Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

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zoom650
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Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#1 Post by zoom650 » Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:58 pm

I finally found the right day and took my Solstice 220 out for a performance run. So here are some honest numbers for you guys to smoke over and compare, cuss and discuss.

Power: Mercury Verado 150 with 48 hours
Prop: Enertia 14P
Weight of boat, fuel, passenger and gear: 3821
Wind: light. Lake: smooth

The boat has analog gauges. I sure wish the tach was digital rather than automotive style analog. I have no idea if the RPM is accurate. So, I don't know where the rest of my RPMs are since the engine should be throwing 5800-6300 at WOT.

RPM Best trimmed speed from GPS
1000 4.83
2000 9.09
2500 14.0
3000 20.0
3500 26.4
4000 30.3
4250 31.6
4500 32.9

WOT was 4700 @ 34.3

If I used the boat's speedometer, I could claim a +3 mph difference, and perhaps claim 37 mph overall, but I think I'd trust speed over ground better than speed over water. I will add that once in gear, the boat is really fast out of the hole.

My old boat had Yamaha smart gauges. Everything was digital. Almost information overload. I sure miss 'em.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

Bamaman
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#2 Post by Bamaman » Thu Jul 31, 2014 8:20 pm

My next door neighbor has the same boat hanging in his boathouse. And he's also got the Enertia 14 pitch prop. I've heard no complaints.

Does your engine feel like it's running more rpm's than what's indicated? Do you think the tachometer is accurate?

With that propeller, I cannot believe that a good running engine is just turning such limited rpm's--and that it's not in the 38-40 mph range. You do have lifting strakes, don't you?

I think I'd start by talking to the dealer's service manager. See what he says. He should want to put the Verado on the scanner--and to see if the engine's throwing any codes and if it's running right. You're still under warranty.

If you don't like the gauges, Mercury's SmartCraft digital multigauge can be fitted after the fact. It might take an electrical engineer to figure out what wiring's needed, but it's a simple plug in application otherwise.

My Bennington's got the Yamaha F150 and a 15 pitch Reliance prop, and it's running 40-41 mph @ 6000-6100 rpm's.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

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zoom650
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#3 Post by zoom650 » Fri Aug 01, 2014 4:28 am

I guess the short answer to everything is, I need a visit to the service department. I want my extra 5 miles an hour! There are a couple other items that need a look see, not unexpected after the first few uses, and I promise, I've run her hard and put her up wet!

There are a couple other engine items I want to run by them. The "clunk" you hear when shifting in gear seems more pronounced than when new. The digital throttle, was very quiet in the beginning.

Audible engine warning beeps: the last few cold cranks threw intermittent beeping that stopped. The Merc manual says this can happen and is okay if it stops. Or, restart and see if it beeps again. However, I'm getting the warning beeps on every cold crank the past 3 times I've taken the boat out. All on initial cranking, but it should not be doing it at all.

Oh, and the horn quit working. Damn, and I love it for the jet ski gnats. I've checked the fuse and felt for loose wires, so it is their turn.

All should be warranty, including the engine, where I bought the extended warranty. It would be nice to avoid the 65 mile trip to Lake Oconee.

The engine sounds like it is running good. The face of this tach is too "sporty" and the number spacing gets crammed together over 5000, but my WOT never makes 5000. It looks pretty, but not the easiest read for accuracy. Whether I'm not getting an extra thousand rpm, or the gauge is crap, guess the mechanic needs to explain.

And yes, I've got strakes and a total underskin.

When ordering the boat, I considered adding Merc's Smartcraft gauges but choose to keep the extra grand in my pocket. Since I wouldn't be running long fishing trips, I figured with this toon I would "slow down and smell the roses". It bugs me now, if this analog tach reads so off. I miss reading the fuel flow per hour on the engine as well as total gallons burned per trip. Both which I got out of my Yamaha gauges with the twins.

A good note to finish with is, my fuel gauge is accurate. I've burned through the tank twice and run the last mile in staring at "E". Both fill ups reveal 4 gallons remaining in the tank when the red needle is solid on empty.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

Matt in Houston
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#4 Post by Matt in Houston » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:38 am

Hi Zoom...

