V-King/Merc Set-up

[texas Xtreme]

I have a '82 V-King with a Evinrude 235 that I am pulling off this week and replacing with a 2.5 260 o/s that has a sport master l/u. I am going to run a rapid jack 4 inch set back manual plate with a 25 Yahmaha wheel; with the center line of the prop shaft an eighth inch below the bottom of the pad.
It has two front buckets and two-seater bench , 15-gallon fuel cell and battery in the back.

Does anybody know the weight difference between the 235 crossflow and the 2.5 260 Merc?

Does this set-up sound alright for proper lift with the weight of the hull?

Does anyone have any other suggestion as far as set-up/add-ons to help make this thing Kick Ass?


I would appreciate any suggestions and/or helpful information with this project.

[Scream And Fly]

Hello,

That sounds like it will be a really nice setup. I believe the Merc 260 is roughly 70 pounds lighter than the OMC 235, give ir take a few pounds.
You forgot to mention what your main interests in this boat are... Top speed? Skiing? Bay cruising?
If it were top speed and good cruising, I would opt for a 30" cleaver, setting the propshaft about 1/2" above the pad. For all out top speed, you could go even higher with the engine.
If you're going to carry passengers, the Yamaha or a Lightning ET would be great for that. You really don't need a roundear (Chopper) on that setup, since bow lift won't be an issue.

Let us know more details...

I hope this helps,
Greg

[Jeff "Yammer"]

.......... what do you want to do with the boat . Yes it can go higher ( I ran mine 1 1/2" above the pad ) And the Yamaha Drag ( real or copy ) works great. I would get ahold of a new 30" copy.

Let us know and post some pic's

Here is my old 'stream

Jeff

[BarryStrawn]

I don't know enough about V-Kings to help but the 70 lbs lighter figure may be a bit off.

Mercury says a new 2.5 EFI Offshore (280) weighs 412 lbs. I'm sure a 260 with the old style cowl and charging system should be a few pounds lighter.

OMC service manuals and old catalogs show a 235 weighs 396 lbs. A Looper V6 is 450 which may be what Greg was thinking of.

[Rusrog]

be careful. You are taking a big step up in power and if you haven't had a lot of experience in fast boats that combo could get you wet. There are some pretty sharp guys in your area and if you run across them you might get some advice. I have buddy down there with a fire breathing XB-2002. Jack Kennedy. If you ever run into him he is very sharp an would probably help you out.

Good luck,
Russ Rogers

[texas Xtreme]

Russ,

hey man it's a small world ain't it, Jack has been helping me set the boat up and has warned me of that WET feeling you spoke of scene I am fairly new it the speed on water scene.

Do you have any suggestions on this set-up?

I plan on having a few people in the boat at times, but I'm mainly looking for a lot of X-celeration up to about 80 and once I learn the boat better I will move on up.


Thankyou for the Info guys if anyone has anything else to add I would like to hear about it .

Thanks again!

[chris_lacey]

I agree with most of the guys here. Not enough prop.
My favorite V-King Merc prop was a 28P Mazco RE3
I have had an '85 ModVP on mine, a stock 2.4 200, and now I have a baby looper.
All with 6" of set back on a Bob's plate.
The ModVP ran the Mazco to 7800rpm
The 200 ran the Mazco to 6500 rpm and I can turn a 24P Raker to 5800 with the V4.
You can see a 25P aint gonna cut it with a 260 unless you like 9000!

Try the Yammi 30 if you can get one, or a 14X30 Merc chopper, or a Mazco RE3 30.

[Raceman]

"I'm mainly looking for a lot of X-celeration up to about 80 "

Then you need to get a 26" ET and hang on.

The offshore is heavier than the std 260, but even so, I'm surprised at a listed weight of 412. If your 260 is a std mid, I think it'll be lighter than the old 235 crossflow, but either way, doubt there's enough weight difference to make any real difference. I do think the power increase is gonna surprise you though. The old 235's were crankshaft rated, and may have even been optimistic. There's gonna be a whole lot more difference than you might expect with only 25 HP increase stated between the two.

[CompKing]

All the info above sounds good and hears what I've found.On my old production hull with a hyd. jack and 6 1/2'' set back I would run 1'' or alittle more above the bottom for top speed and would drop it even to turn and I used 14 1/2'' and 15'' diam props.On my comp hull I used a manual plate with 2 1/2'' set back and because hight is fixed it worked best with 14'' props and between 1/4'' below to 1/4'' above.I don't like real high pitched props either,I'd rather have the punch.The hadrest hitting prop I have run is a worked yamaha drag 24 but my favorite prop was a 14x26 Hoss Triton 1.I'm going to try a DAH 27 SRX this year and had good luck with a 28 and 30 merc lab cleavers for top speed.

