Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

[commander315]

Hey, I have a 84 31' Chris Craft with twin 260 hp 1983 Mercrusier 350 V8 Inboards. The boat gets on plane pretty quickly but only does about 25 mph. (Or atleast thats as hard as I'm willing to push them) When we tube with the boat it seems like a quick ride from the tubers standpoint... But anyway, my son learned how to waterski and now he wants to do it more often. He bothering me to get a slightly smaller boat with some quick outboards. However, can i pull him with my current boat. He is about 180lb and will be on combo skis. What do you guys think?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

Sounds like a big fun wake to me!

 

[commander315]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

yup, very big, especially when trimmed right. but im not sure on the acceleration stand point. He was water skiing on new boston whalers with big verado outboards. and when he yelled hit it , they really slammed the throttle. These can't put up with that sudden acceleration. So another question, Is that sudden acceleration necessary, or can I use power to slowly ease him up out of the wateR?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

as long as you don't mind buying the fuel go for it..... should be no problem at all

 

[commander315]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

as long as you don't mind buying the fuel go for it..... should be no problem at all

tell me about it lol.. I could burn $1000-$1300 at the fuel dock if both tanks are empty. /

 

[KermieB]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

My son and all of his friends like me to pull them for wake boarding at 18-21 miles per hour. We go faster for towables. I have a 19' Sea Ray with a 4.3 Merc I/O and a 21 pitch prop which gets em up plenty good. My boat tops out at about 45 mph. You don't need a lot of speed for wake boarders.

 

[commander315]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

I know speed isnt really an issue. But will i be able to get him out of the water w/o the quick jolt from and outboard or sterndrive?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

depends on how good he is...... some folks need to be jerked out of the water and some have the skills to get up behind a more sluggish boat...... Honestly..... hook up the rope and try it..... if it doesn't work hook up the tubes

 

[commander315]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

Thanks for the ideas guys

Honestly..... hook up the rope and try it..... if it doesn't work hook up the tubes

Thats a good point lol

 

[dannyual767]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

It'll also be a lot easier for him to get up on plane if he's skiing on a pair of combos. If a single slalom ski, he'd better be pretty good because he's going to be plowing through water for a bit.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

It'll also be a lot easier for him to get up on plane if he's skiing on a pair of combos. If a single slalom ski, he'd better be pretty good because he's going to be plowing through water for a bit.

It's gonna be difficult on slolam anyway since most people don't slolam at 25mph (norm is closer to 28-32mph, I prefer 30). He will probably be able to ski on a combo set with no issues, and if jumping big wakes on skis is his thing he'll be in heaven. I bet a wakeboard would probably suit him well on your vessel (low req'd speed with big wake).

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

On 2 skis I think he will be fine, remind him that this wont get him up quite as quickly so he may have to stay compact for a little longer. Once the boat planes out he can then stand up into his normal position. Skis nice and tight togather, stay leaned back a bit and let the boat do all the work, if he stands too quickly he will sink and get pulled over the front. I grew up skiing behind a 27 footer with twin I-6's and it did fine, I was young enough that the lower speed on a slalom wasn't an issue at all.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

These can't put up with that sudden acceleration.

What's wrong with them?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

I had a Fiberform with twin 350's. My standard routine for pulling skiers was full throttle launch and back to about half for skiing. Bet he's just fine back there.

 

[commander315]

Re: Mercrusier Inboards: Waterskiing?

What's wrong with them?

To tell you the truth maybe they can, but theyre old and from time to time they iverheat. One of my buddies with a 82' 350 merc tried slamin his throttle one time and ended up soaking the bilge with antifreeze in 3 seconds.. so idk.. im apprehensive