Scat Trak Swirl on 97 Challenger

[LSaupe]

Just thought I would pass this along. I have been poking along making improvements on a 07 Challenger that I picked up quite used a year ago.

Last year was spent getting the engine dialed in, this year I went into the pump. It had a damaged impeller, stators and wear ring (looks like it injested something of reasonable size). Put in a Skat Track Swirl, blended in the stators the best I could, and new wear ring and bearings. Also a new carbon seal and bellows.

Huge improvement. Speedo shows 55 MPH at 6700 RPM with one person on board. Quick planning. Doesnt fall out in turns anymore. Will load it up more tomorrow with a guest or two and see how it does.

Interior next. Very fun ride. Thanks to everyone who helped along the path of troublshooting and rebuild. I think I have a real solid ride now.

Larry

 

[seadoosnipe]

Challenger...

Just thought I would pass this along. I have been poking along making improvements on a 07 Challenger that I picked up quite used a year ago.

Last year was spent getting the engine dialed in, this year I went into the pump. It had a damaged impeller, stators and wear ring (looks like it injested something of reasonable size). Put in a Skat Track Swirl, blended in the stators the best I could, and new wear ring and bearings. Also a new carbon seal and bellows.

Huge improvement. Speedo shows 55 MPH at 6700 RPM with one person on board. Quick planning. Doesnt fall out in turns anymore. Will load it up more tomorrow with a guest or two and see how it does.

Interior next. Very fun ride. Thanks to everyone who helped along the path of troublshooting and rebuild. I think I have a real solid ride now.

Larry

I too have the 97 Challenger (and a 97 GTX). I bought the Solas Concord about a year or so ago. There was no real significant change in performance.

From experience, I believe your improvements were due mostly to the wearing ring and stator repairs. If the impeller was in bad shape, then just a standard remanu impeller would have probably given you the same results.

I really think it's cool that you've done so much work since I first ran into you last year and really, don't mean to be a critic but I'm pretty sure you are not getting 55 mph out of that boat. If you are only getting 6700 rpm out of the motor, then your loading it up by the demand of the pitch.

Just to put the boat speed in perspective, my 1997 GTX uses the same 787cc as our boats and it only tops out at 58 to 60 mph. The ski is twice as light as the boat.

I also agree about how our boats perform. They are awesome in a turn, handle wakes and light chop pretty darn good and a blast to drive. They can turn on a dime and when it comes to tubing or sking, the thing will put you on plane really fast.

Scooper has this boat also. Maybe he'll chime in and tell us his top end. I can't tell you mine since I don't have a working speedo. But, from being on the river most of my life, I can estimate my top speed to be somewhere in the 40s but surely not over 46 or 48 mph....:cheers:

 

[scooper77515]

If I remember correctly, i topped out at 44 or 46 with the GPS on my swirl impeller.

Yes, the wear ring replacement helps, as well, but this swirl has a better bite to it. I agree with all the other improvements he is mentioning. Doesn't gut out on turns as bad, hops out of the hole immediately and planes. I have had 900 lbs of passenger, full cooler, waterskis, etc in my boat and it will still plane in 4 seconds.

Without a doubt, the swirl is the way to go for pulling sports. It pulls me up immediately on a wakeboard, surfboard, waterskis, etc. Old impeller would bog and drag me a little before I started to come up.

And 44-46 mph is plenty fast for this little boat. The wife has never gotten comfy with it that fast. I can only get it there alone, or just for quick bursts before she starts throwing stuff at me and cussing...:boxing_smiley:

 

[LSaupe]

Thanks for the replies. I will have to break out the GPS. This Sea Doo pin wheel I am sure has a decent bit of uncertainty associated with it. Mid to upper 40's might be more realistic.

I know I put a GPS on my other boat (V6 Outboard) and was amazed at how heavy that GPS must have been to slow the boat down so much (speedo was a good +10 MPH off). :cheers:

 

[scooper77515]

I know I put a GPS on my other boat (V6 Outboard) and was amazed at how heavy that GPS must have been to slow the boat down so much

Ain't that the truth. Knocked 5 mph off my XP, and almost 10 off my challenger.:reddevil:

 

[Chester]

Yes the Skat-Trak Swirl is the best impeller for those boats. They make a huge difference.
Also, top speeds should be posted as read from a GPS, not the dreamometer.:coolgleam:

Chester

 

[scooper77515]

The swirl isn't just a different pitch. I am pretty sure there is more surface area to the blades, as well. And sort of a flower-petal shape. So they grab more water with each revolution.

The pitch is pretty good, too.

I also hear that they cut up grass and weeds better with less chance of clogging your pump.

Can't prove that, since I tend to stay in deep water or near sandy beaches.

 

[LSaupe]

Dragged out the GPS this time. Looks like Snipe pretty much had it nailed. Boat speedo is reading 8 MPH high. So... my top speed is 47 MPH, not the 55 I was seeing.

 

[Chester]

I too have the 97 Challenger (and a 97 GTX). I bought the Solas Concord about a year or so ago. There was no real significant change in performance...

If you would have used a swirl instead of the concord, you would have been really impressed.

Chester

 

[parrothd]

Chester,

I'm sold, was on the fence with this new boat, the stock props are in good shape, but we want to do a lot of water sking/wake boarding this year so I'm gonna upgrade for the holeshot and hookup..

 

[scooper77515]

Definite MUST for any pulling sports. Yanks my 200 lb butt right up on wakeboard and surfboard. Two skis, never tried slalom. I believe it would work as well.

 

[parrothd]

I talked with Dave at impros, he recommended the 16/24 for an even better hole shot...

 

[scooper77515]

If I remember correctly, the one I got is 16/22. It has all the bite I would ever need. ANd still fast enough to be fun.

I wouldn't sacrifice anymore topend speed for more bite.

Unless you plan on towing the Go-Gos around...

 

[trhudson]

OK...so what is the best impeller

I have a 97 Challenger, with a stock prop and it's taking FOREVER TO PLANE OUT...and a long time seems like nothing... I am talking minutes! I may have done some damage to the current impeller a few years ago, but I am running 6700 RPMs and I am not planing out...can someone tell me what to do to fix this?

Thanks,

Todd

 

[LSaupe]

Here is a similar topic thread.

http://www.seadooforum.com/showthread.php?t=15967

I had similar issues, though not as bad. I ended up going the full monty. New wear ring, impeller, carbon seal and boot. World of difference. I can now be fully loaded (as in a full tank of gas and three adults) and can be on plane within seconds (like 3 or 4).

Many of the experts on the site here can chime in though. Relatively simple process. Just make sure everything is sealed well, as an air leak anywhere near the low pressure side of the pump can really kill performance (don't overlook the weed rake penetration and others).