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  1. harringtondav

    Enough horsepower?

    Planing @ 25 mph and towing @ 5 mph sounds like you are hp limited for your boat and needs. Props can't increase hp, only adjust how you use it. Per your post title "Enough horsepower? ...seems no. There are many reasons your boat is under performing vs. the many sage comments above...
  2. harringtondav

    Enough horsepower?

    Start with an online propeller selector tool. iBoats has one shown below. This will show the spline size, prop diameter and recommended blade pitch. The rule of thumb always holds: Lower pitch = faster planing and low end towing power, but lower top speed. Higher pitch = slower planing and...
  3. harringtondav

    Battery discharge. ...normal?

    I'll be back to the dealer...eventually. I'm not impressed with their service dept. I've received two recall notices from VP for a possible under torqued schrader valve somewhere in the fuel system. ...dealer knows about it and tells me 'any day now'. When I get the boat on the trailer at the...
  4. harringtondav

    Battery discharge. ...normal?

    I keep the boat on a lift. No shore power but I have 120V available for a battery 'tender'. ...easier to open the provided power disconnect.
  5. harringtondav

    Battery discharge. ...normal?

    Thanks. The boat sleeps on a lift, and my bilge isn't auto as near as I can tell. The boat's floor, gunnels etc are a single mold. Which is great for keeping water routed to the aft bilge drains, and not the structure below. ...bad for adding wires. Even worse when the day comes to replace...
  6. harringtondav

    Dumb-dumbs at the Dock . . .

    ...and so will the kids. My sister calls this 'social entropy', natural movement toward disorder w/o an external orderly influence.
  7. harringtondav

    Battery discharge. ...normal?

    2022 VP 250 4.3. New 1000 CCA battery. Twice now I've found a dead battery after 1 week sitting idle. All helm switches and radio have been off. I finally figured opening the battery disconnect provided in the engine compartment solves this. I also noticed when turning the switch back to on I...
  8. harringtondav

    Torque Roll?

    Thanks. I'm a bit dyslexic. It does roll to port. ...I shoulda just said 'left', but I was trying to act salty. I do have fore-aft, bow-stern down solid though. I guess if the take off roll bugs me enough I can steer a bit right/starboard when coming up...assuming no traffic close.
  9. harringtondav

    Torque Roll?

    Yes, SX is a single. WOT on this engine is 5400-5800. The original VP 3 blade 21P alum prop ran at 5800 rpm, and slipped at 18%. I have a SS 3 blade 22P and and a 4 blade alum 21P that both hold WOT to 5400 with much less slip. ...seems the new props cause more roll. Passenger seating layout is...
  10. harringtondav

    Have 14x19 4 blade on 4.3 GXi. Upgrade to Stainless Steel worthwhile?

    2022 Regal 1900 ESX. Mine is likely the last produced. VP 4.3 250 hp. ...I got 10 free hp since the 240 hp I ordered was dropped. High pressure direct fuel injection, VVT, closed HX cooling. Plenty of power for a 3000# boat. I've been loyal Merc for 24 yrs, but their 4.5 didn't come close, and...
  11. harringtondav

    Torque Roll?

    Our new boat per my sig is great. We love it. But it does have a small issue that bugs me. When I throttle up, normally hole shot fashion, it rolls noticeably starboard, counterclockwise. Underway on plane it tends to list a bit the same with just me and the little wife riding shotgun. Weight...
  12. harringtondav

    Have 14x19 4 blade on 4.3 GXi. Upgrade to Stainless Steel worthwhile?

    Per QBhoy, hole shots and max WOT speed rarely happen together with a single prop, especially with a 4.3 on a 19' boat. I can't add much to the two recommendations above. For reference my new boat shown in my sig has plenty of power for a 19.5' boat. I replaced the VP 3 blade 21P alum prop with...
  13. harringtondav

    No go wide open

    Like AD I have little experience with PWCs, but a fair amount with carb engines. My neighbor's PWC did the same and I chased it down to a clogged fuel filter. Lack of fuel was his problem and I'm guessing it's yours too. Trace from the gas tank to the carb. Disconnect the gas supply to the carb...
  14. harringtondav

    Proper Castle Nut Installation

    I've not seen this set up. All trailer and rear wheel bearings I've worked on have a standard nut with a castle locking cap that goes over the nut with multiple cotter pin slots. The locking cap is like a 12 point socket. This allows fine location of the cotter pin. Correct bearing setting...
  15. harringtondav

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 Possible Y pipe leak (Video included)

    Then you're good. .. just brainstorming causes for any stress on the pipe. Repairing the leak will be a pain to diagnose and fix. Not being cute here, but keep your bilge pump in good shape, and slip your boat on a lift or trailer as an alternative.
  16. harringtondav

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 Possible Y pipe leak (Video included)

    Merc's spec for transom thickness is round 2 1/16" to 2 1/4". ...don't quote me, but I think this is close. The tolerance on this dimension is very small. ....+- 1/16" IIRC. This means the transom plate and gimbal plate can be no more than 1/8" out of parallel. More than this and the alignment...
  17. harringtondav

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 Possible Y pipe leak (Video included)

    If the pipe didn't leak before your repair I think it's unlikely it was damaged during your repair. How old is it and your boat? When the engine is running the exhaust blows most standing water out. With engine off the water level rises to the boat's waterline and the pipe fills above this...
  18. harringtondav

    Alpha 1 Gen 2 Possible Y pipe leak (Video included)

    Your vid only had the sound of water trickle. No image. When you say "Also, it leaks down both sides of the Y Pipe" are the rubber manifold couplings leaking? Also if you forgot, or pinched the Y pipe to transom plate seal you will get a leak low on the inside of the transom.
  19. harringtondav

    Enough horsepower?

    If someone wants to trade down it is often a sign they have a reason to unload their motor. Do the checks mentioned above. If it is a good motor, go for the swap. You'll be in a better position to upgrade to a higher power O/B if you decide that's what you want.
  20. harringtondav

    Single axle or dbl

    Ditto @jimmbo 's points. You will be fine with a single axle trailer. I like to keep things as simple as possible. Our new boat + trailer weigh 3740# wet with 15 gal of fuel and a little gear. Trailer 15" D range tire capacity is 4300#. The 560# reserve is more than enough for the life jackets...
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