Ringleader: Merc 225 question

[gw204 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gw204]

Ed,

I ran across a '01 225 EFI w/ 48 hours that is supposedly in excellent shape for $6500 locally. Sounds like a steal to me. As you recall I just repowered last spring w/ an '02 carbed 150 which currently gives me exceptional fuel economy, nearly 4 mpg at cruise.

I was wondering what kind of economy you are currently getting from your 225...or more appropriately what you got before you tore the boat apart! [] I'm not nearly as concerned w/ top speed as I am with cruise speed and fuel economy. My 150 currently gives me a cruise of 28 to 30 mph at 4000 to 4200 RPM burning 7.5 gal/hr. Tops is 41 at 5600. What do you think I should expect if I were to move on the 225?

Thanks.

Brian

Brian

1985 Grady White 204

http://w3.mivlmd.cablespeed.com/~brianm/

[RingLeader Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close RingLeader]

quote:

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I was wondering what kind of economy you are currently getting from your 225

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Hehe, my merc is collecting dust on the garage floor while it warranty ticks away very rapidly.
Really though, it is a great motor. On your hull you will probably be able to swing a 19P or even a 21P prop with no trouble. With a good 19P SS wheel you could expect 51+ mph in your boat at a WOT of about 5700rpm. I'd say you'll cruise at 40-42 mph burning about 12-14gph probably spinning about 4200rpm.

Here are some results I got with a Mirage Plus 15.25"X19P prop. It was to much prop for my boat, but would probably be perfect on yours. I had a full tank of gas (86 gal) and just me in the boat. Very windy summer day.

37.5mph @ 3925rpm (15kt tail wind and with small current)

34.6mph @ 3825rpm (crosswind with current)

40mph @ 4250rpm ~ 14.5gph - 2.5mpg

51.9mph @ 5200rpm

I changed to a Rapture 14.25" X 17P prop and for the notes I'm looking at I had myself, another adult, a child, and full gas and fishing gear. It was a very windy winter day. I didn't take real good notes that day either.

35mph @ 4200rpm ~ 13.5gph

50mph @ 5700rpm

Best I can tell you is that with a decent load I could cruise around 36-37mph at 4400rpm burning about 13-14gph. With a light load I could go 38-39mph at 4400rpm getting the same fuel burn.

I think your boat will be a bit different and probably alot better. My boat is very heavy... about 4000+ lbs with a full tank of gas.