Merc lower water pick up 2 or 4?

[jaybrown]

What is better 2 or 4 holes low water pick up for 200 merc? Is there a thread? Sometimes flying and some times just crusinn,
21 hydrostream voyager
200 merc 1989
I have stock right now just want to know if the 2 hole will over heat if just crusinn?

[Baker343]

I ran a 2 hole CLE on my family ski boat which is a 20.2 Lavey Craft Sebring with a 200 Merc and had no issues.
Changed the impeller once a year.

[Dave Strong]

I ran my Bridgeport 2 hole CLE on my Pro Max for a summer when my Torquemaster broke a propshaft it never got hot.

Dave

[billybob]

I reccomend 2 hole for 2.0 & 2.4 motors. 2.5 should have 4 hole in my opinion. 2 hole will not overheat, when cruising. Just remember if someone passes you, It is very hard to resist to air it out.

[hsbob]

its better to use a pair of water scoops. you can buy or build out of 1/16 SS metal . their about 1" wide by 1/2" -/+ longer than the span of the holes. use 8/32 SS screws on the ends by drilling and taping plus blue thread lock. the center pin is a rubber hole threaded expansion plug. the front [toward the boat] it stick out about 1/8" and the back [towrard the prop] is flush with the LU. my experience is that the scoop will be 60% as effective as a LUPU.

will see if i can get a pics later.

[Krazymaan]

3 hole CLE works great too.

[Dave Strong]

3 hole CLE works great too.

No such thing, 3 hole is a sportmaster.

Dave

[Krazymaan]

No such thing, 3 hole is a sportmaster.

Dave

You could be correct but I have a long skinny side panel with 3 holes at the bottom.

[Dave Strong]

Only 2 and 4 hole CLE's, also a myth that a 2 hole wont cool a 2.5. Had a new 91 2.5 245hp carb motor with a 2 hole, never once got hot in 5yrs use.

Dave

[Krazymaan]

Like I said, I could be wrong. I'll dig up a photo eventually and post it.

[Dave Strong]

4 hole came out after Merc changed the exhaust plate to bigger dump holes to stop tuners breaking off. Problem was water press went down but they didn't overheat, but people couldn't deal with lower press. Solution was 4 hole but first ones still had 1/2" water tube, next fix 3/4" water tube. Then the sportmaster came at first using the same waterpump as the CLE, then the steel style pump used today. If you have a 3 hole CLE it was modified and did not come like that from mother Merc.

Dave

[Dave Strong]

Mercury made a ton of mid year out of the blue changes from 91 - 93 on the CLE it's hard to keep track. First 4 holes had lube drain in the bullet, then went to carrier drain, some came with both. It was nuts back then, making the serial so important when ordering parts year not so important.

Dave