Trade-A-Boat — February 2018

T

he E-TEC Gen 2 300 is

themostpowerfulin

Evinrude’s line-up and

boasts impressive low-

down torque and cost-

saving fuel economy. It might also be

thesexiestlookingoutboardeverto

hitthemarket,especiallywhencolour

matchedfromapaletteofsixsides

andtoppaneloptions,and14accent

stripes.

TALKIN G T WO

Butcolourisonlyskin-deep,sothe

E-TECbetterpackasolidpunch

ifitwantstoliveuptoitsstriking

looks.Hiddenbelowthecowlings

areaplethoraofgreenandpower

technologies that make the two-

strokeastand-outinamarketalmost

exclusively given over to four-strokes.

When emission laws across the

world tightened, Japanese engine

builders turned to four-stroke

technology.InAmerica, Evinrude

took the seemingly more difficult

path to clean certification in the belief

that the oil burner could surpass

its competitors with better power

delivery and economy. But to do it

they first needed to clean up the

notoriously vintage technology.

Two-strokes are simpler and more

efficient because they produce

twice the number of power strokes

asafour-stroke.Without exhaust

valves, camshafts and belts or timing

chains,theyalsohave fewer moving

parts. And no crankcase oil changes.

This should also mean reduced

maintenance costs and to this end,

servicetimesareincreased to 300

hours.

Computer control delivers a lean

14:1 fuel mixture through high-

pressure fuel injection for the right

amount of mix for varying conditions.

This is designed to react immediately

to changes in throttle setting and

it sure felt it during our drive. Right

through the range to WOT, when you

plant the throttle, the boat surges

forward.

New to the Gen 2 engines is Pure

Power combustion, with a redesigned

chamber that ensures all fuel is

burned for more power and minimum

unburned fuel passing through to the

atmosphere.

Gen 2 exhaust manifolds are now

routed to the outside of the cylinder

blocks, instead of through the

void in the centre, in what’s called

Starboard-Starboard for better flow

and improved cooling of the block at

the exhaust.

WHEN IT COMES TO THE EVINRUDE E-TEC GEN-2 300, LOOKS DO

MATCH PERFORMANCE

TEC Head

128 trade aboat.com.au

outboard STORY & PHOTOSJOHN FORD

test

THE COMPLETE BOOK OF BOATS

Evinrude E-TEC Gen 2 300