Stiletto Water Pick-ups
 

Is any one using the factory installed water pick-up in front of the step on a 37' single step. If so what kind of water quality are you seeing from these pick ups. They seem to be pretty far from the transom and I would think they would pull alot of air. I'm think of eliminating them and going with transom pick-up's while the motors are out of the boat. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

I am using them. Plenty of water and never any temp issues at any speed or water condition.

+1 I'm sure they see air, but I've never had or heard of any issues with them... And I've worried about it as there's not much boat in the water with mine at WOT!

The only issue I've seen with them is the previous owner must have often used a shallow ramp and they ended up eating into the top of the rear bunks (towards the front). When I got the boat it was overheating a little. Changed the impellers, same problem. I took me a while to figure out what he had done, but I ultimately found the fuel heat exchanger inlets (just before the sea pumps) were clogged with carpet fibers from the bunks. I've never had a problem since, although I suspect I would if I were forced to use a really shallow ramp.

On the 1998 Stiletto that I had Bob Tteague installed 1100 Quad rotors in the boat. Bob put his adjustable pickups on the transom and he also used the pickups in front of the step. Bob made a custom sea strainer that allowed both pickups to feed into the strainer. Tthe set up worked out great and had plenty of water for the engines that I was running. The boat is Enough 4 Ply and was sold to an OSO member that ran it in the shootout last year. The pickups in front of the step were to small for the set up I was running.

Didnt realize you had them. Thought about having pickup installed and not use the water pick up outa my lower unit

I have 1000/1100's in mine with the factory pick-ups, works great.

Are you running inter-coolers off the factory pick-up as well.
I'm thinking of using the factory pick up for the motors and installing transom pick-up's just for the inter-coolers

Yes. Again, no issues.

I have a 97' with Teague 800's , 4 stock pick-ups in front of the step, the intercoolers are fed from their own pick-ups. Seems to work well with good water pressure to 110mph.

37ol,

So you're running 110 MPH with 800's? Do you mind sharing your setup? Stagger/non-stagger, what drives, props etc. Thanks!

Short stagger, 24'' centers , 1.5#6 drysumps with 17.5 x 34'' Merc 5 blade props spinning in at 5800-6000 rpm. This will see 107-110 on most days. This boat has the motors moved forward about 12'' farther than most 37 stagger boats, thats how it was built, flys pretty level.

Thats impressive for that hull and that power combo. Are those 800's closer to 900's?

Old school Teague 8oo's intercooled/carb motors with 220 hrs been that have been running for 7 years, I don't know exactly how much they really put out. I had a friend that ran 117 with merc 900's in the same boat with wet sump drives.

The purpose of the step mounted pickup is that the last good clean water is available there, after the step, its areated, so the water at the transom isn't as "clean". They were set at approx 3/8 down, and tacked so they wouldn't move.
At the transom, you would need at least 1/4 down to get the same water, plus the extra drag.
When a 37 is flyin' proper, its dead level, so the transom is higher than most.

a 900 stagger in a 37 will see 121 mph....Bob Christies was the first to see that number, and it was an all glass boat...an epoxy one would gain another 3-5 mph

110 with 800's is the right number

Is there a driveshaft on rear engine?

Thanks for the info, gotta love the Stilettos!

Yes, about 12''.