Phantom 25 1985 - 450R
 

Hi!

I ordered a Merc 450R in March and lucky me it arrived in late May. Several months before we expected it to come :)

The engine is now mounted on my ol Phantom 25.

During the 23 years I have owned my boat, I have run several engine configurations:

Johnson V8 3.6 GT 300hp + = 75 mph
Promax 300 SVS - 75 mph
Twin Merc 2.5 Efi SS w/PCU = 87 mph
Verado 350 Sci = 81,5 mph
Verado 400R = 88 mph

With the 400R the best prop was a Max5 15" diameter 25" pitch propeller spinning 88 mph at 7,040 rpm.

With the 450R we replaced the Max5 15" dia -25" pitch with a 15,25" dia & 27" pitch ST prop. Top speed so far is 93,3 mph at 6,220 rpm. This is on glass water, and my Phantom does not like to calm conditions since its a straight V hull from 1985. So 95 mph should be possible in the right conditons.

Propheight is as with the 400R; 2 inches above the bottom. Going higher does not make any more speed. Just rpm. Ps at 2 inches above is 23 psi.

The 450R is a beast and acceleration is unbelievable. Only set back is that my hydraulic steering is going hot. I replaced my electric hydraulic pump I used with 350 Sci and 400R with the new Generation 3 pump (1650 psi). We replaced the return line in accordance to spec. And still it goes hot. Both on cruise and wot. Strange. The steering wheel is now harder to turn and less precise. Any ideas what to do?

Cheeers, Toffen