Sluggish Mercrusier
 

My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron

In article .com,
says...

My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron


Sounds like to much pitch on the prop for the heavier loads, backed
up by sounding like your top RPM's seem a bit low, this would indicate
to much pitch, late ignition timing, or a dropped cylinder due to
one or two cylinders not firing. Above 1500 RPM it is hard to tell if
a cylinder is not firing, but with a dead jug, they usually lope real
bad at idle.

Sounds like you have too big a prop. Probably the original owner did not
carry many people and wanted speed at a lower throttle setting.
3400 rpms at 3/4 throttle is low.

1. Do a compression test to verify no problems w/ the engine.
2. Install fresh plugs. While they are out look at the old ones and verify
each cylinder was firing.
3. Check the prop. Does this boat have dual props?
Call Doral and find out what prop the boat should have on it.
4. If these all fail - the carb may need a rebuild.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
wrote in message
oups.com...
My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron

In addition to the other suggestions, check that timing advance is to
spec. There might be a problem with the advance weights in the
distributor, or, if the advance is electronically implemented, the ECM
may be defective.
JR
My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron



--
--------------------------------------------------------------
Home Page: http://www.seanet.com/~jasonrnorth

Bad gas. Bad timing. I would look to the fuel, since you have not run it
in 2 years.
Bill

wrote in message
oups.com...
My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron

On 16 May 2005 19:09:11 -0700, wrote:

My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years.

I gave my son one of these for his 21 birthday.

I have that kind of money, if you dont believe me, send me $4000, and
I will let you look at my finacial records.

Me and the wife
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/harkra...bum?.dir=/1323

wrote in message
oups.com...
My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier 454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years. The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8 knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing. What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron

Is it carbureted, or FIed?

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/

prop is too high of a pitch for the extra weight of 5
people.
"Netsock" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
oups.com...
My wife and I bought a 2000 Doral 250se with a Mercrusier
454. This
boat has only 67 hours and has not been used in two years.
The boat has
been winterized by a local marina. This is the only
service that's been
done to it. When driving it to another marina, it seemed a
little
sluggish. We were able to plane in about 20 sec. and reach
a speed of
42 mph at 3/4 throttle.(3400 rpm) However, with 5 people
on board, we
could not plane at all. The best we could do was about 8
knots. We
tried trim tabs and looked for weeds or obstruction on the
outdrive.
The engine seems to run very smooth in gear, at idle, up
to about 1400
rpms. When 3/4 throttle was applied, the engine seemed to
work hard.
(about 3200 rpm). Full throttle didn't change a thing.
What are the
possible concerns or problems?

Thank you for any help, Ron

Is it carbureted, or FIed?

--
-Netsock

"It's just about going fast...that's all..."
http://home.columbus.rr.com/ckg/