250 xs power

[RidgeRunner]

Here we go. This is the next outboard for the center console.
3397
Decided to stop the thread crapping on my buddy Reel's account.
I purchased as a 20" leg off a bass boat so it is clean and without corrosion.
Good thing because I had to switch it over to 25" for my V.
More pictures to come. Waiting on paint to dry.
It is a 2003 with 249 hours.

[reelapeelin]

Here we go. This is the next outboard for the center console.
3397
Decided to stop the thread crapping on my buddy Reel's account.
I purchased as a 20" leg off a bass boat so it is clean and without corrosion.
Good thing because I had to switch it over to 25" for my V.
More pictures to come. Waiting on paint to dry.
It is a 2003 with 249 hours.

somehow it looked BIGGER layin' on the pallet, Friday...I mean, REEL BEEG!!...Wish I had taken some pic for you...

[jasoncooperpcola]

RidgeRunner you are cleared for take off. :clap:

[spareparts]

I need to get working on the twin 200 set up for my V

[RidgeRunner]

DO IT. If I get outrun by twins it won't be my first and it won't hurt my feelings knowing that one of the 200's came from the Ridgerunner stable. LOL
Maybe I should bolt two on and get it over with now. :sun:

[THEFERMANATOR]

I say you should build up 2 tower of power inline MERC's and hang off the back. It would definately be unique, and I believe you can build up them old tower of power engines to scoot along. It would also be lightweight for the HP.

[brisboats]

Love the idea of twin anythings and the mercury inlines definately have a cool factor , but...The tower of power inline six engines are/were about at the limits of their horsepower. Next to impossible to squeeze much more power out of them than the later years had in the 1986 1987 115hp which was more like 125hp at the prop. I have grenaded two of them trying to turn them trying to turn them up past 6k. Great on a light boat where the power to weight ratio of the inline is hard to beat. I have beat the old 150 inline six with any of my 115's as merc went to prop rating in 1985 and did not want the inline to compete with the 135 and 150hp V-6 sales so downrated it to a 115hp. Internally these engines had the same ports and pistons as the previous 140hp but had a better adi ignition system and much lighter and simplier power trim. The 1985-87 inline six was the best of them in my opinion but if you want to hotrod a motor there just isn't that much you can do to it.

Ridge is on the right track here as this xs 250 is going to fly.

B

[Shrek]

Ridge, what is the benefit of the XS 250 over the 250 that you already have? I'm wondering for my future upgrade, assuming I don't go with a big Verado

[RidgeRunner]

The new power is a direct injected 2-stroke Optimax. Average fuel mileage is better by 40 to 50% over the somewhat crude fuel injection on the 250 EFI it is replacing. The 250XS is a motor Mercury Racing put together for go fast boats. Requires 91 octane fuel due to higher compression and a little more radical timing. They also changed the fuel rails and a few other tricks.
Bass and Walleye tested the 250XS head to head against the Verado, Yamaha 4-stroke and Suzuki 4-stroke. The conclusion was that the 250 XS had the best acceleration, fuel mileage and top speed of the bunch. Downside, noise and lack of refinement. Verado was the heavyweight but the quietest. The Yamaha was dinged for unpleasant exhaust note? Huh? So I don't put much confidence in the touchy feely reporting but numbers don't lie.
We will see in the next few weeks. Parts arriving daily. Paint on the XL mid is dry and ready to assemble.

[Shrek]

Average fuel mileage is better by 40 to 50% over the somewhat crude fuel injection on the 250 EFI it is replacing.

WOW! can that be right? What are you getting now and what do you hope to see with the xs?

[RidgeRunner]

250 EFI Current engine is a 3.0L burns 32+/-GPH WOT. WOT is 55 to 60 with a load. All around average fuel mileage cruising and such is approx 1.5 to 2MPG.
The 225 Opti also a 3.0L on a 23' Whaler Outrage averages 3.0 MPG. Heavier boat by a long shot and not near as efficient in the water as the V-20.
At WOT I expect very little gain but the idle and midrange (cruising speed) is where the Optimax shines. I would expect it to be as good as the 4-strokes in the same hp. I know Joe in Miami installed a 150 Optimax on his cuddy but have not heard of his mileage. A lot of guys seem to be going with the E-tec which is also a direct injected 2-stroke albeit much more quiet. What do you think Spare, Skool, Ferm, Genie Aye?
Will I see 4MPG?

