| Big V6 200 to 250HP E-TECs give impressive performance on the coast. | |
| Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) is the company that has emerged out of the major shake-up in the recreational vehicles industry.
The Bombardier Corporation, as you will remember, picked up OMC (Johnson-Evinrude) when it came to grief a few years ago. Subsequent o this the Bombardier family and several investor groups decided to get back to core business, and bought back the recreational divisions of the huge multinational, including Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Bombardier all-terrain vehicles, Rotax engines and karts and Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines (including Evinrude's E-TEC technology.) |  |
| The E-TEC outboard designs came out of consumer demand. Rather than the design being driven by engineers, BRP decided to come from the other direction - research consumer wants and design a product to fit their needs. BRP surveys came up with these features, in order of importance: durability, quality and reliability, ease of maintenance, easy starting, good performance, good fuel economy, and attractive appearance. And of course, they had to meet or exceed ever-toughening emission controls. When E-TEC outboards were first launched around a year ago, they made some huge claims, including a three-year no service period, using 50 percent less oil than traditional direct injection systems and 75 percent less than traditional 2 strokes, and being extremely fuel efficient. E-TECs are claimed to run for 12 hours in 'limp-home' mode, with NO oil. I was one of the many who said, "Well, we'll see." A year down the track, these outboards seem to be living up to their claims. | |
| How Does It Work? Not being overly techy I will have to rely on BRP's explanations of the E-TEC system here. "The stratified fuel combustion chamber is key in this advanced technology. Fuel reaches the exhaust port only after it has closed, at one- half the time of traditional direct injection engines. This means the fuel charge does not escape the combustion chamber - especially during idle - as it is burned and turned into power. The stratified combustion chamber also offers better fuel efficiency because of its precise fuel flow. The E-TEC system senses when to change the number of droplets into the chamber, depending on the engine needs, which is extremely fuel-efficient. |  |
| "The electronic governing of the idle speed ensures a smooth running ride. The electronic compensation system regulates a precise fuel flow control for the temperature block, barometric pressure and injector variation.
"The stratified combustion chamber creates 80 percent less carbon monoxide than a 4-stroke creates at idle. The sealed fuel system minimises evaporative emissions. The engines feature the E-TEC auto lube oiling system that eliminates the mixing of oil and fuel. Evinrude E-TEC engines also have a lower oil flow due to targeted oil delivery system and pass-through connecting rod lubrication. With the on-board monitoring system ensuring the exact precision use rate of E-TEC oil, Evinrude E-TEC engines use approximately 50 percent less oil than traditional direct injection systems and 75 percent less than traditional 2-strokes." There you have it. In addition, BRP have gone to considerable lengths to produce a quiet engine, and to reduce maintenance by a large amount. The on-board engine management module (EMM) means no scheduled maintenance for three years of normal recreational use. The digital diagnostic panel monitors the engine and notifies the owner of any system problems. These engines employ no belts, powerhead gears, cams or mechanised oil pumps. The oil doesn't need to be changed, providing added savings on oil changes and filters. The 'sure start system' is designed to fire within one revolution, ensuring a quick start. The beltless 50-amp charging system means that there are no moving parts to adjust. The elimination of so many moving parts makes for a more reliable and much lighter outboard, according to BRP. The complete line of Evinrude E-TEC engines is designed to be California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-star compliant (required by 2008) - a very tough standard, and to exceed all other emission control standards in the US and Europe. There are a lot more features and radical design points that I can cover here, suffice it to say there is some very clever technology involved with both materials and design. Webheads can find out more information at their site www.brp.com. On The Water Recently I was invited to BRP's launch of the latest additions to the E-TEC range, held on Queenslands Gold Coast. This included new V6 200, 225 and 250hp models. These, and a new 60hp E-TEC should be available to Australian and Kiwi boaties around January to supplement the existing models. In layman's terms, how did they shape up? For a start, they are certainly are very quiet outboard, at least as good as any 4-stroke on the market, in my opinion. Emissions seem to be non-existent. There is nothing visible, and not the faintest smell of any fumes, even with my nose right up to the ports, with the engine running of course - good for the boaties, good for the environment, and a pointer towards the efficiency of the sealed fuel system. Emissions are unburned oil and fuel. No emissions - no wasted oil or fuel. How did the new models perform? One of the test boats available for a Seafarer Vagabond 6.2, fitted with a 250hp E-TEC. This is a 1200kg hull, and we had six (substantial) adults and 200 litres of fuel on board - quite a load. A sprint on flat water achieved 55mph (88.5kph) at 5800rpm. That is pretty impressive stuff. And, yes the engine did start on its first revolution. Sam Mossman, NZ Fishing News Magazine. | |
