Challenger RPM's and speed

[wazooo]

I have just purchased an 07 Challenger 180SE with the 215 Rotax. Took it on the water last nite for the first time and am somewhat surprised by the performance. The boat only has six hours on it but I did do bursts of WOT to see what it would do. The digital tach and speedo danced around and did not hold a steady number but the max was 7700 rpm and 40 mph. More consistant numbers were 7600-7680 rpm and 35-38 mph. There were three of us in the boat, about 500# and I didn't have my GPS to confirm the speedo accuracy. I figured I would get at least 46-47 mph out of it. Any thoughts or recommendations about this?
The boat is great. Comfortable, quiet and extremely quick to plane. But I was expecting a higher top end. Am I wrong?

 

[glenwhitt]

speedos are not the most accurate for sure. Should test again with GPS. You may have an impeller made for the hole and not the speed as well. I think 7600 rpm is a lot to only be getting high 30's, even with 500 pounds, especially if you have no cavitation and a nice hole shot.

There is thread on speed in this forum. I will try and locate and post it. May want to read some posts there also.

 

[glenwhitt]

the thread

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=3993

 

[wazooo]

Thanks, I'll run it again this weekend with the GPS.

 

[Kevin3151]

Doesnt the computer limit the rpm's during the first 10 hours??

KH

 

[timmyboy76]

dont think so, but the computer will tell how it was ran, the first 10hrs.

 

[JThomasLambert]

That's about what I get from my 08 180 (215 HP as well). If I'm in the boat by myself I can coax it to mid-40's but that's about it. We had 5 adults in yesterday and it was pretty slow off the line.

 

[wazooo]

Doesnt the computer limit the rpm's during the first 10 hours??

KH

I have heard that from a number of sources but have found nothing in the Owner's Manual. I'm hoping that's the case and that after 10 hours it will get in the mid to high 40's.

 

[glenwhitt]

That's about what I get from my 08 180 (215 HP as well). If I'm in the boat by myself I can coax it to mid-40's but that's about it. We had 5 adults in yesterday and it was pretty slow off the line.

how many rpm's are you pulling at wot?

 

[wazooo]

Thanks, I'll run it again this weekend with the GPS.

I wasn't able to get on the water this last weekend, too stormy in Southern Manitoba. it will be a couple of weeks before I can check out the speedo with my GPS. I'll repost when I get some results.

 

[wazooo]

Throttle cable stretched?

Something else has just came to mind about that first [and only] outing. At wot average speed was around 37 mph and RPM's around 7600. There seemed to be around another 3/8" of throttle movement with no change in speed or RPM's. Just to re-hash my original post the boat turned 6 hours on that maiden voyage. Is it possible that the throttle cable needs adjusting? Any ideas on how it should be done. Course the manual says "WARNING, Do not alter or tamper with the throttle cable adjustment or routing." Maybe it's something that the dealer would do when you take it in for the 10 hour service. The boat is off warranty so I will be doing as much maintenance and adjustments as I possibly can myself.

 

[JThomasLambert]

how many rpm's are you pulling at wot?

Here's a thread in the other forum I posted. When I say "max" it's around 7500 to 7800.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=18030

And sorry, what does "wot" mean?

 

[wazooo]

Well I got onto the water this last weekend and my speedo GPS'd at 45 mph with 7700 rpms. Only 8 hrs on the clock so I'm hoping for closer to 50 mph after that "magical" 10 hours is up!

 

[TnTLQ]

no early speed - but improving

I've seen the same results with the new boat. I bet there is some type of limiter during break-in. In the first 5 hours 6000 rpm got me 23 mph, now at 7 hours I get 33 mph. I vary the speed from 4000 to 6000, and cruise at 5500.

Oh, during hour 5, we went over a rock pile, so that cost us a new solas concord but following that, the speed was still 23 mph.

Hang in there it'll get faster

 

[97 See Doooo]

Here's a thread in the other forum I posted. When I say "max" it's around 7500 to 7800.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=18030

And sorry, what does "wot" mean?

Wide Open Throttle

 

[TnTLQ]

40 degree pitch impeller or 200hp outboard?

I'd gladly give up .. well I don't really have any bottom end punch, but I'd give it up to cruise between 25 and 30 mph at 4000 rpm. When I was a kid my friends Dad put a throttle stop (or something), on the outboard motor of their bass boat so the thing would not go over 3500, it still planned and was fast enough to be fun.
At 3500 my boat is going about 9 mph

Anybody want to buy a 215 4-tec?:banghead:uke::