[THEFERMANATOR]

i'm not real familiar with the XS engines, so i have no idea. 32 GPH seems awfully high for WOT burn on a 250. My EVINRUDE was built up to every bit of a 250 and WOT burn on it was 28GPH turning it right up to around 6100. The 3.0L MERC I always thought was a bit better on fuel as we had an older carbed 250 MERC and it was pretty good on fuel burn on a 231 PROLINE. I know the OPTIMAX engines are the best right now out there for milage though for new engines, only ones better were the 00-03 FICHTS I believe. Just make sure and run a good oil unless you want to be changing out compressors and air injectors in it is what I have heard.

[spareparts]

I think I need to answer it the same way I answered the top speed thread you started. "I think I need to drive to to know for sure" :sun:

[RidgeRunner]

If only you lived closer Spare. I have been to C-town once. Your turn.

I think you may be right on the fuel burn Ferm. Maybe 30GPH WOT. LOL I can tell you when I put the big prop on for top end it kills the mileage in a noticable fashion. Load the motor and the EFI just keeps dumping in the fuel. Carb motors seem better on mileage in the same hp. Big diameter smaller pitch props that can easily be turned to the 5800 limiter, like the Mirage that you suggested, gives the best fuel consumption. My propslip numbers are out of sight with the 23p Tempest because it has to be trimmed to slip to get max RPM. In the 100 degree heat, the 21p is just about perfect all around. Last weekend, I ran the 23p with three people and a fairly heavy loading and I could only muster 55 MPH out of the motor turning 5500 RPM. Plum sluggish out of the hole. We went 28 miles and burned nearly 15 gallons of 40:1 premix. Mostly cruising at 40 MPH. So 1.8 MPG average for the trip.
Started to reassemble some last night I will post some pics later.

[RidgeRunner]

Disassembled tuner from exhaust plate, painted 25" leg prepped and ready, reassembly started, bolted tuner back to exhaust plate, lower mounts to driveshaft housing, 25" water tube in SS, Bolted the assembly to the driveshaft housing and mounted the housing to the swivel bracket. Waiting on a few more parts.
3442

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3446

[RidgeRunner]

A few parts have arrived. Not installed yet.
3447

3448

[Shrek]

What, no carbon fiber?

[RidgeRunner]

What, no carbon fiber?

Saving that for Reel's 1974 Cuddy rebuild.

[spareparts]

I see you didn't cut the tuner. Shaun gave my buddy the dimensions to cut the tuner to make a 300 style out of it. from what we've been able to find out, they all use the same tuner, just cut to different lengths

[RidgeRunner]

I see you didn't cut the tuner. Shaun gave my buddy the dimensions to cut the tuner to make a 300 style out of it. from what we've been able to find out, they all use the same tuner, just cut to different lengths

I think the 250XS needs to be stock as Merc had it for this boat. I fear the performance mods help top end, but I need a more fuel efficient package/less noise and as dependable as I can make it for what it is. From what I can tell the tuner looked identical to the 3.0L 225 EFI tuner. It ought to have some snap, we will find out next week.

[spareparts]

come on now, yank the can, drill out the mid, cut the tuner....make it loud!
honestly, my buddy's 3.0L with the cut tuner, offshore mid with the big holes didn't sound much louder than a stock 3.0L

[RidgeRunner]

Began the take-off, mounting of new to me motor last evening. A few more connections and we will make some smoke/noise. I think.

[Shrek]

I'm really looking forward to the new data. Hurry hurry for the long weekend!

[RidgeRunner]

Next step, 2-stroke oil and some fresh AV gas. Reading the manual to make sure I didn't forget what I don't already know. Nearly ready for the hose. Pretty tight fit to get all the stuff in the rigging tube. 2ga battery cables sounded like a good idea at the time, now you'd be hard pressed to add anything more than sewing thread to it and I have another harness to add???. BTW I have taken 12 pictures with this POS Fuji over the last 4 days and the batteries are already dead. I just solved that issue, pictures in the am.

