Focus: Modern Outboards

skip · July 23, 2007, 07:57:13 CET

Well done, that's quite a step up boat wise! Make sure you get a good canopy and you're sorted.

If the boat is brand new and engine under warranty do not disconnect the post-mix function unless instructed to do so by Mecca. Do some research on various online forums to see if its a specific problem affecting all, or just some serial numbers.

It should be reliable, far more than most people who didn't get it very right measuring the correct about of oil to petrol!!

gottie · July 23, 2007, 14:17:00 CET

When 2-stroke oil auto-mixing was introduced, there used to be problems with similar issues. I.e. if there was a malfunction in the oil mixing pump, you would have had serious damage in the engine. This was because those engines did not have alarms to indicate any malfunction in the oil pump. Due to this reason, some people disconnect the auto mixing function and pre-mix oil with the fuel. Nowadays however, all modern 2 stroke engines have an alarm which goes off in case of a problem. So hopefully, it should not be an issue anymore.

The Evinrude e-tec is different to your 120 Tohatsu. It is more comparable to the Tohatsu TLDI. Like the e-tec the tldi is a direct injection and would give you a 50 per cent saving in the fuel consumption over your current engine.

DJS · July 23, 2007, 21:36:25 CET

Thanks for the advice guys. Just checked the engine's technical specifications again and there seems to be an LCD oil pressure gauge and an electronic safety governor. So, if there is a malfunction, hopefully all sorts of bells and sirens will be emitted before the engine siezes.

The boat is not fitted with a canopy, but in this weather it's a must. Any suggestions where I can have one made locally?

skip · July 24, 2007, 07:46:14 CET

Load of places make them Dave, I would say the biggest issue more than anything else if finding someone who has the time to do it right now. Most are either still busy or now taking a break to enjoy summer a bit. Check with Mecca, see who they use/can advise. There's a guy inside Technomarine Boat park 21 570250, Frans, who does good canopies but he tends to be very busy.

Skip

DJS · July 24, 2007, 20:11:41 CET

Thanks Skip will try both places. Still got a lot other things to do like anti-fowling, fitting GPS / fishfinder, rod holders etc. Guess I can afford to wait a little until the canopy guy is less busy.

skip · July 24, 2007, 21:04:52 CET

If you're going to be waiting till next year to launch or later on, I would seriously advise trying to get a live baitwell made for your boat. Kodiak make some pretty good ones as a kit http://www.kodiakmarine.com/ and locally they could build a fiberglass enclosure and lid to blend and fit to your boat. This is essential if you want to troll live bait or even for deep bottom fishing.

One thing I would def. consider would be a down rigger. I believe Mister Fish has a basic manual model for around Lm40, and that would also let you slow troll 2-3 knots with live bait at depth. If I had to do it all again on a new boat I would also add telescopic outriggers http://www.tacomarine.com/cat--Outrigger-Kits--orkits.html letting you increase your rod spread and make sharper turns etc.

Last couple of things on my list would be the installation of a sea water wash down pump/shower so you can rinse your fish and gut them and then something like an insulated fish bag. These guys make excellent ones http://www.reliablefishing.com/kill_bags.html which aren't over-priced, I have one myself though I got it a tad too big!! 30" x 60" !!

gabaj · July 25, 2007, 15:10:47 CET

Re making a canopy,I found a guy in Tarxien who bends all sorts of pipes. His name is George and mob no is 99473343.So I took the measurements of a canopy fitted on a boat like the one I have and he bended all the pipes for me.I have a small 13ft boat so and opted for alumilium pipe which he supplied. The total cost came to Lm20 including the pipes and another Lm3 for the hinges etc. If you opt for stainless steel you need to supply the pipes and he charges Lm2 per bend. A shop at Marsa ( Menqa area just before going up to the power station hill ,forgot the name) has all the items required but the cost would increase considerably.

DJS · July 25, 2007, 20:57:00 CET

Thanks for the details Gabaj, seems very good value for money - I'll check him out for a quote as well. I'll probably end up doing the canopy in stainless steel, so it would probably pay to get the pipes from the place in Sta Venera (Ta' Taljan) sems to be the cheapest around.

Skip - great sites for accessories... everything a fisherman could possibly need! Have you fitted a live baitwell in your Windy 9800? I have have a friend who spends nearly all his time livebaiting for dentex and amberjack near the reefs in the south - he swears that it can be very productive with a live squid, if you have the patience.

Decided to make my own downrigger last year as the cheapest seawater set available at Mister fish seemed at bit on the expensive side at around Lm85 ... helped pass those long winter evenings! Used my daughter's old bicycle stabiliser, couple of steel tubes, pulley and 3kg lead weight and some 0.90mm line that I molded. Seems to work ok-ish, can't say that I've caught anything yet though - but I remain in hope that my contraption will eventually yield some results.

redbus9 · August 07, 2007, 18:36:18 CET

HI DJS [dave] like the look of your boat.approx what would be the final cost of the boat when fully kitted out with GPS ,rod holders,canopy etc? redbus9.

DJS · August 08, 2007, 21:32:32 CET

Hi Redbus,

Well I guess the new boat fully kitted out with extras would have cost somewhere in the region of Lm13,000 plus circa Lm350 for boat registration. However, I bought it from a friend at a discounted price... as his daughter had won it as a prize in a competition.

Dave

redbus9 · August 11, 2007, 19:42:00 CET

Hi DJS,thanks for the info.Your friends daughter is very lucky.My sister in law enters every competition that has a boat as a prize.If she wins she is going to give it to me.She,s 70 years old,so I could still be lucky. redbus9

busumark · December 14, 2007, 21:12:23 CET

what other brands have models like the evinrude e-tech. i found mariner have optimax but they began from 75hp and nissan/tohatsu have tldi models

busumark · December 15, 2007, 11:47:05 CET

interesting areticle http://www.oceanskiffjournal.com/SubscriberContent/Articles/Vol01Issue05/General/ETEC1.aspx

comparison between e-tech, other 2-stroke engine and 4-stroke

kurtfalcon · January 05, 2009, 21:09:35 CET

Has anyone got an optimax? What can you tell us on performance, economy and maintenance.

skip · January 05, 2009, 21:27:35 CET

Anglers runs a 150hp Mercury Optimax on his Trophy WA so I'm sure he can give some insight if he see's this.