From your numbers it would appear your tach is way off. The reason being, it is theoretically impossible to see 34.3 mph GPS at 4700 RPM with a 14 pitch prop. Have you double checked that your prop is indeed 14p?

If we work the numbers backward and assume a 10% slip ratio for your prop, then at 34.3 mph with a 14p prop, you would be spinning 5979 RPM, probably right where you want to be. So that is why I suggest your tach is off.

If you want more speed you could try a move to the 15p Enertia. It will lower your RPM a bit, but you might pick up a mph or 2. I doubt anything more than that. At 5800 RPM with the 15p, you would see ~35.6 mph.

Here is a link to a prop calculator.

http://www.rbbi.com/folders/prop/propcalc.htm

Hope this is helpful and good luck!
2014 Xcursion X-25C Tritoon - XS Pkg - 150 Yamaha 4 Stroke - 15p Enertia

Bamaman
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#5 Post by Bamaman » Fri Aug 01, 2014 6:51 am

After a long ride on my Bennie yesterday, I'm convinced your tachometer is off dramatically. You post:

RPM Best trimmed speed from GPS
1000 4.83
2000 9.09
2500 14.0
3000 20.0
3500 26.4
4000 30.3
4250 31.6
4500 32.9
WOT was 4700 @ 34.3

My 3000 rpm's is more like 18 mph GPS.
My 3500 rpm's is more like 22 mph.
My 4000 rpm's is more like 25 mph.
My 6000 rpm's is 40 mph with about 6% propeller slip with 15" pitch--very good numbers. And those number are with the bimini up.

Where my tritoon comes alive is when you get over 30 mph. It feels like the hull lifts up some. And to get it there, you've got to throw about 3/4 trim to it. If I keep the nosecones in the water, speeds will be substantially less than optimal 40 mph. Are your nosecones still plowing through the water?
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

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zoom650
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#6 Post by zoom650 » Fri Aug 01, 2014 11:39 am

Thanks Matt and Bama for the insight!

Yes, I'm sure the prop is 14p. I also ran the boat with the aft bimini up, as it has always been.

The boat feels like its reaching plane around 18 or so. Add a touch of trim and there's a pretty dramatic rise in the nose and you can feel speed increase. It only takes a touch. More trim may get a bit more rise, but yields no more speed. I can get the cones out of the water. Spray starts just aft of the deflectors on the nose cones. Moving passengers to the rear and spray begins just foward of the helm.

I need to break out the tachometer install instructions. There is something there about a 5 position switch on the back. I should study on it a bit.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

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COTTS4x4
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#7 Post by COTTS4x4 » Fri Aug 01, 2014 5:32 pm

Ive got a Sweetwater tritoon with Yamaha 150 with a 14.5 pitch prop. My prop reads 15 M then below that it reads 14 1/2. My engine turns 6100 rpm and Ive gotten the boat to 43 on gps.
[b][i]
2013 Sweetwater 2286 Triple Toon
T.O.T.A.L. Package - 150 Yamaha
[/i][/b]

Matt in Houston
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#8 Post by Matt in Houston » Sun Aug 03, 2014 6:39 pm

I have the same prop in my garage...They are 14.5" diameter and its actually a 15 pitch.

They are fast props but from my testing, don't grip as well in the turns if your motor is higher or trimmed out. Otherwise, they rock.

I would have kept that prop on my new Xcursion, but apparently it was defective as I spun the hub in the middle of the channel at about 4000 rpms. Didnt hit anything, so I have no idea why that would happen on a brand new prop with 7 hours on it.

So now I have to take it up to the shop and have the hub re-pressed. In the mean time I picked up a Mercury Enertia 15 pitch and a hub kit to make it work with my Yamaha 150. I prefer the Mercury props (Tempest Plus and Enertia) as they tend to grip better when run higher and have a removable plastic hub that doesn't require re-pressing at a shop like the rubber hub Yamaha props do.
2014 Xcursion X-25C Tritoon - XS Pkg - 150 Yamaha 4 Stroke - 15p Enertia

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Icewoz
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#9 Post by Icewoz » Tue Aug 05, 2014 6:38 am

I'm buying the same boat with the PIII package and 12' bimini. However, from what I'm figuring, the weight of the boat comes out to 4393lbs, no gear, no people, with a 150 Merc (not Verado). Boat is 3588lbs + Eng is 455lbs + 50gal fuel tank (full, 350lbs; 50 gals at 7lbs/gal) on the PIII = 4393lbs.

