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

[stakultexsun]

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.

 

[Stinnett21]

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.

 

[Stinnett21]

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.

 

[cyclops222]

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

 

[paulswagelock]

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.

 

[stakultexsun]

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.

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

 

[airshot]

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.

 

[stakultexsun]

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.

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, a lot of getting up slalom is technique. You can fight the boat's pull, or you can choose to not fight it. Fighting often means not getting up.

When I deep water start, I drag my left foot and try to tuck the ski under my butt. Also, make your torso as thin as possible to the pull of the boat.

You can also jump start, dock start or chair start. These require more skiing skill, but you can get up with less motor power and less fatigue.

 

[stakultexsun]

Gee, a lot of getting up slalom is technique. You can fight the boat's pull, or you can choose to not fight it. Fighting often means not getting up.

When I deep water start, I drag my left foot and try to tuck the ski under my butt. Also, make your torso as thin as possible to the pull of the boat.

You can also jump start, dock start or chair start. These require more skiing skill, but you can get up with less motor power and less fatigue.

I hear you there.

I tried the other day with only one foot in (front foot..left foot in my case). I couldn't hold my ski straight, but I only tried once and my wife has no clue how to watch me and pull me up at the same time. So when you say you drag it, like it's behind you? I tried to "barefoot it" and didn't want to try the dragging thing just due to time constraints.

I'm actually a very good skiier, I haven't been skiing regularly for many years, but I can ALWAYS get up unless the boat just holds at a steady 15 mph or 8mph whatever it is doing sometimes.

That is when I can't get up, when the boat hits a speed that I cannot get the ski to plane and the boat just holds that speed.

I'll give a typical description of how I get up behind this boat. I'm just going to guess MPH, I may be off by 5 or 10mph.

Left foot in front, right foot in back slot, ski at the best angle I can hold (35 to 50 degrees?). Anyway, so the boat quickly gets me to 5mph, then 8 to 9mph...from there, it takes 2 or 3 to 4 seconds to gain each mph, so let's say it reaches 15 mph I can play with body angle and other adjustments like trying to lean forward to climb out of the water. I have to hold my breath to avoid inhaling water, and if I can't hold it anymore or hold onto the rope anymore, that is when I give up.

This boat is just CRAZY weak and or has a balance issue. like if it was 3500lbs, 3100 of it is behind the center of the boat.

I am 49years old and do weigh 210lbs, but have been slalom skiing since I was 11 or 12 years old. Even when I was 18 and 165lbs and in PRIME condition, this boat pulls me up like my dad's old 1994 bayliner with the Force 120hp on it. Even back then, that bayliner 120 pulled us up worse than any boat we had. Now it pulls me up like my current boat. It's a 19.5 footer.