So I have the MES 40" with window and the 1200 watt element.
Just got it two days ago and first smoke was yesterday into today. I've noticed the two times now I've started it and set it at 250*, I didn't pay extremely close attention but I think it was to temp in about 30 minutes, and yes I use almost boiling water in the pan.
Kevin,
I was seeing the opposite on mine. Temps yesterday here was a stable 72* and light variable wind, those storms were all around us, and missed me thank goodness.
I set it for 250 to start planning on turning it down after the first recovery, however I had two others temp probes (a sur la table one that is a combo food/oven type and a no name one) that i had in a potato on the second rack towards the front of the smoker, and the combo one was in the brisket.
The potato one was reading 210 for the first 5 hours, not sure if i didn't have it far enough through or what. The other one was reading 225-235. Not sure about which was right I move my temp to 240 and left it. But looks like it was running a little low for me, maybe 10-15 degrees versus the built in one.
Have the Maverick ET-73 on the way so I'll have another one from comparison. Won't ever be able to close my vent but that isn't a problem.