Yamaha 70 hp: New for 2011, this is the same engine block as their 50 & 60 hp models tuned for more top end power (not what the 26M needs), this engine actually has slightly  less displacement than the Suzuki 60.  If you need the power of a 70 hp, it’s torque that you really are looking for and nothing beats the torque of the Suzuki 70 with it’s 1502 CC’s of displacement, over 50% more than the Yamaha.

WHAT ENGINE DO I WANT ON MY NEW MACGREGOR 26M

HOW FAST WILL THE 26M GO WITH VARIOUS ENGINE SIZES?

The Nissan 30 4 Stroke is the smallest engine we recommend (although it is very rare to sell a boat with less than 60hp), this is the only engine this small that offers both Electronic Fuel Injection and power trim and tilt, both very important features.  With this option you will see a cruising speed around 11 mph and a top speed around 14 mph.

All of the performance numbers given below are for a fully equipped boat (such as our Coastal Cruising Package), but not a lot of cruising gear and without water ballast. As you add weight, the boat will slow down some, especially with the smaller motors.

The new Suzuki DF60A (introduced in 2010) gives a top speed of 22.3 mph cruises at 17 - 18 mph.

The Suzuki DF70A (introduced in 2009) Gives a top speed of 24.6 mph. And cruises at 18 - 19 mph.  The DF70 will maintain speed somewhat better with added weight or the drag of bottom paint than the small motors. You also will maintain a higher speed with the water ballast full.  The goal with the 70hp is not to make the boat go super fast, but to have a good cruising speed even with a loaded boat. The operating RPM range of the 70hp is also lower than either of the 60’s (more on this later).

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One of the unique features of the 26M (maybe the MOST unique) is it’s ability to operate at cruising speeds never before possible with a sailboat.  Choosing the right engine to fit with your cruising style is one of the most important decisions you will make in the purchasing process.  We will talk here about the 4 engine options that we have tested and recommend for the 26M, the Nissan 30 4 Stroke, the Suzuki 60 4 stroke, the Suzuki 70 4 Stroke, and the Evinrude ETEC 60 2 Stroke.  Each has it own strengths and weaknesses, our goal here is to give you the information you need to make the best decision for you.

WHAT IS THE SMALLEST ENGINE I CAN PUT ON THE 26M?

Around 25HP to 30HP is the smallest we recommend.  Really small engines can theoretically be used but there are a lot of negatives and not many positives.  Some of the negatives include: it is difficult to get the boat to go fast enough to empty the water ballast tank under way, you will always have to load the boat on the trailer with 1100# of extra weight. Maneuverability while docking will be greatly compromised.  You will also loose the versatility of a high cruising speed and the safety of being able to outrun bad weather.  The small savings in cost and weight really don’t outweigh the negatives.

The Evinrude ETEC 60 gives a top speed of 20.8 mph and cruises around 16 - 17 mph

HOW MUCH DOES EACH ENGINE WEIGH?

Nissan 30 4 Stroke:  186#

Suzuki DF60A 4 Stroke:  229#

Evinrude ETEC 60 2 Stroke:  240#

Suzuki DF70A 4 Stroke:  341#

DOES A LARGER ENGINE HURT SAILING PERFORMANCE?

 While the addition of weight to the transom of any boat has, by definition, some negative effect on sailing performance, the weight difference between the 60 hp or the 70 hp does not make a significant difference. Either engine is out of the water when sailing and the boat sails great with either engine. If, in a race, you had exactly the same weight on two identical boats, the boat with the 60 hp engine would have a very slight advantage as it is around 100 lb. Lighter, but the difference is not large.

DOES FUEL RANGE VARY A LOT BETWEEN THE ENGINES?

Range varies more with the speed you choose to go than with the size of the motor, the faster you go, the more fuel you use per mile.  At typical cruising speeds (17 -18 mph) the ETEC 60 gives 100 -110 miles range. The Suzuki 60 or 70 give about 125-135 miles range as they get better economy at cruising speeds.  If you are one of the rare 26M users that wants to stretch absolute maximum range at very low speeds (around 7 mph) the difference is a more noticeable.  At low speed the ETEC gives about 250 miles range (low speed economy is it’s biggest strength), the Suzuki 60 about 220 miles, and the Suzuki 70 about 180 miles.  

