basis I'd agree with what Tony said!
Insurance and warranty could be made void by overpowering. Humber definitely downgraded the max HP of some of their hulls when 4 strokes became common place in the market. The 5.3 destroyer was downgraded from 115 to 90 for example.

ZodiacFuturaMk2 · 24 March 2009, 09:33

Hiya - thanks for all the replies.

Ribcraft did indeed state the following on their 4.8 faq page:

"We have also started to use the new Evinrude E-Tec 75hp, we only recommend this horsepower for a dedicated ski boat"

It can still be found on a good old google search:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...G=Search&meta=

So how is it thate so many 4.8's have 75hp e-tecs from Ribcraft if they are uninsurable?

Cheers

G

two stroke mick · 24 March 2009, 09:47

Hi Their

I have a 60 hp ETEC. I have had the engine for one year now and I cannot fault it. It has plent of tourque and I run it with a 19" prop

TSM

memo · 24 March 2009, 11:00

The performance of the etec 75 is very close to the 90 in reality, I guess that will worth the extra weight if there are no structural problems in the boat.