LOOK what we've just bought!

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16ft phil

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Hi all!

some of you might remember me from a while back with my project boat well bad news.. ive given up on it and decided to spend my money on fun for now!!

so this is what me and my best mate have just bought its a 17ft excel waverider challenger with a 140hp evinrude V4 outboard.

we had our very first boating experience on tuesday after work.... very scary when we first went out but got more and more comfortable with it which turned into enormous amounts of fun within the hour! :D

once i had had a fiddle with the trim and experimenting about we managed to get 45mph top end. quite fast enough but we were expecting quicker?? :confused:
anyway heres some pictures let me know what you think?

best wishes phil.


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16ft phil said:
we managed to get 45mph top end. quite fast enough but we were expecting quicker??
Click to expand...
What RPM did the engine reach at that speed, and what's the rated max RPM of the O/B?
45mph is not shabby for a 17 footer with a 140hp engine, anyway.

That aside, in the last of your pics, the engine looks much more turned to stbd compared to the curve radius.
I don't know, maybe it's just an optical effect due to the shape of the engine cover, but are you sure that the steering is safely connected and isn't loose? You should be able to "feel" that also by hand.

Anyway, all the very best for a great summer with your new toy.
She looks perfect also for some waterski, btw!
 
Congrtulations Phil. Nice toy, and just in tme for summer. Girls, form an orderly queue here :D

45mph seems about right to me for that machine. The rpm looks right - 5500 - if the engine was at WOT in that picture

You can do things to get more speed like fancy propellers and shedding weight but you might spend much hassle and £££ and gain only 2mph, so it's hardly worth it
 
A bigger prop might get you over the 50mph mark, but it would also harm your acceleration and make it harder to get on the plane, especially if you are planning on doing any watersports with the boat.

Also given the age of the engine, it probably isn't still putting out 140hp, so really 45mph is pretty good going, and around 37mph faster than our raggie friends can do flat out. :D
 
Welcome Phil and congraulations on your new purchase. You remind me of my first boat a 16ft Fletcher back in the 80s. The first trip out was a steep learning curve and you just build up your experience over many years.

My fletcher 16ft had a 80hp Mercury which on a good day would do around 50mph, so your's does sound a tad under what I would expect but not much. However, I did changed my prop and pitch and added Doel-fin (hydroplane thingy) which all improved performance.

Anyway, have fun and when you get a moment, consider doing the RYA Powerboat courses, that will help you become more confident etc.

Have fun.
 
If you want extra speed (45 is very respectable) the easiest way is to chuck your best mate over board , you will be surprised how much difference it makes , you should be able to claim 50mph , of course if you want to maintain it you will both have to diet .
 
nice boat..
nothing wrong if your getting 45mph.it's about right.
ive got a 17ft'r with 350hp and will do 55-60mph.

p.s if it aint got one get a kill cord fitted...

enjoy...
 
thanks for all kind words :D maybe i shouldnt be so concerned about the speed then.
i think the engine cover is the optical illusion as the steering feels great!
it does have dole-fin's fitted already i presume this is why it seems to get on the plane effortlessly. as for the prop it is chipped quite a bit on its leading edge (ive cleaned this up a bit this evening) will this affect it much? also the aceleration seams pretty awesome. i will get a vid this weekend and show all.

its not me in the royal mail jacket its my mate but i will pass on the message! ;)

so anyone out playing on the south east coast this weekend? :D

p.s DAKA.. i do intend on doing that although he doesnt know it yet.. il make sure he's standing up with his life jacket on and CRACK open the throttle! hehe that will have him in instantly!
 
MapisM said:
You surely don't mean that the Doel-fin improved top speed, I guess?
If anything, I'd expect the opposite...
Click to expand...


What I meant by improved performance, the doelfin improved stability, quicker time to plane and slightly better weight balance (port/starboard). The improved top end speed was related to the new stainless steel prop and a different pitch.

The interesting point and if I remember correctly (this was 18years ago), the change in pitch in theory made it slower to plane, but a higher top end, but with the doelfin fitted the time to plane was quicker than the original set-up, so all in all, improved performance :)
 
hmm sounds like im gonna have to get a diffrent pitch stainless prop! :D

went out again on sunday 4 up this time (makes a massive diffrence to everything doesnt it!) think im going to try and get a tank bought/made that goes in the bow as she sits very transom heavy especialy 4 up! hopefully this will keep her more level.
 
Looks like a load of fun, it doesnt take long to feel at ease when out on the water, but it does take a while to learn what the boat can take when its choppy of hitting big wake:D

Same make trailor as mine too :)
 
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