Tournament 225 performance

[fathergoose]

I have a 2009 seafarer 228 with a F250 four stroke with the same problem. My performance numbers are very close to the op. I have ben wondering about the tach because mine will run up to 6100 very easily and the motor doesn't seem to be straining. Will it be obvious when the rev limiter kicks in or does it simply keep the engine from turning any more rpms?

 

[Parthery]

I think this may have been suggested, but are you sure the speedo didn't get set to knots and not mph?

38 knots is 43.8 MPH.

 

[suzukidave]

I have a 2009 seafarer 228 with a F250 four stroke with the same problem. My performance numbers are very close to the op. I have ben wondering about the tach because mine will run up to 6100 very easily and the motor doesn't seem to be straining. Will it be obvious when the rev limiter kicks in or does it simply keep the engine from turning any more rpms?

what is the year of your motor, your gps speed at different rpms (especially 6100) and what is your prop pitch? we need to figure out the prop slip.

your situation could be a rev limiter kicking in because you are underpropped. it could also be an engine hung at the wrong height relative to the keel.

fwiw, i own the same hull (223 tournament). i can get to 40mph at 5200rpm with an old 200hp carbed evinrude and a 17" prop on a slot transom and with a far from clean painted hull. i am not satisfied with the performance.

 

[fathergoose]

what is the year of your motor, your gps speed at different rpms (especially 6100) and what is your prop pitch? we need to figure out the prop slip.

your situation could be a rev limiter kicking in because you are underpropped. it could also be an engine hung at the wrong height relative to the keel.

fwiw, i own the same hull (223 tournament). i can get to 40mph at 5200rpm with an old 200hp carbed evinrude and a 17" prop on a slot transom and with a far from clean painted hull. i am not satisfied with the performance.

It's a 2009 F250 with a 17". The slip is high around 23%.

 

[suzukidave]

It's a 2009 F250 with a 17". The slip is high around 23%.

23% is bad but not ridiculous. unless you are also seeing the 33% the op is seeing at 4000rpm and weird fuel consumption, i think it could just be a matter of adjusting your engine mount height higher. try moving it up one or maybe two holes.

if that works and you get down to a slip closer to 10%, i also think you should try a 19" prop. if you can make 6100 rpm with that much slip i think you are likely underpropped and will be even more so when the slip is lowered. i am seeing 11% slip with the same hull with way too much bottom paint and an older less powerful engine. i would expect your setup to turn a 19" prop into the mid to high 40s range.

 

[fathergoose]

23% is bad but not ridiculous. unless you are also seeing the 33% the op is seeing at 4000rpm and weird fuel consumption, i think it could just be a matter of adjusting your engine mount height higher. try moving it up one or maybe two holes.

if that works and you get down to a slip closer to 10%, i also think you should try a 19" prop. if you can make 6100 rpm with that much slip i think you are likely underpropped and will be even more so when the slip is lowered. i am seeing 11% slip with the same hull with way too much bottom paint and an older less powerful engine. i would expect your setup to turn a 19" prop into the mid to high 40s range.

It's at the top of the bracket now so moving it up is not an option. I'm going have the prop looked at over the winter to make sure that the pitch is actually 17" and if it is I will try a 19".

 

[suzukidave]

It's at the top of the bracket now so moving it up is not an option. I'm going have the prop looked at over the winter to make sure that the pitch is actually 17" and if it is I will try a 19".

found this thread and i may be overestimating the impact of the extra cabin weight on a seafarer vs a tournament even though it is the same hull. the f225 owners all seem to be very low 40s. the lone f250 owner reports 46 mph but he also had the boat listed for sale and boats that are for sale are always faster!

https://www.greatgrady.com/threads/seafarer-performance.10028/

 

[fathergoose]

I think this may have been suggested, but are you sure the speedo didn't get set to knots and not mph?

38 knots is 43.8 MPH.

That was the first thing that I thought of. It's mph and it matches the GPS within reason.

 

[fathergoose]

I have discovered something interesting. In reviewing the GW performance bulletin I noticed that my speed and GPH closely match what is shown on the bulletin, my RPM's are reading higher by at least 700 RPM. This is telling me that there is something wrong with my tach. I wonder if there is a means of checking the accuracy of my tach.

 

[jail]

My GPH are higher than the performance bulletin. Next season I am going to try a different prop. Seems too easy to get 6100 rpm

I have checked and my GPS is reading mph.

 

[fastexas57]

Jail,
Old thread but I just saw this....
I have exactly the same boat / year /motor as you (and 390 hours)and can confirm similar results for speeds.
Specifically, I tested last July in Texas on ICW...at 5200 RPM I went 32 MPH. Didn't check for MPG.
2 people on board about 350 lbs. + 3/4 tank. Clean bottom. SS 3-blade prop in good shape (sizing unknown).
Re-tested on a cooler day in mid-November, just me (212 lbs) 1/2 tank, glassy conditions. Got 31 MPH @ 5200 RPM.
I'll be trying a PowerTech SS 4-blade 15 1/4 X 16 as recommended by a member on this forum. Probably this spring.

 

[jail]

Jail,
Old thread but I just saw this....
I have exactly the same boat / year /motor as you (and 390 hours)and can confirm similar results for speeds.
Specifically, I tested last July in Texas on ICW...at 5200 RPM I went 32 MPH. Didn't check for MPG.
2 people on board about 350 lbs. + 3/4 tank. Clean bottom. SS 3-blade prop in good shape (sizing unknown).
Re-tested on a cooler day in mid-November, just me (212 lbs) 1/2 tank, glassy conditions. Got 31 MPH @ 5200 RPM.
I'll be trying a PowerTech SS 4-blade 15 1/4 X 16 as recommended by a member on this forum. Probably this spring.

fast texas, I would be interested to know the results of your prop change. Do you need to be at nearly 4000 RPM to fully plane like I do? I will be looking to a different prop in the spring. We don't start boating until June up here in NH.