Maiden Voyage with Pics.

[trout74]

We took the boat out this weekend to break in the engine. First question, what should the max RPM for the Mercury Optimax Pro XS 150 be? I couldn't get the RPM's past 5000. The top speed per the speedo was 37mph, though I don't trust boat speedo's, I'm less concerned about the number of MPH's, and more interested in RPM's. The prop is a Mirage Plus 15P. I called the dealer and he said its a brand new motor, with after today, a couple of hours on it, it will gain RPM's, and should go to about 5700. Does that sound correct? It was just my wife and I on the boat and a full tank of gas. Good amount of wind, and some chop.

On a side note, I really liked how the boat performed and handled. It really pops up on plane fast and pulls hard. I love how it banks into the turns, it is so fun. I want to personally thank the Rooster! I love the Optimax, so glad I took your advice. It was not lound at all, it didn't bother my wife either, whew:joyous: , and it totally exceeded my expectations. Love it!

a few pictures from today, it was tad cold as you can see.

Thanks for reading

Trout

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

That is a very very nice boat.

If its a brand new motor follow the break instruction to the letter, it has a computer that will tell on you and may void the warranty.

 

[trout74]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

That is a very very nice boat.

If its a brand new motor follow the break instruction to the letter, it has a computer that will tell on you and may void the warranty.

Thank you sir. BTW I read your whole post about your rebuild, that was a cool project and my favorite part was the compass!

Motor has a computer police huh, guess I'll read up on that, thanks.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

There is no way that that motor will gain 700 rpm's after it's broken in. Mine didn't even gain 10 rpm's after break in. Break it in according to your manual then go out and open it up and play with the trim. Then if your still several hundred rpm's below what the motor is rated for have the dealer try different props and motor heights, at his expense, it's his responsibility to do that.

On my 150 Merc 4 stroke they tried 4 props and different motor heights and nothing ever changed, I am still 600 rpm's below what motor is supposed to run at.

 

[dpeslinger]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

Trout, why did u go with a manitou, and did you look at other boats and choose manitou over them? i notice you said u like how it handles, does it have performance tubes? and can i ask about what u paid for it? (for comparison purposes) thx

 

[trout74]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

Trout, why did u go with a manitou, and did you look at other boats and choose manitou over them? i notice you said u like how it handles, does it have performance tubes? and can i ask about what u paid for it? (for comparison purposes) thx

I did research online for several months, and visited three dealerships and looked at Sweetwater, Lowe, Bentley and Manitou. Mine has the VP hull, center tube is 27 inches and sits 5 lower with lifting strakes, and the outer tubes are 23 inches. It really leans into the turns and I could make very sharp turns at full speed. IT was very fun to haul arse and turn at full throttle. Mine was a left over 2012, 24 ft. Encore Pro Angler with 150 optimax, center tube storage, kicker speakers, fish finder, cupholder lighting and floor lighting, two live wells, enclosed fishing rod locker and a Rolco tandem axel trailer with electric brakes for 35K.

My previous boat was a 2011 Weeres cadet Cruise 200 with a 75hp mercury, twin tube, and there is no comparison, night and day different, but it cost considerably less and was bought for a different purpose at the time.

trout

 

[dpeslinger]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

thx, didnt realize was a '12. what do u think a '14 exactly the same would cost? and what was the deciding factor for you to choose Manitou?
btw, nice boat! 24 is a big barge for 2 people, did it feel "too big"? and i second the advice of hawker. be careful on break in period.

 

[trout74]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

24 feet is a big barge but I also have four little kids that aren't there because we were just breaking the motor in. Deciding factor for me was the VP toon technology their toon set up is what sold me. The 2014 would probably go for around 50,000 with trailer.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

We took the boat out this weekend to break in the engine. First question, what should the max RPM for the Mercury Optimax Pro XS 150 be? I couldn't get the RPM's past 5000. The top speed per the speedo was 37mph, though I don't trust boat speedo's, I'm less concerned about the number of MPH's, and more interested in RPM's. The prop is a Mirage Plus 15P. I called the dealer and he said its a brand new motor, with after today, a couple of hours on it, it will gain RPM's, and should go to about 5700. Does that sound correct? It was just my wife and I on the boat and a full tank of gas. Good amount of wind, and some chop.

