Controlling speed on a I/O

mgb1974 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 City: Cincy

I am having trouble keeping the boat at a steady 18 to 20MPH when wakeboarding. It is a 1996 Sea Ray 180 with a 4.3 V6. I get it there and then it slowly slows down so I give it slightly more gas and it speeds past it.

Skiing behind the boat it has no trouble going steady at 25 to 25MPH.

Any ideas on ways to stablize speed better? I know of the perfect pass system but that is out of my budget price wise. What about trimming the outdrive up or down?

Thanks

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

try adjusting the speed not at the top of the throttle control lever, but at its base. This way when the boat is rocking or bouncing, you reduce your moment arm and therefore the amount of force you apply to it, it GREATLY reduces the overshooting of the speed, both on the way up and on the way down. I also use a Garmin GPS that I use for speed. It shows an accurate speed, whereas, my stock speedometer seems to lag and/or not be very accurate at all.

kartman · Posted: Aug 20, 2009 10:37 am Post subject:

a high 5 prop really helps out. if you drop 2" on your pitch, that will help out also. and if you put a stabalizer fin on it, it helps with plaining at lower speeds.

pet575 · Posted: Aug 20, 2009 1:45 pm Post subject:

+1 to the 5-blade prop with low pitch.

skinny99 · Outlaw Joined: 27 Jun 2009 Posts: 119 City: Deland

My buddy's Four Winn had a similar problem.We installed a Stingray HydroFoil and learned where to set the trim so that the motor actually works a little harder.It seems at least on that boat that if you set the trim where it has to use a little more throttle to run like 19mph it holds its speed better. IMO

mgb1974 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jul 2006 Posts: 7 City: Cincy

Right now I have a SS prop. Anybody have a link to where you can buy a 5 blade prop??

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

search ebay.. I got mine there from a retailer out of miami.. Around $450-460 shipped I think.

Enygma · Soul Rider Joined: 26 Jul 2009 Posts: 356

What I do to get the boat at a steady speed is just lightly tap on the throttle rather the grabbing it and trying to move it slow with full force.

Also keep in mind it takes a few seconds for teh boats speed to sdjust. My drive always sucks for this. I'll say speed up so he'll give it a little gas, then when there's no immediate change he give it more. Now we're going 25 instead of 18 and I want 20.

So just give er a tap in the right direction and give er a few moments to adjust to the very slight throttle change.

Also remember that you will lose speed in a turn so if you have too much weight on one side of the boat it will pull to that side making it much harder to find a steady speed.

EDIT: I can get a steady 20 MPH in my I/O with a 3 blade prop, I don't know the pitch.