Top speed
 

What's the top speed of 5.7 1998 Mariah Z202. Just curious

Re: Top speed
 

Lots of variables going on there. Weight of boat, elevation, prop your running, etc. I would guess mid to high 40s possibly lower 50. You can search on here under propellers or tops speed and may run across someone running your similar combo with a posted top speed.

Re: Top speed
 

GPS verified, mostly empty my 98 z202 with a 5.0 could tickle 50mph, but could never get over it. Loaded down it was more like 46-47mph. I'm in WI at 700' above sea level.

That was with a 21' prop. I had a 23' prop with it too, but that was too much prop and I couldn't get the rpm's all the way up.

Re: Top speed
 

Agree with BlockP.

I've got a '98 202 with a 5.0. Running about 4,700 elevation my max speed is about 45-46 unloaded. That's running a hi-five 19, and not gps verified. Likely in the low 40's in all actuality. Loaded I'm lucky to get 40-44...

I have noticed a difference at lower elevations, but mostly just in acceleration and not so much on top end.

Re: Top speed
 

I have a 1998 Mariah Talari 221 with a carb Mercruiser 5.7 liter. With a 21 3-blade prop I am at about 52 mph and with my 15 4-blade prop I am at around 45.

Re: Top speed
 

Not bragging, but this last Sunday I hit 59.7 MPH (GPS Verified) in Lake Monroe - Sanford FL with a '98 Mariah 202 5.0L and 19* prop.... Wouldn't have been such a white-knuckles if my depth finder wasn't reading out 6.4 feet of water.....


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Re: Top speed
 

Wow! Where u running with a 10 mph current lol!
My 180, hit 64 once. Now, everytime i run it at wot 60 seems to be where i top out, somedays its 56 mph. 26* bravo 3.
Thats quick for a 5.0 and 20' boat, hows the hole shot with a 19*?


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Re: Top speed
 

Well with my new smart tabs installed I just topped out at 47 MPH GPS with a 14.5" x 17 x 4 SS prop. Boat had an average load of 4 people and 1/2 tank of gas. With the old whale tail I could not get it over 44 MPH GPS. I am at about 4800' in elevation. I was thinking about getting a 14.5" x 19 x 4 as a back up prop for Lake Powell, but not sure that would give me the power I need for water sports. Thoughts?

Re: Top speed
 

Not sure what water sports you are doing, but I have a Shabah 202 with 5.0 and a 14.25x21 three blade. I also run smart tabs with 80lb piston on hole 1. I have no problems pulling single and double tubes. I can cruise around 15-20 while pulling. Getting an adult skier out of the water is doable, but may be difficult for a novice. Slower driving for say a wakeboard I have not tried. Hope this helps!


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Re: Top speed
 

Just noticed that was you Firestone. Did you like/keep your tabs at hole 2? I like the way 1 performed better than 3 for me, but have not done any measured wot passes yet. I was lightly loaded and want to test with more realistic loading in the boat. Have a safe and fun fourth!


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Re: Top speed
 

Well after 2 days of boating with it in the #2 hole I think I will keep it there for now. Did you see a big difference when you went from 3 to 1? I am running a 5.7L MAG.

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Top speed
 

Yes, the bow felt like it was plowing more in hole 3. Like you had a lot of weight up there. Not bad or crushing at speed, but from 0-10 it was noticeable. Not sure of the weight difference in our boats, I do run two batteries in near the stock location, and 50 lbs or so of audio and misc. in the engine compartment. Almost wish I would have ordered 60 lb piston as I see that others did. That way I would have some adjustment. I wonder if having the tabs lower/nearer to centerline causes more lift? Anyway hole one for me seems good, I'll make some wot passes and see if I decide to switch Pistons. I will also probably be buying a new prop as well. A lower pitch 4 blade would suit our use of the boat better. I bought the boat from my dad who used it on a 12 mile long lake, we live on a 200ish acre lake so not so much wot time!


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Re: Top speed
 

I did email Nauticus with size recommendation. Seen that they have traded some others out. I will shoot them an email to see what a 80 hole one lines up with a 60.