On a side note, I really liked how the boat performed and handled. It really pops up on plane fast and pulls hard. I love how it banks into the turns, it is so fun. I want to personally thank the Rooster! I love the Optimax, so glad I took your advice. It was not lound at all, it didn't bother my wife either, whew:joyous: , and it totally exceeded my expectations. Love it!

a few pictures from today, it was tad cold as you can see.

Thanks for reading

Trout

View attachment 230787View attachment 230788View attachment 230789View attachment 230790

Well I'm almost embarrassed !! Many many others here on the forum unselfishly offered up their advice as my wife and I were shopping for barges. Seems as though Manitou has always had a slight edge in the speed & handling department. Looks to still be a bit chilly where you guys were. Good luck !!!

 

[Noahspappy]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

Hi this is my first post on Iboats. I have been looking for wisdom here for a couple of years. I also bought a new pontoon this year 2014 18' Bass Buggy and had my Maiden voyage May 8th in the afternoon. I followed the book for btreaking in the motor. I got the fishing model with the Mercury 20 HP EFI I boat in the Allegheny and restricted HP lakes here in West PA.

Your pontoon looks awesome. I also was blown away by the quiet motor. After 3 hours of going by the book on RPMs i had to load and go home. That was not as easy as the guy in the Pontoon loading in 2 min videos. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[trout74]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

Well I'm no expert in getting a barge on a trailer it is not easy. I usually position the boat up wind and slowly drift with the light throttle into the guides of the trailer. Once the front of the pontoons land on the guides I let it settle In and then slowly driving up on the guides as the truck is slowly backing down into the water. You want to make sure that you drive the trailer fully into the water first to get it all wet before you drive up on it. Then pull out a little bit before you put the boat on the trailer. That being said they usually takes me two or three attempts to get it on the trailer.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

Looking good trout, and most importantly the admiral's smile despite the cold testifies that ya done good!:joyous: Pappy, what kind of loading issues are you having? It may be that you just need practice, which we can't help you with, but we'll do what we can if you'll tell us your concerns.

 

[OK Toon]

Re: Maiden Voyage with Pics.

That was not as easy as the guy in the Pontoon loading in 2 min videos. Any advice would be appreciated.

Loading a boat onto a trailer takes practice, even more with a pontoon boat since even a slight breeze can blow you off course. The thing to remember is to make small adjustments in steering and put the boat into gear and back into neutral -- doing this over and over can help maintain slower speeds. Unlike in a car where you can just take your foot off the gas pedal and the car will slow down, on a boat that is in gear, it has forward propulsion at all times. So going into gear and out then back in then back out, you can maintain a slower speed that you can control. But if you aren't in gear, steering doesn't do much. So don't have it out of gear, turn the steering then turn the steering more since it isn't changing course, then put it into gear - that is an easy way to overcorrect. Also, have the front gate opened on the bow of the boat -- that allows you to see the trailer better and know when you are about to hit the front stops on the trailer.

Luckily I have gotten pretty good at loading our 22' pontoon on the trailer. This made it a little easier to transition over to putting our boat into our dock -- that can make you a little nervous trying to put a 8'6" wide boat into a 10' wide slip, knowing that you have steel beams on both sides of the entrance to the slip. So if I'm not lined up just right, and approach slowly, it could end up in a big crunch to the nose cones of either pontoon.

Best of luck and keep practicing. Go on a day when the ramp isn't busy and load and unload several times to get the hang of it.

 

[ahicks]

Regarding loading/unloading, you'll be a pro by the end of the summer. First couple of times can be a pain with a new rig, even for a pro! Keep it slow, and remember steering not near as responsive if it's not in gear!