250xs is finally running

[blkmtrfan]

Yes it took me way to long to get my act together and get my new motor rigged running, but I finally finished this weekend and did some on the water testing last night.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/001.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/002.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/003.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/006.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/007.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/010.jpg

I only had it on the water for about a half an hour as I was loosing daylight, but my initial impressions:


Pros:

Runs real smooth and quiet (perhaps a bit too quiet)
Shifts real nice
Good low end power :smiletest:
Great midrange power :D
I didn't stay in it for long (it needs to break in) but feels like it will get moving
The Smartcraft SC1000 tells show a bunch of cool info :cool:
Cons:

Too quiet, I miss the 280 growl :D
It is pretty heavy 1, I need to change my trailer as I now have now "0" tongue weight,
It is pretty heavy 2, I think I may need to reduce my setback as it feels real light in the bow, but I need more seat time to be sure.
Boy that cowl is BIG
I seem to have an error on the SC1000 already, the horn isn't beeping and it isn't in guardian mode, but I need to figure out how to clear it :confused:
Hopefully I can get some time on it real soon and see what else I like and don't like.

[Propster]

Very cool Scott, thanks for sharing. Keep the updates coming. I am looking to get some 250xs or 300xs motors for my Cougar.

[Gladhe8er]

Nice looking rig!

[Stoker1]

Dam thats gorgeous.

.

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks for the positive comments guys and yes David I will post some updates as I get some running time :thumbsup:

[olmo40]

Nice pics ,what error do you have ?

[blkmtrfan]

Nice pics ,what error do you have ?


This one

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=179601&d=1251238643


It has been on since I first ran the motor on the hose ???

[CMC]

Blk, Go to the Mercury website and look for the Smartcraft page. They have a set up page that explains the proceedure.

I had the same problem with my 225 Opti on day one. It just needs to be set up and syncronized with the engine. I cant remember the exact proceedure but it was a series of holding down 2 buttons then pressing one button till you can clear it. It takes some patience when new. Once you clear it, it should be fine.

Its hard to explain when you dont have the gauge in front of you.
GOOD LUCK

[olmo40]

CMC is 100% right , i am glad to see that , expected something more serious .I had" Trim Fault " for about a year .:)

[Pro300x24LD]

Looks good :)

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks for the tip CMC I will check it out (I figured it had to be something like that)

[Still Crazy]

As delivered, the SC1000 Smartcraft gauges require calibration. They are NOT calibrated to a specific engine model per se, they are calibrated to the entire vessel. The book you received with your gauges will tell you how to access "Cal 1", "Cal 2" or "Quick Cal". To make a long story short, the gauge is set up with a factory default to look for certain sensors such as a pitot transducer or sea temp (amongst others). In the Cal screen, you can turn these inputs on or off. If the gauge is looking for a sensor that is not installed, you will get numerous popup nuisance faults. One neat feature of the SC1000 speedo is that you can tie a GPS receiver into it like I have. It will then display GPS speed.

If you don't have a the Smartcraft manual that goes with the gauge, get one from a dealer. Make sure that you provide the P/N of your gauge since there are several software iterations that have different features such as Descriptive Fault Text.

The error you display is coming from the engine. If you are running it on the hose on the trailer, the most common reason is over reving it in neutral. Your powerhead mounted oil tank could also be low on oil. There are others, but these are the most common.

Hope this helps.

[JP Love]

Verry nice looking, clean like new !!!! :thumbsup: JP

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks for the additional tips, yes I did see the calibration section in the book, but I haven't yet had the time to go through any of it, but hope to do so soon.

I did read the part about resetting the whole unit "MASTER RESET" where you have to hold both buttons for 12 seconds and then do it again until it counts down to zero, I will try that first and then do the calibration stuff.

I am probably going to have to do it twice becasue I also installed a monitor on my wife's Wellcraft with the 150 opti as part of that rerig project (the reason it took me so long to get mine done ;)). I am hoping to test it tonight. I should take some pics and show what all I have done to that boat.

And thanks for all the positive comments about how it all looks. to be honest, I have been a bit upset that I haven't had a chance to detail the whole boat since I got done with the rigging, ha ha

[BANJO]

Looks good Scott what a nice set up:thumbsup: You going to make to the river for S & F weekend?

[jeffbare]

Hope to see you and the family over at S&F, even if you have to bring your wifes boat. No shame slow sport boats these days,

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks Banjo and Jeff :smiletest:.

I did get the trailer tongue weight handled, had to move the boat 9" forward :eek:, to get a 100lbs, but it should tow better now.
I didn't get to do any more testing this weekend but hope to this week. I really want to to come over, I am leaning more that way, so I probably will see you guys ;)

[stokernick]

speaking of trailer tongue weight,where is the post on setting it up,please!

[stokernick]

found it:egyptian.net~raymacke/weigh.html[sorry,don't how to cut and paste!]:(

[blkmtrfan]

Nick, is this what you were looking for:

http://www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/Tralier1.html

Regarding my trailer setup, mine isn't a full custom so it has quite a bit of adjustment

http://www.zieman.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=6

That being said, when I set it up before I already had the wench stand as far forward as it could be with the standard design.

This picture doesn't show it very well, but it was all the way to the "V" of the tubes:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/activator/032.jpg
But with the extra 100+lbs of the 250xs, the tounge was pretty much floating off the ground.
So I had to make a few adapter plates to move the wench stand and then the wench bracket on the stand,
then move all 4 bunks forward, and now I have about the same tongue weight as before.
(I will try to get some pics of the new setup)



Edit:, I just found a better pic of the old setup:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/activator/042.jpg

[blkmtrfan]

UPDATE:

I ran it a bunch at the NW S&F rally :cool:

Smartcraft says I have 4 hours on it now, not sure if it is completely out of break in or not, the highest RPM I saw was 5850, but I didn't stay in it more than a min or so.

The Merc racing website says the full throttle RPM range is 5200-5800 and up to 6000 for the 20" models like mine, not sure if that is where the rev limiter is or not.

But from this merc graph:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/merc300/300xspowergraph2ra.jpg

It looks like it starts dropping power after about 5500, so I will be looking for some bigger props.

Regarding handling, it could get it set nice and level, but even the smallest boat wake would make it flighty, and the porpoise range is now much larger than before, so I am going to need to reduce the setback.

I did take some better pics but I still need to upload them.

[activator22]

Rig looks great - what are you seeing for speed and what's the gear ratio in the sporty ?

[blkmtrfan]

Thank you :smiletest:

Currently I am running a 1.62 lower with my 23p, A45 trophy.
I haven't done any GPS testing yet, but I saw close to 75mph on the speedo...

[blkmtrfan]

I just uploaded a few more pics:

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/002-1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/005.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/006-1.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h53/blkmtrfan/250xs/010-1.jpg

[CMC]

What made you go with the sportmaster?
How do you like your Wellcraft so far ?

[blkmtrfan]

What made you go with the sportmaster?
How do you like your Wellcraft so far ?

Quite a few reasons, I guess, and Yes I do realize it probably isn't the fastest case for my application ;)

The main one being handling, I had a sportsmaster with the 280 and I love how it tracks straight and holds the corners, like a larger rudder if you will.

I also wanted the heavy duty mid section again and it was packaged that way. Similar reason regarding the gearing, I wanted the 1.62 gears.

And although not that important, but I think that resale is better with the sportsmaster, if I need or want to sell the motor for any reason...


The Wellcraft has been a great boat so far, we have used it alot this year, the 150 Opti is perfect for it, and I like it better now that I have pretty much re-rigged it. I plan to post some pics of my work when I get a chance :)