First time out this year with the V174 Crestflite!

[Rich_V174SS]

Finally got the boat out today, first time this year for Memorial Day Weekend! My overheating problems from last year have been resolved with a new exhaust elbow, and I'm really diggin' the new Mercury Laser II 23p stainless prop. Although it was a bit rough out on Long Island Sound during the day I was able to open up the throttle as the waters started to calm in the later afternoon hours. Here are my new performance results:

Better hole shot than the Mercury Vengeance 23p prop and none of the porpoising that was characteristic of the Vengeance. The Laser was a "smoother" running prop. Up to 40 mph the rpm's vs. speed were virtually the same as the Vengeance but above 40 mph with the drive trimmed out I gained more top end speed. I wasn't utilizing the vent holes in the prop hub, I had them plugged and I think I'll keep them that way for now. I'll experiment with the vent holes another day.

25 mph @ 2000 rpm
30 mph @ 2500 rpm
35 mph @ 3000 rpm
40 mph @ 3500 rpm
45 mph @ 3800 rpm
47 mph @ 4000 rpm

Fuel problems prevented me from getting any more rpm out of the engine as the secondaries in the carb were opening up, it's leaning out on me again. If I get the fuel problem fixed I should get 53 mph @ 4600 rpm.

I also got some new videos up on youtube from the outing using my helmet cam (pictured below). The first video is what a typical Long Island Sound boat ride looks like when the water is rough - IT SUCKED! Talk about a back-breaker and a wet one too! The second vid is the speed run where I got her up to 47 mph, it starts out slow because of the no-wake zone but I get to open her up once outside the marker. The 3rd vid is a sunset run topping out around 45 mph.

Rough ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGLEUVRynPg
Speed run 1:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2Grlcw2HVg
Speed run 2:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BEzPFCycjg

[Hyperacme]

Thanks for the ride Rich ...
Hope ya get thee fuel problem worked out.

[OleRed]

Nice to finally get out on the lake .. thanks Rich, I enjoy'd it
I Love the helment cam

[Rich_V174SS]

I wish it was the lake, that was actually out on the ocean, too salty. 
Soon I hope to head to the lake.

[David CVX-16]

Thanks Rich. Enjoyed the ride on your boat. Great that you found the right prop and expect even greater speeds. Love that slap of the water that tells you are going fast.

[V153]

Cool Rich. Good for you!

[Rich_V174SS]

Love that slap of the water that tells you are going fast.

My back sure doesn't like it. During one of those "slaps" my glove box door came unhinged and all the contents spilled out onto the passenger seat. Just one more thing to fix now!

[DanR]

Nice first day out!!! I like the video the helmet cam gives. I feel your pain with the water like that, I go out on Lake Michigan, most of the time it's just like that.

[Rich_V174SS]

Nice first day out!!! I like the video the helmet cam gives. I feel your pain with the water like that, I go out on Lake Michigan, most of the time it's just like that.

The cam is a ContourHD 1080p put out by a company called VholdR. You can usually find them on ebay for decent prices. They have an older 720p version as well for less money but the 1080p is better. The quality of the video seems a little dark to me and sometimes a little wall-eyed, I'll have to see if I can brighten it up a bit with the camera software. And now they have a version with a built in GPS to record your speed right on the video, that'll be next on my Christmas list - when the prices come down. 

[Rosscoe]

Sweet! Hands free video.