Brief Summary
Evinrude recently introduced the first ever fly-by-wire tiller for its mid-sized 3-cylinder E-TEC G2 engines. Now they have added a new tiller feature, power-steering, so that the largest of the new E-TEC 3-cylinder engines, the 150-hp, can be steered from the transom with finger-touch control.
Key Features
- Power steering pump embedded in engine housing
- Progressive sensor technology embedded in tiller
- LED status light
Specifications
| Type of Engine | |
|---|---|
| Number of Cylinders | |
| Horse Power | 150 |
| Configuration | |
| Weight | |
| Fuel Type | |
| Fuel Delivery | |
| Shaft Length Options | |
| Shift Throttle Control | |
| Displacement | |
| Steering Control | |
| Recommended Fuel | |
| Alternator Output | |
| CARB Rating | |
| Engine Monitoring System |
Captain's Report
Captain’s Report by Capt. Peter d’Anjou
Mission
This feature provides power steering to large outboards controlled by the tiller.
Distinguishing Features
- Fly-by-wire
- Separate brain module provides feedback.
Major Features
- Fingertip control power steering
- No-fatigue twist grip throttle with adjustable friction and thumb- controlled trim and tilt switch
- Easy reach to shift handle, push button starting, and stopping
- Security with integrated ignition switch
- Driving comfort with horizontal and vertical handle adjustments
- Integrated digital instrument connections
- Ability to dial in the optimal trolling speed with Touch Troll
Design
Evinrude has introduced an evolutionary series of improvements over the past few years to their E-TEC G2 engines that resulted in the current announcement of power steering in a tiller-steered engine.
The evolution started with hydraulic power steering and power tilt pumps and gears being placed in the engines themselves. iTrim and iSteer provided automatic trim and power-assisted steering on the early G2 engines. iSteer allows the operator to select the level of power-assisted steering in the ICON engine display module, and it is “smart”, as it also takes into account the speed of the vessel to apply the right amount of power-assist under load.
Another step was the introduction of a stationary rigging tube, providing the connectivity between the fly-by-wire throttles, tilt, and steering connections and the engine’s mechanisms. Now it does the same with the fly-by-wire tiller. But rather than a steering wheel sending the steering signals, the tiller has a proportional sensor that ‘feels’ the pressure of the operator on the tiller, sending a signal to the engine management module and thus to the power-assist hydraulics located in the engine.
iTrim automatically adjusts the engine trim up or down to keep the boat in optimum performance. Beginners will welcome the iTrim feature because it eliminates the trial and error of finding the best trim during acceleration as well as in turns. iTrim works hand in hand with iSteer power steering since trim is a consideration in applying steering
Evinrude’s come standard with iSteer, Integrated Dynamic Power Steering, which is an optional-up-charge on most engines. iSteer has internal twin helical internal gears instead of an external ram in the engine splash well. It also has the ICON touch pad so that owners can adjust steering-assist, depending on rpm speed and operator comfort, allowing the helmsman to turn smoothly, easily, and safely.
The final evolutionary step came with the advent of the new 3-cylinder mid-sized engines in 115, 140, and 150-hp. These mid-sized engines were perfect for owners of small and mid-sized boats who wanted a step up in horsepower, and so the digital tiller was created. And then the power tiller evolved to further control the largest of those, the 150 horsepower.
Construction
The anodized aluminum power tiller comes in only one color - gray.
Comparisons
Evinrude’s Power Tiller is matched to the 150-hp Evinrude 3-cylinder E-TEC G2 longshaft (25”) engine. There are aftermarket anti-feedback systems that can counteract the high torque of a tiller steered outboard.
UFlex makes an anti-feedback system for Yamaha or Mercury engines. This is an external add on that costs $2,500 to $3,500 depending on engine.
Tiller Assist by Tiller Assist fits most brands and runs in the $1,300 range.
And finally Mercury’s add on ‘Big Tiller’ with external power steering fits on Mercury engines from 75 to 250-hp.
