The seastrainer that we put in is a 12" item. Big enough, I think!

we checked over the 525, and it is like new, inside and out. All eight cylinders show 11 bar compression, within a tenth of each other. The plugs look like new. 157 hours and two seasons.

Mercury Racing make good motors.

Nice job WILD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what #s on the GPS so far ???thnx

Yeah, when is the next day for testing? ...this weekend I hope?

Mabey I need to read a little more. I missed this engine swap idea.
I'm supportive of everything but the "break in". Drive it out of the box like you are gonna drive it every time you are in it.

Super Steve,
See you at the Belgium poker run!?

Regards
John

John, when is the Belgian run?

@All - the weekend was a great success. The motor has has now got 10 hours logged on it, and ran like a ....well just like the 525 did, with a whole lot more power.

I decided to go down a click, and run a new labbed 31" Bravo, to be a easier on the motor, and started the weekend watching the gauges continuously. Got to know the pattern. Cold start oil pressure is a remarkable 70 psi, dropping to 50 psi at idle when warm, and 65 psi at speed. After a run, the oil temp and water temp climb a couple of degrees. Otherwise everything looks the same as with the little guy. Fuel pressure always at a steady 62 psi (instead of the 525´s 40 psi)however hard the motor pulled.

On Friday afternoon, a run back to the marina next to Alex´s Pantera saw us slotting into the old routine and as many as six freight ships with a 1/4 mile of each other had both boats sharing generous amounts airtime as we battled for the honours!

I was watching the water pressure and the temp gauge for any signs of cooling issues. I had been warned that the blower motors (and particularly their Smartcraft Guardian system) are more sensitive to both fuel and water pressures, as this is how blower motors often meet their end. The motor seemed to really enjoy the action.

On Saturday, we did a fast run along the Rhein to a small lake where there is an enclosed race circuit, also shared by the local waterskiers. I took a couple of friends out and did ten laps, pretty much as fast as I could drive the boat. At the end of the straights, I had 77 mph on the GPS (where I was seeing about 71 mph last year). Trimming down to brake into the corner, and pulling tight around the bouy, planting the throttle and trimming out as we turn out (don´t try this with a stepped hull!!!). The acceleration had us screaming like wild men!

The 1" spaced shorty had just as much grip as the standard drive, and would not blow out even when turning tight!
(Note - I shall have to try running without the spacer, again).

With more hours and seat time I was running harder in the chop out on the Rhein. My passenger started to call off the GPS number as a stretch of consistent chop aired the boat out nice, and before I had to back off the throttle as the next freight ship wake approached, we had a new bestmark..........

84.8 mph @5200rpm

The 525 motor is now officially up for sale.............

Steve,
We are traying to work out an Poker run in the Netherlands first.. Together whit Wampie (sunsation) I let you know.. or look at www.snelleboten.nl

Regards
John

This shot was taken just before we wound up to 84 mph.........

Today I´m going to do a run with the 32" prop.

Wild Card did you have to change any rigging from the 525 to 600??

Great shot.
Here it is just a little brighter- In case you need new avatar!