I'm not sure how the furniture add's to weight but I ordered the center walk through model with the double helm and 2 recliners in back (same as front, just shorter).

Is it possible the boat weighs more than you think?
Steve W.
'15 Harris Solstice 220 CWDH, PIII tritoon
Non-Verado 150hp Mercury w/Enertia 14p

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zoom650
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#10 Post by zoom650 » Thu Aug 07, 2014 6:30 pm

Icewoz wrote: Is it possible the boat weighs more than you think?
Very possible. I pulled the hull weight off the Harris web site specs for a triple toon.

I can't get my boat to the dealer until next week to get the engine and tach checked. I may get by a truck scale and get a better weight.

You're going to love that Solstice.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

smoker62
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#11 Post by smoker62 » Fri Aug 08, 2014 5:51 am

You should have a pot switch on the back of the tach. It is most likely in the wrong position . My 300 Verado has an analog tach and it read 5000 at WOT but my performance was more like it should be at 6000. I was at #4 on the pot. Went to 5 and dropped to 4000, so I went to #3 and it was 6000 . More in line to what it should be with my speed vs rpm and slip numbers. Now that is not saying it is correct but has to be closer. You should have an AGI under the helm to convert Smartcraft digital to analog. You can buy the Merc Monitor and plug it in to the AGI and you have all the info , in digital form , you could ever want. Its plug and play .Remove the crappy analog tach and use the smartcraft . Under 500 bucks unless you want to interface with a chart plotter , which most tooners would not .
https://mercurymarine.com/en/us/gauges- ... rcmonitor/
2014 Crest Classic 250 SLR2 , Mercury 300 Verado Pro , Mercury Enertia Prop
2012 South Bay 522 , Merc 115 4S, Mercury Spitfire 4 blade prop-13 pitch light 25 mph gps, 11 pitch heavy - Sold

garygve
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#12 Post by garygve » Sat Aug 09, 2014 3:44 pm

I have the 22' Solstice with the Mercury 150 four stroke and Sea legs which weight almost 600#. I can get 36-37MPH on GPS Gauge shows 38-39MPH with the 14 enertia prop at 5200 rpm so I would think you should get that with the Verado.
2014 Harris 22' Solstice Tri-toon
150 Mercury 4-stroke

Soonertoon
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#13 Post by Soonertoon » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:56 pm

I'm running a 22 ft G3 with 115 Yamaha . No clue about the pitch. Looked and couldn't find the damn numbers anywhere. Anyway, no strakes and with 2 adults and 2 kids , we ran 33 m.p.h.
Sure sounds like a 150 would pull 4-6 miles faster.....of course hell, who knows if any of these gauges are right...lol
Broken Arrow Ok
2014 G3 Suncatcher
115 Yamaha 4 stroke
Paradise Cove Marina on Ft. Gibson Lake

Mucho Gusto
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#14 Post by Mucho Gusto » Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:33 am

Michael- what was the end result of the visit to the dealer? Was the tach not functioning properly or was 4700 the max rpm's?
2013 Harris Solstice 220, Mercury Verado 175
1996 Chapparal 1930ss 5.7L Mercruiser

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zoom650
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Re: Harris Flotebote - performance with a Verado 150

#15 Post by zoom650 » Mon Mar 30, 2015 4:30 pm

Mucho Gusto wrote:Michael- what was the end result of the visit to the dealer? Was the tach not functioning properly or was 4700 the max rpm's?
Dealer said the tach wasn't set right. Claimed they got 37 at WOT/6200.

I still only see 5200 on the analog and 35 was my best. Then the hull got lake nasty. The boat is in my backyard where I pressure washed it. As soon as the pollen passes, it's back to the lake and I'll see how clean I got the hull. Probably find some truck scales and get a better guess at the weight too.
Michael and Laura
'12 Ford F150 Lariat SuperCrew Ecoboost
'14 Harris Solstice 220, P3 tritoon, Mercury Verado 150, Enertia 14p.
prior boat: '02 Century 2600CC, twin Yamaha EFI 200's, full instruments.

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