[reelapeelin]

Next step, 2-stroke oil and some fresh AV gas. Reading the manual to make sure I didn't forget what I don't already know. Nearly ready for the hose. Pretty tight fit to get all the stuff in the rigging tube. 2ga battery cables sounded like a good idea at the time, now you'd be hard pressed to add anything more than sewing thread to it and I have another harness to add???. BTW I have taken 12 pictures with this POS Fuji over the last 4 days and the batteries are already dead. I just solved that issue, pictures in the am.



Skaroo the hose...stick that puppy in the WATER!!...:sun:

[RidgeRunner]

ITS ALIVE. Sounds like an Opti. Not particularly quiet. Take the cowl off and it sounds like a combine. Alarm alerts over 2000 rpm in neutral, I think it is supposed to. I got a small water leak where I didn't clamp a hose and I gotta look into the shift linkage not getting to the end of the throw going into forward gear. Idles correctly at approx 600 rpm. No alarms. No noticable rattles or hiccups. I lucked out that I did not have to change the harness, all my analog stuff works with the Opti. I may have a winner here. Rained and got dark at around 8:00. A tie wrap or two to finish her up. You couldn't remove the grin on my face with a chisel right now.. LAKE TEST!!:sun:

[reelapeelin]

Rain and got dark at 8:00??...lemme check the Bachmann Interpretation Guide...says here that God telling you Hammer Down!!...

Have another corn dog, Michelle...:clap:


We gonna be needin some VIDEO of the Optimax runnin like a bat outta hell!!...:sun:

[RidgeRunner]

I was a little premature on putting the side skirts back on during rigging. Took them off to double check everything before heading out. Shift linkage was off by three rounds on the adjuster. Tied up some wires, drove right past the hose on the way to the lake. Stopped in at Sonoco for some go-go juice. Put her in the lake at 7:00. This motor is a little heavier than the old EFI it replaced, I don't like that but it is what it is. Idles better than the old 250 EFI, quieter too. Warmed her up with a series of holeshots. Maybe a little faster to plane than the old motor with the same 23P Tempest prop (guessing 2.5 to 3 boat lengths) After I got over my "Is this Biotch Gonna POP" jitters, I dropped the hammer for a brief period, 30 minutes later I let off the throttle. If she was gonna blow that shoulda done it. Plum flogging her I tell you. 90 degrees,wind 5 to 10 out of the north, humidity 100% best speed 59.8 MPH at 5800 RPM.
So no new top speed number. Is it any faster than the old motor? YES it is, at least it sure feels like it. The motor reaches the limiter easier so I am confident we will see a new number in more ideal conditions. Temperature and Weight is a huge factor in how fast this Wellcraft can go. Motor has a lot of pep and the boat feels very loose on top. Trimmed out I felt the boat floating around and getting a little flighty, only felt that way before when the boat was lightly loaded. A reminder to put on the life vest and attach the emergency stop switch lanyard. (Intentionally NOT referred to as the KILL SWITCH) Dark thirty was unsafe for high speed running so I tested the cruise speed, holeshot and handling.
I picked up a few rattles as anticipated. The back two hatches need some rubber/silicone something to keep them from rattling when I am leaning on the throttle. I was thinking the pop up cleats would make noise due to the solid motor mounts but they were quiet. Overall a lot more refined than the top fuel dragster sound of the EFI at idle and throughout the RPM range. This motor is not gonna be a dock crasher. Smooth shifting in and out of gear in tight quarters and the motor never changes in RPM.
Other results:
Boat will plane at 3100 RPM no tabs required 26 MPH
40MPH = 4000 RPM 46 MPH = 4600 RPM 50MPH= 5000 RPM That has long been my goal and now it has been achieved. According to the fuel gauge I burned 1/8 tank of fuel in an hour of hard running. Easily went 35 miles in that hour. No idea on mileage yet but that appears to be much better than the EFI. Not a single hiccup from the Opti. It did everything I asked of it. I did a series of figure 8's and a series of hard over turns to check handling characteristics. No disappointments although positive trim lets the prop ventilate just a little due to the maxed out engine height. I need to drop the motor another hole and put the 21 Mirage copy (Lightning) on it for mileage. It should come out of the hole as if catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Impressive so far.:sun::sun::sun::beer::beer:
Plan to use it all weekend on the Suwannee.
That is all I got except for a couple of bad pictures I will post up in a few minutes.

[RidgeRunner]

Like an elephant on a fleas back.
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[Shrek]

Woot!

[bradford]

Nice report Ridge, be careful out there bro!

