So, my 2025 Bayliner VR5 200 hp 4.5L mercruiser STILL barely pulls me up

So, like my previous post said, (post is closed for some reason).

I've since tried a 3 blade 17 pitch and a 4 blade 17 pitch prop. I can't really tell the difference.

I'm now 210lbs, trying to get up on a slalom ski with 2 adults and one child, their combined weight is like 460lbs, all except the 180lb driver are in the bow.

Takes about 45 seconds or longer to get me up. Trim all the way down, minimal stuff in the boat.

I'm about to try a 15 or 16 pitch 4 blade if I can find one soon enough.

Related side note: All the VR5 bayliners I see at the dealer have a hydrofoil installed. This boat feels like it has about 120hp. If it's just 2 people, 390 lbs cruising in the boat it is just slow as hell, largely due to the bow pointing so high and taking so long to plane.

Here are my "results":

Me and a friend, about 360lbs:
Factory 3 blade 19 pitch:

46mph @ 4800 rpm, trim "optimized for speed"
41.5 mph with trim all the way down 4450 rpm.
0 - 20mph 6.0 seconds
0 -30mph 9.4 seconds

3 blade 17 pitch:
43mph @ 4810 rpm with trim up
41.5mph @ 4450 rpm with trim all the way down.
0 - 20 mph no change
0 - 30 mph 9.2 (no real change)

At this point, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I don't think I can mentally handle the $30kish I'll lose by trading it in and getting a real ski boat, or a boat that is ~20ish foot with a MINIMUM of 300hp.

I didn't realize that $50k would not buy me a boat that I could ski behind. I've skiied behind 19.5' boats with 120hp outboard, and a 135hp inboard. The 120hp boat pulls me up like this 200 horsepower boat. the 135hp boat pulled me up in like 20 seconds or less.

This is ridiculous. Bayliner should make sure they label this wakeboard boat as not a water sports boat. It's OK for wake boarding and good for tubing, and cruising around, that's it.

You'll need to be more specific with the props. What are the makes, models and steel or aluminum. Hard to believe the 17 only turned 10 more rpms than the 19 unless they are different prop makes or families. 46 mph is moving out and decent performance for this boat.

I'm guessing the 19 is the Mercury Black Max. If the 17 was the same I would expect it to put you around 5200 rpms which is 200 over but what you need. This boat is not going to be everything to everyone. On skiing days use the 17 (Black Max), if just cruising use the 19. When going fast with the 17 you'll just have to stay out of the throttle a bit.

Wake boats ...DO NOT ...need to get on plane at all !!
They are to be ...PLOWING OFF PLANE ...at WOT.

Having the same max rpm for a 19 and 17 pitch prop is a clue, should not be.
Try to get a hold of a 15, same diameter, and see if it finally perks it up.

Stinnett21 said:

You'll need to be more specific with the props. What are the makes, models and steel or aluminum. Hard to believe the 17 only turned 10 more rpms than the 19 unless they are different prop makes or families. 46 mph is moving out and decent performance for this boat.

Click to expand...

Good question, it's an EMP Aluminum and stainless prop. EMP is Engineered Marine Propellers

2ndly, I'm using the data from the mobile vessel view. Regarding the rims and speed, my trim adjustments and accuracy are enough to account for probably over 200rpm differences... I'm also trying to ensure I don't overrev... no doubt I could trim up and get more rpms

When you go to a 4 blade prop, you typically drip 2" in pitch, not use the same as your 3 blade. You may very well need A prop for cruising and another different prop for skiing.

Update:

I bought an EMP 3 blade 15 pitch propeller. FINALLY I've noticed a difference.

This was with 3 adults on board, probably 490lbs or so. 2 in the bow, 1 in the captain's seat.

We haven't really timed it, but I estimate it usually takes about 45 seconds to pull me up, this time with this prop it probably dropped down to 35 seconds.
Max speed is about 40mph trimmed for speed, 4750 rpms. 38.5 with prop all the way down, don't recall the rpms.