Engine Test: Evinrude E-Tec G2

Recently, Atlantic Outboard in Westbrook, Connecticut rigged a brand new Contender 35 with the all new Evinrude E-Tec G2 twin 300 HP outboards. The G2 is a radically new outboard design that was built from the ground up. BRP engineers were asked to scrap everything they knew about outboard engines and start from scratch. That they did, as the list of innovations is long and the new age look jumps out at you. But what makes these engines truly innovative is the engineering – like Dual Axis Rigging, redesigned SLX gearcase, internal dynamic power steering, high output beltless alternator, tilt/trim is internal and completely out of the water, and auto storage/winterization is done at the press of a button. The engine can also be set to I-Trim mode, which will find the optimal trim position for running on plane making even the novice boater run like a pro.

You hear people mention the “torque” of a 2-stroke is much better than 4-stroke engines, but until you feel what that means it’s difficult to understand. Last fall, I had the pleasure of going on a test drive of the new G2’s on Atlantic Outboard Pro Staffer Captain Dan Wood’s Robalo R300 center console. When Dan pushed the throttle down, I felt myself suck back into the leaning post like no other boat I’d ever been on. “That’s what they mean by torque,” I thought to myself.

Back to the new Contender 35. It topped out at 63.4 MPH and cruised at 32 MPH @ 3100 RPM per engine and achieved 2 mpg while using only 16.5 GPH. I don’t think my 21’ center console with an old carbureted 150 hp gets 2 mpg! The new technology is pretty impressive. If you’d like to learn more about thespecs on the ETEC G2’s & the Contender 35 reach out to the folks at Atlantic Outboard.