Hydro Stream & Honda

[Stream 1]

We have started testing a new Voyager with a 225 V-Tec Honda 4 stroke, engine is not broken in yet but first results are good. Better than average acceleration, and we are already running mid 70's. I tried to attach a video clip but it wouldn't take can do that or not?

[Stream 1]

HS/Honda! Don't know how to do the video clip but here is a frame still from it.

[Capt.Insane-o]

I like the logo! Looks like it's running well, what prop are you running?

[WharfRat]

If you like you can send me the video in an email, & I can mess with it. How big is the file ? It might be too big for posting or emailing.

[email protected]

[Instigator]

You and the boat are allowed to come to the Rumble but you'll have to check that silver thing at the gate:eek:

I'll keep an eye on it for you:D

[Wile E. Coyote]

Popular rumor has it that a Honda four will be raced (thats right I said raced) at the Eustis drags.....

[JW]

B&WB mag said the new Honda Sabre gearcase accelerates better and has better top speed number..........

[vector mike]

Competition 4 stroke outboards! What is this world coming to? :eek:

[stokernick]

probably can`t hear it,probably can`t smell it,probably don`t want it!!I need to hear,see,and smell the thunder!!!:o :o :D

[raceboatrus]

Last year we made preperation to put a preproduction honda 225 on my Tabasco, But I guess we had to wait on word from Tokyo, I am glade to see that they are at least going to give it a try

[Charlie M]

Not that I would want a 4-Stroker on my performance boat, but I think that's an excellent alternative to an I/O (where can you buy a mid 70's 20' I/O). Maybe you can get a special Boo-Waaaaa pipe to put on it:D


Can't wait to see what's next for Hydrostream

[Jeff "Yammer"]

Hey Jim ,

Good to see ya adapting to the times . We may not like it but if ya gonna stay around a still sell boats to us speed junkies ( including you ) you have to make an effort to give some peolpe what they want . You are doing the Hydrostream name great justice and what you have done in the last year or two is Freekinn Awesome !!!!!!!!!!!

Hope to see ya soon or at the Rumble .
Hey you should get a couple new camshafts made , tighten up the heads , throw on a blower and Drag it at the Rumble.

Jeff

PS ........ man would it suck to be the one who got beat by ya !!!

[Stv Euro]

I won't know what to do if I can't hear the pop of a 2 stroke. On top of that NO SMOKE or SMELL, I don't know if I can stand it. LOL
Good Luck with the 4 stroke!!:D :D

[Wile E. Coyote]

I agree with you STV Euro. Some things just arent right. There is no replacement for the sound of a wound up 2-stroke, or the smell of 110 octane mixed with 2 cycle oil. For that matter the sound of an Allison Aircraft engine screaming by at 400 mph... the list goes on but some things just shouldnt be messed with. When the 2-Stroke motor is dead and gone, I'll buy a car motor boat.....

[Reese]

this weekend off ventura harbor. Yea, I know so what...

Well the guy next to us at the ramp had a 35 foot something or other with twin 225 honda's v-tec's. I must admit that as far as looks goes, Honda has done a nice job, but those 4 strokes are big...I mean damn big.

At first they looked like a regular sized outboard (okay a little bigger) and because they were on a 35 foot boat they looked very porportional and really nice. But once you got up close, you realize these things are monsters. Anything less than a 20 foot boat is just no gonna cut it.

I think it's great to adapt new technology, but 4's need to go on a much needed diet...or we're all gonna have to start buying 25 foot boats...:D

[JW]

I think a new 250 VTEC Honda would sit very nicely behind my 21' Pulsare. How about it Honda? I'm willing to help with some real world testing..:D :D

[sosmerc]

I'm sure, when it's needed, Merc will be ready with something we can all live with and they know WE have set a pretty high bar.
Keep us posted on the progress of this project. Thanks!!

[pyro]

That's great, Jim. then you can sell me your Promax! :D

[Stream 1]

Getting use to the differient power curve of the 4 stroke, but still have not hit on the right prop for top end. Honda said today to use big 15.25/15.50 dia. We are switching to their new Sabre lower unit tomorrow.

I know I'm going to get slammed for doing it, but before everyone jumps think about the purpose of the boat when you consider how odd it seems to see a tower on a Hydro Stream. Pictures attached. We are going to market this option packaage as a Family Water Sports boat. We have been testing the package by sking, wakeboarding (the boat also has 4 fat sacks about 2000lbs) and barefooting. Whats cool is after carrying 4 guys around doing all that we ran back to the launch ramp in the mid 60's with 4 people on board, 2 of the fat sacks still full and NO prop change (running a 23P High Five).

Thats the update for now, we getting together with a bunch of Pro Barefooters over the weekend, for some product eval. Will let you know how the Pro Tour guys like it.

[Stream 1]

Another

[JW]

Nobody is going to slam you for that, whatever keeps Hydrostream in business is the ticket. Gotta chase the market, and what you are doing is EXACTLY where the market is right now.
That tower looks like it was designed for that hull! Very nice. This is the barefoot ski boat for everyone that can't stand being stuck with 50 mph top speeds. True dual purpose.

[Doubledog]

Okay, I like it :rolleyes:

[JW]

Pyro, this Promax is all yours when you show up at my door with an equally mint 300PM in trade!! :D

[Raceman]

I got to run a new 225 Honda on a 25' pontoon several months ago and they're super nice, just as you'd expect from Honda. One other thing I've gotta give em credit for is the styling. The lines and proportion of the Honda flow well, and at a glance they look like a shortshaft motor because of the way the cowl and skirt flow down to the mid section. It's by far the best looking 4 stroke I've ever seen and personally I think it's WAY, WAY, ahead of anything from OMC or Merc (except for the high perf stuff) in the looks department. I hope the new OMC people and Merc as well for that matter, will fire their styling departments and get into some stuff that's cosmetically more appealing.