[lathehand]

I don't want to step on someones thread but I just want to coment on the old inline 6.Out of the box WOT is 5800 rpm.And for the merc 1500's you can bore the cylindars to .040 over .That equates to ovey a quater inch more displacement.There not called tower of power for nothing.I'll admitt there not easy on fuel

[RidgeRunner]

Please, step away all you want, all comments appreciated.
I agree on the tower of power. They made a few that would spin to 6800 and higher. I think the race models were the 1500XS.
I had the opportunity to put a couple pistons in a 1984 90 hp Inline for a friend. That motor absolutely screamed on the back of his 17' Aquasport Osprey.
For nostalgia, the twin tower of power would be so cool.

[spareparts]

hard part is getting those old 6's to run on the crap gas we have today

btw, sorry I missed your call, your ears must have been burning as an unnamed person from the upstate and I were talking about your engine crate building abilities when you called

[lathehand]

With my 1977 merc 1500 I use some aviation fuel mixed in the crap and she screams on it.

[RidgeRunner]

Only inline I ever saw that wasn't a little tempermental was the 90 my friend had. I hated the distributor models to work on. I was reaching in to grab some timing and got nailed once. Tore the hyde off my finger somehow and made me forget my name for a couple minutes. The carbs would drain if you tilted them all the way up. To love them you had to get to know it's quirks. Many a boater swore off Mercury motors forever because of the hard start of the old inlines and bass boaters would try to run huge props and toast powerheads. They don't like to be lugged. My old boss raced them in the 70's. He ran Allisons and homemade kneeler hydros. He was a firm believer in propping them to run 5800 to 6000 on fishing rigs, he claimed they would last longer turning up and all but eliminate the devastating pre-detonation. He never came out with much but when he did I listened.

Sorry I missed your call. I had the phone on the charger in the truck. As for the crate building -- good or bad? I know I screwed up the angle by a couple degrees. What are you cooking up?

[lathehand]

That bold thunderbolt ignition can really straitin your hair out if your not carefull

[spareparts]

we were quite impressed with the crate, its now a motor stand, just added a few more boards. I had to explain the face on the flywheel to reel... here's the eyes, here's the mouth, here's the nose. It took him a minute or two to get it. man that merc is clean, you did a nice job on it.

[reelapeelin]

we were quite impressed with the crate, its now a motor stand, just added a few more boards. I had to explain the face on the flywheel to reel... here's the eyes, here's the mouth, here's the nose. It took him a minute or two to get it. man that merc is clean, you did a nice job on it.


As the Merc on that crate rode around in the back of my truck for about 4 weeks, it had the opportunity of being observed by many...all were inpressed w/the construction of the crate!!...:clap:...

And when trying to figure out Vic's painted message on the flywheel, I was looking at it upside-down and holding the crate up VERTICALLY from behind it...NEEDED some explanation...post up a pic of that when you can Dave...!!...LOL!!...

[RidgeRunner]

When I painted the flywheel I had just stuck my third set of pistons on a 96 2.5L 200. Just so you know my frame of mind. I stopped with the 2.5L motors and Weiseco Pistons then and there.
Spare, the 2.4 sits atop a 25" mid from the same 1996 motor that went south so it has the 1996 cowl and skirts. Makes it interesting when ordering parts. The 25" mid with the window in the leg is the original midsection. Welch plug on the top of the engine block gives the year, not the serial number. Replacement powerhead??
The motor pallet was a last minute deal. LOL.. The next one will be even better.
If the cowl looks streaky it is because it has been hit with PolyGlo. If you clean it up and apply 4 more coats it will have some luster. Floor wax stripper works great for removal. So does a DA. Just go thru the carbs repair the leaky trim and a few cosmetics. Would be real nice as a 20". BTW- The mounts in the 20" leg are probably solid.

[spareparts]

When you get your whaler sold, I have your next project up here. A friend of mine ended up with it, but now he's thinking of selling it. Its an 84 Formula 233 with the long deck(sport boat style, not fishing boat). Motor's no good, has a MR1 drive, 260 motor. I thought about buying it myself, I have a 6.2 MPI Mercruiser complete engine, a bravo transom plate, all I need is a drive to go with it. I haven't gotten a straight price from him yet, the PO bought a new trailer for it last season. If he gets on a clearing out price, I'll let you know