Motor Question for Tige Newbie

[Jeff T]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Jeff and I am picking up my 05 22V on Saturday. I couldn't be more excited. I absolutely love the boat, but I have one lingering concern: I want to make sure the Mercruiser 350 MPI (315 HP) motor is enough motor.

Here is a little background: This is my first boat. We will do a considerable amount of wakeboarding and some (very little) skiing behind the boat. Additionally, we will be doing a lot of anchoring and just hanging out. Not all of our lakegoing friends wakeboard, etc..

The boat is in absolutely fantastic condition w/ only 36 hours on the clock. It does have syncrotech and does not have a ballast system (no extra weight). Also, this boat is at the very top of my $$ range. Trying to find a fairly new 05-06 boat (22V) w/ the Marine Power 340HP motor seems to be out of my financial reach. I have driven the boat and it felt great...real strong. However, I don't have much to compare to as I have never driven a 340 HP boat.

I have been told over and over that the 315 HP motor will be plenty of motor...even for the occasional slolam skier. Does anyone disagree or have any concerns??

Thanks for your help!

[Bog]

I have the same engine, run at 6,000 feet with 1200+lbs of ballast and it does the job. If you have it proped right you should be fine.

[dogbert]

I'm a big guy (6'7" and over 275 lbs) and I gotta tell ya, I have to hang on when the boat takes off for skiing. If you're not ready, it's gonna rip the rope right outta your hands. First time out every year still takes me by surprise.

I can load up my '99 with 1500 lbs of ballast and still have plenty of power to pull boarders or wakesurfers.

If you want a better hole shot, you can always get a new prop with a lower pitch. My recommendation would be something like the Acme 525.

[Gschmidt1]

A lower pitch prop will solve any problems you might encounter. If you encounter anything.

Here is a 315 hp story: We took my buddies' 03' 20v RE out the other day. Loaded it with the following:

2 300 lb sacs
1 650 lb sac
Stock ballast (800 lbs)

for a grand total of: 1750lbs ballast, + 6 people.

It was a tad slow out of the hole, but pulled me up and planed in less than 12 seconds (I am abo. 190)

[Jeff T]

Thanks guys! I appreciate it. I knew that prop changes would be a solution.

JT

[jeffro]

even without a prop change, the syncrotec will be plenty for the 315.

[Redlined]

That motor will be plenty for you and everyone else for that matter. I pull mulitples all the time and walla, your out and riding in a split second. Have fun.......

[Paublo]

The 22V came out in '03. They took the wood out by '04 with only cosmetic changes in '05 and '06. The Marine Power has been offered since '04 (335hp then changed to 340hp in '05). Most dealers ordered the MP motors, but there are a few with the Merc 315hp. Runne has the 315hp and he posts on here regularly- and he runs ballast too. I personaly think there isn't that much difference in hp, Merc is just more conservative in its ratings. You won't really notice a difference.