[sosmerc]

Very nice looking package. Do you know if Honda has any plans for "fly-by-wire" soon? (such as Merc's new DTS system) I think it is going to be very neat when we no longer have to "wrestle" these high torque motors in and out of gear when maneuvering around the dock.....beasts like the 280 take notice!

[Instigator]

You as well as almost everybody on this board, know my opinion on 4 stroke O/B's.
They are heavy, expensive, a bitch to work on and far over rated.
We now are seeing 2 strokes with modern technoligy equaling or beating the 4 strokes on economy and every other segment of testinig.
But most of us see the writing on the wall :(

That being said, you are welcome to bring this "project" to the Rumble for us all to see and experience.
We all respect you for what you are doing and the effort you have put into trying to resurect a name (Hydrostream) that is very dear to many of us. If you see this power plant being part of this process, I welcome you to use this event to "test market" it.

Let me know what I can do to help.
Gary

[Reese]

you've really done your homework...if the boat handles as well as it looks your gonna have a very interesting package.

I agree with you that there is a market out there for good quality all around three event type ski boats. Many of my friends love thier Natiques, MasterCrafts etc, but all of them (after a couple of drinks) admit to the harsh ride, lack of room, and slow top end.

Look forward to the follow-up review...:D

[Gerben]

Ok, you've got the tower, the ballast, now my question is, how's the wake?
(and to what are you comparing it to)

Gerben

[speedyfast]

as a wakeboarder I gotta say that paskage looks sweet. Like gerben said though, how is the wake? The nautiques etc. kick up a pretty un beatable size wake when you got the phatty's going. Have you guys thought of built in balast tanks like some of the other manufacturers have been doing? Just got my latest issue of wakeboard magazine. It would be a perfect place for advertising. The rough ride and slow top end are the problem with the boats on the market these days and I think the stream would probably be a good hit with that crowd. Also, what is the price, am I wrong in assuming it would be a bit cheaper than your wakeboarding nautique?
Anyways, shoot the advertising people at Wakeboarding Magazine a call and get the word out.
[email protected]

[JW]

A V-bottom Voyager would make a better wake wouldn't it?? Doesn't the tunnels of the XT kill the wake?

[Reese]

is making an outboard ski/barefoot boat affordable for the general public...that's should not be a problem considering I just went to the Los Angeles Boat show and Air Nautiques are $63,000 MSRP.

Jim said he is using 4 fat sacks for ballast, with that XT bottom it will never be a true wakeboarding boat but who cares. If it handles well and ski's well most wakeboarders might not care that it doesn't throw up huge wakes...for those with big air dreams and deep pockets there's always the Nautiques...:D

[espen]

I a 1/12 owner of a Malibu waterski boat it has a 350 magnum inboard ,we had a mastercraft barefoot with a 200 xri merc before, I did not want to change to the Malibu because I like OB...
I dont like fat ugly gray iron lumps of an engine :D
But I admit the Malibu are much easier to maintain the correct speed within the slalom bouys because the boat is so heavy and so in efficent that what the slalom skier is trying to pull is smal compared to the hulls resistance and therefore does not slow the boat down as much. its a great Idee to have a light boat with ob
and fill it up with weight to have a stable speed for the skiier.
I just think it have to be wide enough to carry the weight with balast without making to much waves for the slalom skier.
For a beginner the vawes of a inboard boat are to big in slow speeds...with a light outboard boat you can make the waves smaller by dumping water !
I was thinking of using some kind of water parashute to slow the boat...

[Gerben]

Espen,

For constant speed perfectpass is the only way to go.
And it will work on an outboard. (Ask Greg Hind f.i.)

Gerben

[espen]

Gerben !
thanks for the hint ,then I am more shure it is the right desition we have made, to order one.
Does it work on a ob to?
have you tryed it? what are your experiance with it ?
thanks
by the way I think the hydrostream looked great seems like a better sea handling bou than the Mastercraft barefoot...its no fun in the rough.

[Reese]

is a standard in ski boats but too expensive for my taste...you guys have more money so it might be a good option.:D

Espen...I really think that your malibu is more stable because of the fins (probably 2 or 3) near the Center of gravity and also because your ski pole is set up near the center of gravity as well. Most outboard boats mount thier poles near the transom which tends to kick the tail out.

I too like the way Malibu's and other ski boats handle in tight turns and latteral stability...outboard could preform very similar if the bottom was tuned with turning fins and more thought was given to weight distribution. The Voyager with that XT bottom should track very well even without fins...and should handle rough water better than traditional ski boat but not as good as standard v's.

[espen]

reese ...when its 12 persons owning the same boat and a majority of them wants something ,you are one with the ride :-)
the guys are competing agaist each other and they are wondering if someone is nice with the speeds :-)
Yea you are right about the fins and gravity, but the boat are so flat it needs it...I had a deep v we used and it tracked perfect but with a 24 inch prop it was to sensitive on the trottle and difficoult to give trottle when skiier was pulling . On the Malibu you dont feel the need to give extra trottle when the skier is pulling and thart acclerates the skier harder I think. A fin coupled to the pole increasing angle by pull could make the boat easier to drive.
waterski is one of the most fun activitys there is ! Slalom is king :)
a perfect day starts with some passes trou the track and then taking a trip to buy a icecream and juping and screaming out in the ocean :) then making a outdoor dinner out on the scarries watching the ocean.