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Re: Top speed
 

Well Grego at Nauticus wants me to try hole 1 before we swith out to the 60's. You might try emailing him. [email protected]

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Re: Top speed
 

Meant to say hole 3 in my earlier post. Hole one seems ok, will have to see if I lost top end though. I was thinking 60's just so maybe they could be set mid range again. Maybe I'm overthinking this, but I was planning on having two settings for the tabs. Normal for 90% of the time and when we really load it up a heavy setting. The pins are super easy to adjust, so I was going to order a spare pin or two. I think that ultimately if I don't lose more than 2-3 mph I'll stay with the 80's then if I'm loaded heavier it should be perfect. I'll keep you posted. If you do some wot passes let me know how close you are to your old max speed and what hole position you ran. Thanks


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Re: Top speed
 

In hole 2 I increase my max speed to 47 from 44 with the whale tail. I like the idea of a few spare bolts and nuts just in case.

Firestone - 2000 Mariah Z202 5.7L MAG Alpha I Gen II

Re: Top speed
 

Thanks for this post guys, i noticed my bow aiming very much downward during cruising. So, hole 2 lessens the angle?


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Re: Top speed
 

A buddy of mine has a crownline and went up to a 19p from a 17. He loves it. 21' boat with a 5.7 clocked at 55 gps on a river run. And can still easily pull up wake boarders.


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Re: Top speed
 

That and trimming up your engine. It was way scary when I was at WOT with the engine trim all the way down

Firestone - 2000 Mariah Z202 5.7L MAG Alpha I Gen II

Re: Top speed
 

Just ordered my 19 pitch. Can't wait to try it out

Firestone - 2000 Mariah Z202 5.7L MAG Alpha I Gen II

Re: Top speed
 

Update...two years later! Finally got around to getting the 60lb actuators for the smart tabs SX. I am running hole 3 and this seems perfect for light to mid loaded boat (Shabah 202 5.0 Merc). Prop is a 14x19 four blade. Top speed is mid to low 40’s depending on load. Not super concerned with top speed, we live on a smaller lake and we use the boat for water sports and lower speed cruising.


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Re: Top speed
 

hi guys. please help. i need advice
i have 2 propellers but i would like to remove one and to try ride the boat with one.
is it safe? will it not harm engine itself? I have mercruiser bravo 3.
also if i remove one propeller- will it be okey for that metal beam that is sticking out from the lower unit( propeller holder)

Re: Top speed
 

Im going to start off with this is a horrible idea. Not that someone somewhere has not done it, maybe in a pinch? Those are very expensive units to play with. Check the used prices on eBay.

What exactly are you trying to achieve? Less efficiency? Less maneuverability? Higher top speed? The B3 is more efficient and maneuverable than a single prop. Small price to pay for a few mph off your top speed.

Also, this might get more responses in "prop talk"

Re: Top speed
 

I noticed when i go full speed and bring up my trim for better smoother sail and fast speed,. Outer propeller comes out of water and doest allow for trim to be up as much. So basically i can hear it spinning out of water. So I wanted to know if I remove outer propeller- in order for plane speed trim up performance.

Re: Top speed
 

Where do people come up with these ideas? :shakehead:

No, its not a good idea to remove one of the props on a Bravo 3 outdrive. The outdrive was designed to be efficient & balanced with 2 props operating at the same time. If you are that worried about driving at top speed, switch out the outdrive for a Bravo 1 or install a pair of Smart Tabs which provides some lift to the stern and will allow you to keep the outdrive trimmed down a bit.

Re: Top speed
 

How exactly are you trimming the outdrive up? I know that might sound silly but if you are trimming up with the trailer (square button) it will allow your trim to go up to trailer height. If you are using the actual trim toggle the outdrive should not be running with the rear prop that high. Basically the trim limit switch allows you to operate the drive in a certain range without the trim coming up too high.

You may also want to have a look at the spacer where the rams mount to the outdrive.

Re: Top speed
 

not with a trailer. out in the water. im used to bravo 1 . with 2 propellers(bravo 3) - icant jack up the trim up as much.