You told us what you are planning on for speed but what kind of RPM are you willing to turn?If you really want want punch ya can't beat the lower pitched props but they will turn lots of rev's.I think tring one of those 26 et's might be hot!!

[texas Xtreme]

I'm not sure witch box [efi] I have but I was told the rpm's are set at 8,300/stock.

What will this push me too? Do I need to set it higher or just leave it for the time being to learn the boat?

What would a 26 yamaha drag do for the boat ?

Would this be a hard xcelerating mech. and would it handle werth a **** at 80/85 mph?

I would like for this Rig to pull the freak'en seats off the floor out of the hole/mid range!!!!



Thanks for all ya'll's help so far, hope to hear from ya'll agian!

[patchesII]

then that prop would be a great starting point

[Rusrog]

pitch wheels and stay with the yamaha style wheels. They run good, accel hard and are good to learn with..... Unless you are going to try to run big numbers for long distances a shorter prop will make the boat more fun.

I personally don't like cleavers. I have run a couple but just have not been impressed with any of them. Hoss Tritons are really good if they have been worked for your hull. The best prop I ever ran was a thinned and progressive pitched Triton on a Valero which has the same bottom as yours..

Whatever you do don't try to drive it with the trim button. Run the boat as flat as possible and it will run safe & fast.

If you can turn a good 26 pitch wheel 8300 you should be running very high 90's. If Jack can find you a 24 ET that might be a lot of fun and should still run over 90. Might be better while you are getting the boat figured out...

Good luck and send me some pics... Would love to see the boat.

Take care,
Russ Rogers
[email protected]

[MTCM]

260 with 20-inch Mid: 350lbs

260 Offshore with 20-inch Mid: 375lbs


Props for yo Stream: 26 Yam or ET.

[Mike Agnew]

a good friend had a v/king with a 260 . the motor was set back 4 inchs then we set it back to 9 inchs run just as good maybe a little easyer to drive . he mostly ran a 28 yam . would still accel really hard with good mid range and of course top end was good mile or less 100 mph . their is a pic of it on country marine .com red white no motor cover with the owner sammy corley kissing the motor . not sure but i thing he ran in the top 10 at the frist rally we ran at . it was in hot boat mag . running with the out laws .

his set up was even wit the bottom 9 inches back ever thing set on the transom . center steering . easy to drive . you dont need a lot of trim thats for sure it would run hard with no trim . with a 26 or 24 you could be the wheele king like wild man or more like parker .


make sure you balance that boat good if you not going to center steer it .

have fun and stay dry mike

[joed]

I`VE BEEN RUNNING MY 1979 VIKING FOR ABOUT 4YRS NOW.I HAVE RUN EVERYTHING FROM THE STOCK MERC 200 IT CAME WITH
TO TO A HIGHLY PORTED 2.5 BUILT BY A DRAG MOTOR BUILDER.
THESE GUYS ABOVE ARE PRETTY ON THE MARK. IF YOU WANT TOP END THE BEST I`VE DONE WAS 94.3 GPS WITH A 28 CLEAVER. THIS PROP HAD ALOT OF STERN LIFT WHICH MADE THE BOAT RUN
MUCH MORE FLAT. THIS WAS ALOT EASIER TO HANDLE AT TOP SPEEDS HOWEVER THE PROP TOOK ALOT OF RPM JUST TO CRUISE
AROUND. I MEAN IT TOOK 5000RPM TO KEEP THE BOAT OUT OF THE HYDRO STREAM 40 TO 50 MPH PORPOISE ZONE. MY FAVORITE
PROP IS MY 26 TROPHY 4 BLADE. IT HAS GREAT HOLE SHOT CRUISES 53 TO 54 MPH AT 4200RPM AND IS GREAT FUN TO FLY THE HULL HIGH IN THE MID SPEEDS( BE CAREFUL!).I RUN THE MOTOR ABOUT 1 IN ABOVE THE PAD. THE BIGGEST PLUS YOU CAN
DO IS TO MOVE THE STEERING TO CENTER WHICH IS A PRETTY BIG
PROJECT OR AT LEAST PUT SOME SAND BAGS ON THE LEFT SIDE WHICH WILL HELP ALOT IN HANDLING WHILE ON THE PAD.
HAVE FUN JOE.
PS IF U WANT TO EMAIL ME IT [email protected]