New Benteley 253 fish tritoon. with verado 225---wondering

[ncpjim]

I Just purchase a 25'3" Fish Elite Bentely with a 225 verado. First question is has anyone put this setup on a similar tri-toon? If so how fast did it go? What was pitch on prop and at what Rpm's? Mine runs 42 miles an hour at 6800 rpm. it has a 17 degree prop. At first motor was way too low. Lifting 2 holes made a big difference. But I feel this thing should run 50-55 mph. Min will not. a friend of mine has a 23' with a yamaha 150 and I cannot outrun him. Not happy for spending an extra 10,000.00 when I could have gotten a lesser motor. Even if I had to mix gas. I wanted to be emmisions cautous. I try to do my part with the environment. Oh well Just asking and Thanks in advance. Thanks

Jim Wilson

[dockholiday]

I run about 40 with a 150 243. Not that familiar with the Elite. I assume it is a tri toon. Does it have lifting strakes? Thinking with the 225 you might need to be closer to a 19p. I first tried a 17p but couldn't turn it but 5300 rpm. Might get 50 although not sure what the boat weighs. The verado is an excellent motor but probably weighs a little more than the opti. Is the prop you are running now stainless? The enertia are great props for toons. Oh just wanted to add merc has the verado rpm at 5800 to 6400.
Wouldn't want to damage such a great motor. Actually wouldn't want to go over 5800 while new.

http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/ou ... .php?ID=44

doc

[ncpjim]

First of All thanks for the reply.

As far as the questions here we go. It it a Tri toon with lifting strakes on all three toons. I am running a stainless 15.5 x 17 prop. One thing I do love about this new boat is I traded in a crownline 225 Br for this toon and the toon takes big waves 100% better than the crownline. I just want to make sure this motor is running at optimum performance. I am following the guidelines from mercury on the break in. Want to keep this thing for many years. Also one more question for fine tuning this rig. To bring down RPM's do I go up on the prop pitch?

Again. Thanks a bunch

[dockholiday]

Thats right 200 rpm plus or minus per pitch is the rule of thumb. So going to a 19 would drop the rpm by 400. Merc has some great props. The mecury mirage plus is the other one I tried in 17 p. The enertia was mainly designed for off shore boats (center console type) but does really well on pontoons. The vengeance is another good one. Here is a promo video on the enertia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GixydcYMcT0
The good thing the enertia's come in 1"pitch increments. If you over rev with the 19 you could go to a 20. Merc claims that you may be able to spin a larger pitch with the enertia due to its metal composition. Given that you may be able to go with the 20p. If the dealer will work with you, I would try both.

doc

[dockholiday]

Forgot to say Bryden24 shp memberlist.php? is the local expert on props. There isn't much he has not tried an has an inventory of props (or did) Think he getting around 60 or so with his. PM him an see what he could tell you.
Oh name is Bryan..............
doc

[ncpjim]

I did some more testing. I am not sure but I dont think the bentley can handle the big verado. It sits so low in the water on on the back water hits the bottom of the deck on the back half of the boat. in the front its fine just the back 2/3 of the boat sits so low. If I put trim tabs on the back of the pontoons that were adjustible it might help or get bigger lifting strakes on the back just like the bennington.

[dockholiday]

Looking at the back end cap of the toons, where does the water level hit? Half submerged or more. Mine is about half way. Looks like the 225 opti is almost 140lbs lighter than the verado. From mercs site...............
150 opti.........431lbs
225 opti.........497lbs
225 verado.........635lbs
135lbs is not that much on a toon, but guess when you add it to the very end, it is a lot of weight. Keep us updated on you progress.
doc

[dockholiday]

Another thought, mercs pro xs's (more or less a souped up opti) from what I gather. Don't know if you dealer would consider that, but bet the 175xs would get you to 45 or better.
doc

[ncpjim]

Many thanks for the info. The back of the toons are under water. Does that mean the motor is too heavy

[BassFrequency]

most likely yes. i did see a 22' with a verado at the marina over the weekend like that but it did get up and fly pretty good though

[rsmith]

I have a 25' Premier tri-toon with a 200hp verado. It weighs less than the 225, but the logs are maybe half way submerged in the back, on the whole the boat sits pretty level in the water. Sure there is some slope, but nothing like most of the toons at our lake even those with small motors.

We're still working with props, the original 17p aluminum prop allowed me to over rev the motor a little, the 19p we just put on it (Mercury Tempest plus) seems to have taken too many rpms out, but I still need to mess with the trim a bit to see where the rpms and speed finish out.