Tom (Donzi Racer),
Ok, I don't mean to kill ya! I'm guessing I'm already pushing the limits quite far with the weight and power with which I'm working.
First, yes, good guess: you are indeed talking to a fellow CONTROL nut. Fern could tell you all about it. My take is you don't get to ride high-performance street motorcycles (in dangerous So. FL no less) nearly 30 years without insisting on attempting to control the vehicle and every dang thing around you, defend yourself and your passenger to the nth degree, etc. I insist on direct, immediate control in my vehicles, tools, garages, household, you name it. I hate Microsoft OS, and preferred OS/2 on these toy-computer PCs mostly because MS usurps too much control from the user. I have never owned an automatic transmission in my car nor motorcycle, though that is what Fern prefers in her car. (Yes, I did teach her and several others to drive a manual, ride a motorcycle, shift gears, drive boats, you name it.)
Yes, many of us guys are control fans, but I've found *we're not all the same!* Some are happy to let automatic transmissions, automated GPS'es, power seats, power tops, automated gizmos, women drive the remote, and so much more attempt to make the decisions. Not I! Some guys simply have no real mechanical interest either. And that's OK too. Believe it or not, We Are Not the Norm!
Just another example of insistence on direct control. Most younger guys now like turbos; what's with that? At least on gas engines, Not I! I hate 'em. #1 reason: Turbo Lag. Yech. No direct response, it's not for me. #2 reason: When I worked in the garage, I cannot tell you how many dead turbo'ed cars showed up in the shop, customer could not afford to replace the very-pricey turbo, and just continued driving the car with dead turbo, mandatory low compression engine, slug of a motor, etc.
Yeah, I thrive on crisp, responsive control. It's truly my thing. I'll bet most high-performance vehicle owners agree wholeheartedly.
Now, more to the point. You had put the fear of God, err... weight into me with your Black Max story. You were quite fortunate to have such a kind, fun grand-dad as a kid, and as he has surely passed by now, may he rest in peace. (I myself enjoyed wonderful granddads too, however none was the pure motorhead nor watersports-fan you mention, and that's OK too.)
I'm still waiting to learn the weight of your Yamaha 200, and likely treat that as a reasonable threshold. Just what model is it? I'd like to do some research. You are successful with the Yamaha and I'm just dieing to know some practical weight examples. I really don't want to repeat the Black Max story.
Mercury's Serial # tag on my Promax shows 375 pounds; I sure hope it's true. Yet, the Mercury Racing factory Service Manual I bought (great deal over EBay, by the way) shows under Specs, Standard 20" Shaft Outboard Weight of 428 lbs. Quite a difference. Any idea why the deviation?
In the meantime, one other very-knowledgeable fella, Greg also warned very, very seriously about every pound I add to the transom. Greg, are you there??
And what does that 5" or more of jackplate offset do? Could it cause the boat to porpoise?
I once tried to improve top speed of my 1997 Yamaha Waverunner GP1200, disappointed it was not the top-speed equivalent of its predecessor, the amazing-for-its-era, 62-mph-in-flat-water-only 1995 Waveraider 1100. I enjoyed favortism, short-cut a long line of waiting customers and got one of the first shortened, high-speed aftermarket ride plates from Riva Yamaha. Less resistance = more speed, or so was the theory. I bolted it on, sealed up the jet-pump with Marine Goop and headed out to Biscayne National Park with about 15 other riders for dozens of miles, back in the day, when PWC were legal there. The boat porpoised so badly, it wore out my knees; they hurt for weeks due to just trying to ride it with Fern aboard also for the day, refusing to back down. I still have knee ache, at least partially from that incident.
Now, again remember you are talking (writing, whatever) to a pure novice in this area with outboards, jackplates, propellers and more. I'm thrilled to be learning this wonderful game, yet fully realize There Is No Substitute for Real Experience. Double that now, as far as boating goes. So the best I can do at present, sitting here at my desk is pick the brains of you kind folks who know better.
>With the money you are spending on the rig, the motor, and the setup...
Wasn't it Ben Franklin who wrote "When a man says 'It's not the money, it's the principle,' it's the money"? Well, in this case, it's really not *just* the money.
Now, I'm gonna give you another perspective. No, I am not a wealthy man and value is the name of my game -- Good ole American Bang-for-the-buck. However, remember what I wrote: It's far cheaper than buying a senator! I really mean this.
Here is the competition, as I measure it:
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/waverunn.../features.aspx
1.8L, supercharged 250 hp, 68 mph in magazine tests. $13,199 starting MSRP. I've wanted this boat since 1990, If Fern would have let me, I'd have mortgaged the house for it, it's finally available, and thanks to politics, I no longer play this game. With this baby, I'd certainly max-out the extended warranty; at least a supercharger provides direct response, though admittedly, the direct hit of immediate throttle response is less significant with a boat than on a car or bike.
Nonetheless, after all these years, after several failed attempts, I now have seen the light. It is not an oncoming train. It's name is Donzi.
When my wonderful, versatile boat beats this baby and beats it fair and square ("Spanks it real good" as the younger generation says), then I'll be happy. Really, really happy.
That's my 2-cents worth for the evening.
-Andy
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Originally Posted by AndyDiSario