But beware, ABYC regulations don’t rate horsepower capacity for wheel steered boats the same as for transom steered boats. Evinrude tells us the market for their power tiller is more tightly defined than we anticipated, typically in the 20-foot plus range, such as our multi-species test boat, with higher transoms needed for backtrolling and requiring longshafts with the capacity to handle 150 horsepower or more on the transom.
Product Inspection
Evinrude parent company BRP also owns Alumacraft boats, so it was decided to package the Evinrude E-TEC G2 3-cylinder 150-hp outboard engines with the new 2020 Alumacraft Competitor 205 - a multi-species fishing boat.
The Competitor 205 with the 150-hp engine and the Power Tiller is being sold as “The Alumacraft Competitor 205 Tiller”. However, the 3-cylinder E-TEC G2 engine, with or without the power tiller, can be ordered as a stand-alone purchase.
The Power Tiller Functions
Fly-By-Wire
We immediately noticed the comfortable ergonomics of the tiller which can be adjusted for the operator. Both the throttle and shift are fly-by-wire controlled; there are no cables, thus there is no throttle ramp that often occurs with cable-driven steering. The Power Tiller is always smooth, always consistent, with never a surprise outburst of rpm. That said, the response to the throttle action was instantaneous, resulting in a very controllable and responsive increase or decrease of throttle power.
Start/Stop
The start/stop button is located near the throttle grip of the tiller. Once the key is turned on, the engine can either be directly started via the key, or conveniently with the push of the button. The kill switch and safety lanyard, readily accessible on the opposite side, must be in position to run the engine.
Throttle
Shifter
The gear shifter switches between neutral, forward, and reverse and is visibly seen and felt.
Trim
One aspect of the automatic iTrim that caught our attention is that the engine is constantly adjusting during acceleration, something we would have to turn around to witness were this a wheel-steered boat, but with our hand on the tiller we were very aware of the movement.
Tiller Arm
The tiller arm angle itself is adjustable via a micro-adjustable tab beneath the arm. This is used to set the desired pitch. Think of this as the engine being trimmed and where the tiller limit would set horizontally as a default for maximum comfort. There’s a large tension knob located on the starboard side which controls the tension of the vertical angle - a useful option when standing up, backtrolling, or in a casting scenario.
Evinrude anticipated the varying arm length of operators, and so a simple bolt adjustment allows for a 20-degree movement of the entire tiller arm either to port or starboard by simply pulling the bolt out, repositioning the handle and replacing the bolt.
It is worth repeating, every tiller application is a left-handed one – you’re not expected to drive right-handed.
The ‘golden button’ is a bypass valve located on the starboard side of the 150’s engine bracket in case of power loss. So, if the battery goes dead and the power steering system is locked in a position, releasing the gold anodized button will put the engine steering in manual or free steer mode.
Power Steering Pump
The big take away here is the movement of the engine/tiller combination. The dual access rigging lends simplicity to the system, preventing wear and also eliminating excess wiring. However, the real secret is inside the mounting bracketry, which houses the power-steering pump system. It’s with this unique design that Evinrude is able to minimize sound and facilitate an easy install – just hang the motor on the boat and go, as they say. The engine with power tiller comes all hooked up and ready to go from the factory. Just let the factory know what boat you are putting the engine/tiller on so they can preset the trim parameters for the boat. The only hookup is for the battery, fuel, and gauge connections to the rigging tube.
Real-Time Sensing
Tying it all together is a progressive sensing technology which feels the pressure and intensity of the operator’s movements with the tiller. The sensor is located where the tiller connects to the engine’s steering arm.
And another plus is that zero amps are used when the tiller isn’t moved – opposed to other power steering applications that always draw power and sometimes even require a second battery just to run the power steering system, let alone contend with the high amperage draw when in use. The power tiller will draw only 3 amps when pressed at idle and 13 amps when actuated at WOT.
