Need help with a skater 28 setup!!!
 

Hey guys i just brought a 28 skater with twin 300x , the motors are on transom and so far it ran 113.3 mph. any suggestion ?

Congratulations!

Good luck and have fun !

Wear your life jacket and Kill switch! :lolhit:

113 is pretty strong. My 28 has seen 115 on GPS with stock 300X's 32" humpback Mercs turning in mounted one hole up from middle on the transom.

BTW which 28 did you pick up? Congrats on the new boat and be safe!

Go onto www.screamandfly.com there are a few 28's on there that are running some big numbers.......

I was just on a 28 with 300x engines this past weekend. It would run low 100s with normal trim flying the boat. The boat ran 119 with what I would call over trim. Fly it high and it will run hard. He was told the boat runs 121 by the previous owner. Just be careful.
He was running three blade 34's turning out.

Congratulations !

A couple of thoughts.....We have a set of 34's, but run 32's. The boat accelerates harder and seems to lug the engine less with the 32's...The lower units are probably happier with less prop....We have a 5" CNC jack plate set conservative. Water pressure is 15 +/-. Trimmed under it will run over 110 in bursts.

You may want to keep an eye on the prop shaft seal. We found the metal part of the seal to have a fabrication flaw. There was a knife like metal edge that cut the rubber that would let water in. (we got lucky and found the flaw when pressure checking, before the engines ever ran) Also, the shift seal was leaking oil when the engines were still in the crate. We replaced the original seal (both engines) with TWO seals stacked. Cups are facing down.

Mercury Tech is recommending "Rejuvenate" ILO Premium Plus, TCW 3, as the "Best" 2 cycle oil. Of course, Rejuvenate is more money. Also, "Quick Kleen" and "Stabil Marine" are both to be added to the fuel. Mercury is also suggesting a 25 Micron Primary filter (one for each engine) in the bilge.

CcanDo

Any experience with the lower unit vent kits or the mad EFI multi seal retrofit? I'm changing milky lower unit oil with every other tank of hard running. Thought about trying these for a fix.

I am running the Lakeside expansion tanks on my 300xs's on a 28' Skater. Have not had any issues with milky lower unit oil. They also send with the kit a double seal for the top shaft seal.
It is a nice kit and not to expensive.
There are a lot of posts on the bass boat sites with guys having similar lower unit issues and they all rave about the results.

Great package! I would start with Jack Plates CNC manual 5.5", 1.5" above the bottom, and turn them in. May be able to go higher depending on prop diameter and water psi. What props are you running?

sometimes the shafts wear at the seals. then the seal doesn't do its job since its not making good contact with the seal.

Craig Colabella has done my work along with alot if not most of the offshore guys. he uses a seal saver.

if your oil is milky, start saving $$$$$$$. I would fix that issue before you break a lower and then you'll really hate buying merc parts.

SkaterDave

Thanks I will do. I just got a spare set so I will send these tired one in for a rehab. Do you have his contact info.

Craig Colabella, Colabella Peformance

407 498 0094

Sorry ! Forgot to mention that part.....Yes, we used the CNC'd Billet Aluminum ILO the OEM plastic seal holder. However, again, Please check the vertical drive shaft seal (I know I said prop shaft before)....Replacing the seal is suggested....Thoroughly inspect the metal/rubber contact point for sharp edges.

CcanDo

Thanks!

good luck do all you can for those lowers i went through 6 of them in about 55 hours there the weak link in those boats but awsome boat lots of fun try some weight 25 lbs a side just in front of your foot rest in the tunnell really helped mine be carefull can get flighty but fast

good advice ! From the research I have done the reson the PS seal leaks is because the shaft is carbon steel and it will rust under seal very inmportant to have it greased up . Also very important to have aftermarket shift shaft seal with hose and exp tank as it will let some fluid escape into tank when running hard . I just bought a few lowers and how hard is it to set pinion depth on 3 litre SM ?

from your nick name just wondering i don't recall any original skater's in Kuwait?
:)

I have had water in my 300XS lowers (one blew from water in lower) I just recieved the Taylor Marine drive shaft billett carrier with 4 seals ( merc is plastic with two seals) As far as the shift shaft seal, what is better the aftermarket billet shift shaft fitting going to a small black tube expansion tank in the cowling or the Taylor marine seal upgrade.

My thoughts are to use the shift shaft fitting to expansion tank, but why not have it go into the bilge area into a clear Bravo style container 1. you could always see the fluid (or water in fluid) 2.There would be twice as much fluid (cooler drive).
Any thoughts on this kind of upgrade??
Steve

Steve,
Thought about doing the same thing. Not exactly sure if there is enough room to install a large enough fitting to carry that much fluid. May work with the small tubing though. What I can tell you is that I have had the lakeside expansion tanks on my boat sine the motors were new and now have over 50hrs and have never seen any water or gear case issues.
When you get there tanks they come with a multi seal piece as well.

Is there a website or email address for the lakeside expansion tanks?

Thanks!

x2

+1

Link to this and the Taylor Marine lower unit seals?

its lakeland not lakeside... duh