Remember, these range numbers are under controlled conditions with a lightly loaded boat because that is the only way to get an accurate comparison between the engines.  In the real world your range can be significantly less if your boat is heavily loaded or if you are running into a strong head sea, head wind, or current.

IS THERE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE IN NOISE LEVEL BETWEEN THESE ENGINES?

Yes, for most people this is the biggest issue by far.  The 4 Stroke engines are similar (the Nissan 30 is a little louder than the Suzukis), but the 2 stroke ETEC is dramatically louder.  The average difference at all speeds is about 10 DBa, or about twice as loud, but at lower speeds it is about 3 times as loud.  Up to about 7 mph the loudest thing you hear with the Suzuki motors is water noise, with the ETEC it is difficult to carry on a comfortable conversation or enjoy listening to music.  While the ETEC is certainly quieter than the old 2 strokes were, it’s still a 2 stroke and it still sounds like one.   At high speed none of the engines can be called “quiet” but the Suzukis are still 6 -8 Dba quieter.

NOTES ON OTHER ENGINES ON THE MARKET.

CAN I TROLL WITH THESE ENGINES?

All of the engines we recommend can be run at idle for long periods of time without any problems.  None of them go REALLY slow at idle, about 2.5 - 3 mph.  A little bit of the jib rolled out is sometimes the best trolling motor.

ARE THE ETEC ENGINES EASIER OR LESS EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN?

Not really.  Evinrude advertises that no service is needed for 3 years, while the 4 stroke engines need service annually for most recreational users, but that’s really only part of the story.  Right in the ETEC owners manual it says that annual service is recommended if you use the engine in salt water and that the spark plugs won’t last the 300hr service interval if you run the engine at 80% throttle (about cruising speed on a 26M) more than 14% of the time!  As to cost, 100 hours worth of Evinrude’s expensive XD-100 2 stroke oil costs about $200, more than we charge for a complete 100 hour service on a Suzuki. Also remember, with the ETEC you have to carry the 2 stroke oil with you so you can fill the oil reservoir when you refuel.  

IS IT SAFE TO RUN A 70 HP ENGINE ON THE 26M

Yes, the 26M was designed from the beginning with the potential for engines this large in mind, that’s one of the reasons the hull bottom is 35% thicker than on the older 26X.  Blue Water Yachts has been running the Suzuki 70 on the 26M from the very beginning.  We did the original performance testing for MacGregor in January of 2003.  Our specially designed equipment, including our exclusive Custom Steering system have been proven to be safe and convenient on many hundreds of installations.

Honda 50hp engine: All modern four stroke engines are reliable, quiet and good on gas. The Honda engine does not perform to the standard we were looking for though. It does not have good low end torque and hence does not get the boat moving quickly or offer the top speed we were looking for. This engine was introduced as a 35 / 45 hp engine then that same engine became a 40 / 50 hp engine. These are different models with the same block and basic engine but with different tuning to produce the extra hp. Even Honda dealers we have talked to say they could find no change when the 45 became a 50, except for the name. Although Honda has recently added fuel injection, there still just isn’t the torque the 26M needs.

Honda 75hp engine: Exceeds the Max. power rating for the 26M, heavier than the Suzuki 70.

Mercury 50 / 60 hp Bigfoot engine: Good Power, but we found it to be just plain too noisy and rough running and we did not want to sell it for that one big reason. It was noisier than some two cycle engines and not as fuel efficient

Yamaha 50 / 60 hp High Thrust: The same basic motor as the Mercury (with a different lower unit)

Honda 60hp engine:  New for 2011, about 30 Lbs. Heavier than the Suzuki 60 with no real advantages.

DO I NEED A HIGH THRUST OR “BIG PROP” ENGINE?

No, we used to think it was important, but recent engine tests have not born out that thinking.  As an example, the new Suzuki 60, with a relatively small diameter prop accelerates great and easily beats the top speed of the Evinrude ETEC 60 with it’s larger prop.  If an engine comes in both models, there may be some small advantage to the high thrust prop, but it seems that the big advantage is on slower, heavier, non planing hull boats.  Good power and lots of low end engine torque are the most important features.

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