Engine Management Module (EMM) Interface
The engine’s brain (EMM) makes the power steering system ‘smart’. It, along with a tiller assist module knows the settings for steering assist and signals the steering pump reaction based on rpm and trim.
Tiller Indicator Light
Evinrude has incorporated a full digital readout on the tiller itself, giving the operator all of the primary functions and error codes via the LED atop the tiller handle. In fact, engine gauges are not strictly necessary to operate the engine since the tiller LED light can alert the operator to issues – something commercial operators may see as a simple and cost-effective alternative.
Performance and Handling
Since the power steering is regulated by the engine’s EMM brain module, as it knows rpm speed and the amount of driver assist setting, it ‘tells’ the power steering pump just how to react to the sensor request.
We tested the boat, engine, and power tiller in light chop. The Alumacraft Competitor 205 Tiller handled how we hoped it would – smoothly and with little physical effort. We felt immediately confident running at speed with the Evinrude Power Tiller.
One handling note is the ability of the power steering to hold the engine in place when the boat is hit by waves – even if we let go of the tiller. And this included steering through a turn. On a normal tiller-steered boat, letting go of the tiller would result in the engine slewing back to center and the boat would veer off course.
Admittedly, testing this revolutionizing Power Tiller left a smile on our faces as it was easy to use and smooth-running. Of course, the Alumacraft Competitor 205 Tiller boat provided a fun and easy package to test drive.
Sitting in the back of the boat is no problem from an emissions standpoint as the E-TEC G2s have the lowest emissions in class. Evinrude E-TEC G2’s are 100% Global Emissions Compliant with EPA 2013 / CARB 3 STAR / European Union ratings. Having a command center in the back of the boat where you can fish and drive at the same time, and where everything is in reach is remarkable. With the multi-species Alumacraft Competitor 205 Tiller, we did not have to leave the helm chair – everything from the livewell, rod storage, helm console, and engine controls was within reach.
A side note, our 150-hp 3-cylinder had a 3-blade prop which was excellent for speed but, if we were going to troll with this motor we might consider a 4-blade option.
Equipment Discussion
The Power Tiller is a factory-installed accessory. No need for the dealer to do anything –the hydraulics are pre-bled and settings for trim are set at the factory. All one has to do is mount the engine and connect the battery, fuel, and any gauge connections to the rigging tube.
Evinrude has made available their Nautilus gauge package which provides the engine’s performance via the EMM. Using the gauges, the operator may toggle through the engine’s modes:
Winterization double oils the engine system for storage - no need to bring it to a dealer.
Power-steering controls the power steering boost, depending upon desired running comfort level. For instance, low power in rough conditions keeps the system from oversteering.
iTrim automatically trims the engine for optimum performance. Reduces steering resistance and works in both forward and reverse. And speaking of iTrim – when ordering factory direct, Evinrude has buyers preselect one of five preprogrammed iTrim factory settings ranging from: Offshore, Pontoon, Bay Flats, Multispecies, and Bass.
Price
$1,100
Evinrude includes trim and power steering systems on their E-TEC G2 150-hp engine as standard equipment. The Power Tiller is an accessory that costs an additional $1,100. Rationalize this cost as opposed to the added cost of a separate fly-by-wire shift and throttle.
Observations
We expect the desirability of higher horsepower engines with a tiller to be popular in the 20' (6.09 m) plus boat market that are rated for the horsepower and shaft length and especially strong in the repower market. And with power steering assist, there is even more reason to max out controllable horsepower.
Along these lines, power tiller steering is currently available only in the 3-cylinder 150-hp E-TEC G2. We are speculating here, but there is no reason Evinrude couldn’t bring this capability to the even larger 6-cylinder 150 to-300-hp E-TEC G2s since they have the similar internal EMM, steering, and trim systems. We do not know what boats these might fit on at this time.
Evinrude tells us people who have tried the Power Tiller are so impressed, they immediately purchased it. We agree, it is impressive, and we whole-heartedly suggest trying it yourself.