Advice for New Z3 Owner

[trace]

That's interesting JLG, I swear 007 told me he saw 37+ on his 2015 and I know mine will just kiss 38. Definitely agree they are monsters out of the hole even when loaded. We've forgotten a few times to turn on the speed set and once the rider is up and then burying the throttle it still accelerates like a race car.

[JLG]

Maybe I carry more 30 packs on board slowing it a bit! Lol but serious it will only run 34-35.4 max

[007]

Maybe I carry more 30 packs on board slowing it a bit! Lol but serious it will only run 34-35.4 max

I had a much less in my cooler, but I did see 37 and some change with 4 people onboard

[Stingreye]

The new raptor motors are shipping with a acme 2419, you won't need any other prop on the 2015 boats for pulling.

Wow, with a bigger motor, I wouldn't have expected them to jump to a 12 pitch prop. If its still running the same gear reduction in the tranny/v-drive, they went to Acme's stump puller. Considering that Ragboy thought the 1235 MIGHT be too aggressive on the PCM 409, I can't imagine how high RPM's get while cruising and how easily it will hit the Rev limiter.

I do know that I have read that Indmar wants the engine to hit WOT while FULLY loaded for surfing. I wonder if it takes that prop to do it with SURF X ballast.

[JLG]

My opinion is the 2419 is overkill on the 15 z3. That being said I do like the hole shot especially when slalom skiing. No hesitation at all. This heavy monster probably comes out as fast as my old 20i did. I guess I need to line it up some time with the 20i see the difference. It does rap out very easily which is a bit concerning but I guess they are the engineers not me! Maybe that part about indmar wanting wot has some truth or good logical reasoning?

[JLG]

I had a much less in my cooler, but I did see 37 and some change with 4 people onboard

I wouldn't don't yours does the 37mph and possible my gps is off or possibly the different avx helps I do wish mine would run the 42-44 range but am concerned I'll hate the slow hole shot for skiing. Possibly a huge increase in fuel consumption also as I know they try to produce em to run more efficient at slower speeds.

[Stingreye]

Maybe that part about indmar wanting wot has some truth or good logical reasoning?

Here is one of the threads posted multiple places (not here as far as I know) and what made me think about the switch to Inmar and a more aggressive prop might line up with their thinking. I think Larry has posted here recently though so maybe he will comment on the prop selection Tige/Indmar made.

http://www.moomba.com/msgboard/showt...ll-Your-Engine!

Quote from Thread:

If you wakeboard or wake surf and load your boat heavily it is critical that your boat is propped appropriately to ensure that your engine gives you the kind of life that you expect. It is critical that the engine is able to turn RPM at wide open throttle within the designated range for your engine. The standard 5.7L engine, Assault 325, 330 … the engines that have the flame arrestor at the top of the engine like a carbureted engine … the WOT RPM range is 4600-4800. The premium 5.7L engine, Assault 340 … the engines that have the flame arrestor at the rear of the engine and a decorative plenum on top … the WOT RPM range is 4800-5200. The 6.0L engines … the LS2 and the L96 … the WOT RPM range is 5200-5600.

What you need to do is load the boat the way you would for whatever activity you are loading it for. If that means all standard ballast full, any extra ballast, 3 cases of cold beverages and 8 friends … load it up. Make sure your fuel tank is full also. You want the boat to be the heaviest that it is ever going to be. Now carefully take the boat up to wide open throttle and see what the maximum engine RPM is. Be careful because the added weight might make the boat handle differently at WOT than it does when lightly loaded.

If the RPM for your engine is within the WOT RPM range for the engine you are “GOLDEN”. Go wakeboarding … go surfing … have fun! If the engine turns RPM at WOT it means that it will be properly loaded throughout the RPM range. You don’t always have to run the engine at WOT … in fact I don’t recommend that you run at WOT for extended periods of time … it just has to be able to run within that range at WOT. If the engine is not able to turn in the WOT RPM range for your engine, you have two choices … take some weight out of the boat or change the propeller. Every time you run the boat in those same conditions (overloaded) you are risking the longevity of your engine, and if the engine fails under those conditions it is a good chance the failure would not be covered under warranty even though it may be within the warranty period.

