Thread:

Carrera 202XR performance upgrade

What would be the best way for better performance and still keep the reliability? 7.4l, Bravo1, 21P Mirage Plus. Total hours on the boat is 302. Engine is totally stock.
Thanks for any ideas.

Check the right side of the bottom of this boat. At least 1/2 "of hook on the bottom. Get ride of the hook.

Without spending too much money, I would start with Greg's suggestion. If there are issues to be addressed with that hull, then I would start there. Your power package is about as stock/reliable as you can get, plus the number of hours is getting up there. I would leave the powerplant alone and focus on the boat itself and try a few different props, although the 3 blade Mirage is probably one of the fastest props I have tried on a boat 20-22, but sometimes they are not the best all around performer IMO. Tough to beat a 4 blade Bravo on a stock 20'-22' vee bottom for general performance all around.

What about a Ron Hil 21p 4 blade?

Sorry I had a flatbottom years ago. What do you mean by "hook" ?

The bottom of your boat is not flat as it transitions toward the stern, it curves downward toward the water, probably due to an imperfection in the mold. Some boats have a little hook built into them to keep from porposing, but it will usually scrub speed, and if it's as bad as Greg said it was, it will scrub a lot of speed. As far as the Ron Hill prop: try it. Try as many props as you can. Every boat has a perfect prop out there somewhere for it

What is the best way to remove the "hook" ? Grinding or sanding? Is it best to have a boat shop to do the work or is it easily done? I have found a new Ron Hill prop for $200. Worth a try?
Thanks

Originally Posted by Carrera J

What is the best way to remove the "hook" ? Grinding or sanding? Is it best to have a boat shop to do the work or is it easily done? I have found a new Ron Hill prop for $200. Worth a try?
Thanks

You will have to decide how much you want to go faster. Do you want better all around performance or top speed? Everything you do will have some sort of sacrifice somewhere else. For example, If you take your boat to a professional to have the bottom of your boat blueprinted, it will cost you several thousand dollars, with no guarantees on the performance, in fact, it could develop a porposing problem it never had before among many other things,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,but it might go fast or maybe even slow down.
I can remember taking a customers 22' boat to the lake with 8 props, and one of them was much faster than the rest. All of the props were good, but the boat liked a 25 mirage three blade the best. The difference between the best and the worst prop was 7 mph. That's a lot! The fact is, If you look at your set up from an outsiders perspective: It is a nice, reliable, conservative set up. You could throw a lot of money at your boat and get nothing but a headache(we have all done that), and you could throw $5000-$7500 at it and have a boat that goes 75 mph completely out of control(None of us want you to do that). My advice? Contact someone knowledgable with an honest propeller program and tell them what you want to do. They will work with you until you get the right one. Don't just start buying props without knowing for sure how it will work on your boat.

More Imortantly: If there is something wrong with the bottom of the hull(a big hook on one side?), I would really consider either leaving it totally stock and enjoying it the way it is, or taking a step back and seeing if another boat might be more of a better investment and saving your hard earned dollars. Just my opinion.

Gary

Thanks for all the advice. All your points are well taken. The boat rides good with no porpoising. I think the best way to go will be as suggested invest in a couple of good props one for speed and another for skiing/tubing.
I would still like to upgrade the carb as it has a sputter when first under load.
Thanks again for the advice.

how fast is the boat right now? I have a 202xr jet with a 380hp 454.
I spent 3 weeks removing the hook from the bottom, and didnt notice
much speed gain. it was at 56mph and after all the bottom work it is 57 or 58mph. i didnt gain much speed but it rides very free and dry and doesnt bow steer like it used to. with an i/o you probably run faster than me before any work is done.

I was running 60 with 3/4 fuel load and 4 people. Motor is stock 300hp. I would like to get 65 out of it. Maybe this summer with a few upgrades it can be done. Carb, manifold, and a prop change.