If you can’t tolerate reducing the weight in the boat, you will have to re-prop with a smaller pitch/diameter propeller to reduce the load on the engine. I am not a prop expert so I won’t be able to help you select the correct prop. Fortunately, I have some friends who are experts. You can contact the good folks at ACME (www.acmemarine.com) or OJ (www.ojprops.com). Either of those fine companies will be able to help and make propeller suggestions that will get you where you need to be RPM wise.

Once you are propped for the maximum load in the boat, what is going to happen when you run the boat without the load? Not to worry … running the boat under-propped for the load may have an effect on the WOT performance of the boat … it probably won’t go as fast. You won’t have to worry about over-revving the engine though because all of our fuel injected engines have RPM limiters that will not allow the engine to over-rev. It is much better for your engine to be under-propped than it is to be over-propped. If you don’t like the lightly loaded boat performance with the smaller prop, keep your old prop and use it when you are running lightly loaded and switch to the heavy load prop when you use the boat heavily loaded.

Why is this so important? For example, if your engine is only able to turn 4000 RPM at WOT, the engine is running hot and hard but because it cannot turn at the rated RPM, the water pump is not pumping as much water as it should be or that the engine wants when it is working that hard. Also, under those conditions, the throttle settings are telling the ECM/computer to supply fuel to the engine for WOT operation but because the engine is not turning the appropriate RPM, the engine is over-fueled. It may not be able to burn that excess fuel … so now we start washing oil from the cylinder walls which accelerates cylinder wear. And where does that excess fuel go? Some goes past the rings into the oil which dilutes the oil and reduces its ability to properly lubricate the engine … and some goes out through the exhaust. If the engine has catalytic converters, unburned gasoline in the catalysts creates extra heat in the catalyst and with the diminished water flow because of reduced engine RPM we have a hard time keeping the catalysts and manifolds cool which creates more problems.

Bottom line … it is extremely critical that your engine is able to run within the rated RPM range at Wide Open Throttle. If you run your boat heavily loaded and the engine will not turn within the designated RPM range, you are killing your engine and if it dies under those conditions that is considered abuse and abuse is not covered by warranty.

The Engine Nut has spoken!
Larry Engelbert
Indmar Marine Engines
"Power to the Sport"

[Tomp]

They have gone from one extreme to the other on the prop that is stock on the z3

My 2014 with the 350 motor came with a 537 prop, boat hit 44 easy on the speedo, it would surf fine with the VX and after market bags full fronts and rear surf side full, planning out or trying to go over 20mph loaded took awhile but who goes fast fully loaded?

Changed to the 1235 and it pulls like a tractor ant tops at 39mph, for just crusing it feels under propped or excessive RPMs.

I would think the raptor motor should be set up with a 40mph plus speed and still pull the weight

[chpthril]

I would think the raptor motor should be set up with a 40mph plus speed and still pull the weight

No doubt that the motor is capable, just needs to right prop to get that power to the water. The 537 is an inch smaller dia and way more pitch than the 2419. Put the 16 pitch 537 on the Raptor and bump the WOT to about 58 and that boat might just 50 MPH.

[Tomp]

Why not a two speed tranny on boats like this?
That would be much more beneficial than big HP motors

[chpthril]

Why not a two speed tranny on boats like this?
That would be much more beneficial than big HP motors

For what we ask the boats to do, larger props with more pitch are still needed. A low gear 1st and and high gear 2nd would fix the hole shot and top speed/RPM issue, but not the prop slip and cavitation.

MB tried the 2 speed tranny and bailed after a couple seasons.

[Snowsurfer85]

400 raptor
Mid ship cleats x 10000
Heater
Surf Bimini
AVX/VX
Pre wire tower for speaker even if you go with two.

Things I like having but arents critical:
underwater and dock lights for late nights
Shower to fill wet suits
upgrade seat
upgrade mirror

steering wheel isnt a big deal