MerCruiser 6.2L V8 300HP Performance and Fuel Usage!

[@BaitBallin]

Found out today the engine beeping is due to faulty trim sensor, will be replaced shortly.....random

[@Cammo-vp1gl]

I have the same 6.2 in my Whittley 7.3 Sea Legend, I've had it four years and she's got about 250 hours up and it only recently feels like it's 'run in' as the economy has improved. Maybe I'm just getting better at trimming it. I'm running a Bravo 2 leg with aluminium three blade 21 inch pitch prop. I find anywhere below 3500 rpm and she's returning 1.2 to 1.4 km/l depending on load in the boat, weather etc. Over 3500 rpm she really comes to life and the economy starts to drop. Maximum revs are just over 5000 and 74 km/h (40 Kts) so a drop in pitch is on the cards. However, I hardly go WOT as 700 metres per litre is a bit hefty, especially at $2.00 per litre!! Very soon I will be updating to a SS prop, I'm told this will greatly improve my economy. I too have a Boat Catch, the best money I've ever spent, launch and retrieve is so easy and safe. One of my alarms went off recently just after a service and it was low oil on the outdrive, the mechanic obviously didn't check it. What leg and prop are you running?

[@BaitBallin]

Hey it's a Bravo 3 duo prop. Not sure what props haven't looked. Definitely stainless. Yeah apparently any low levels will set the alarm off, mine was a faulty trim sensor. I just had a Bluetooth vessel view module installed to help with diagnosis in the future. Yeah I will be just putting around, keep is at 3000 or below. 1.3-1.5KM/L is good

[@Cammo-vp1gl]

@@BaitBallin I'm yet to see 1.5 but maybe with the stainless prop it might get there. Is the vessel view any good? I've been looking at them and haven't made up my mind yet. Currently installing a diesel heater in the boat, I'm down in Melbourne so it's going to be great to have some warmth on the chilly days.

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah I'm seeing 1.6L occasionally. 1.3 consistently..... Could maybe do better, really haven't played around with engine trim, trim tabs etc. Only scratching the surface

[@RStout59]

Love the way she sounds. After you've fished her a good bit and propped her ideally look into a Sharrow prop. New prop tech and you will likely gain about a 30% increase of economy at cruising. Save some cash first.

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah they look the goods, no experience with them yet. But worth looking into for sure!

[@kylezwisler5531]

30% is a big call

[@johnevans4015]

Hi again Good the hear you are having success with loading and launching from the trailer. Now only one thing please change your log to knots. Then us old guys can visualise how quick you are travelling. But all looks good. Have you used the trim tabs yet. I used to keep a single motor flat on the trim eg parallel to the bottom of the boat and just use a little bit of tab to keep it all stable and if choppy when going into it just trim down until it is comfortable. The tabs will use the wait of the boat to do what they are for. This doesn’t work so well in a aluminium boat as there’s not enough wait. But be careful going down wind, trim the bow up as you can scoop up the next wave and put it over the top of the cabin (gets interesting at 30kn ) It all goes black, well green, I used to ask if anyone could see any fish. Normally they couldn’t meaning it was too rough and we should be heading home. Get to know the boat and have comfortable days fishing none of this bouncing around business. Regards John

[@BaitBallin]

Hey I really haven't fiddled with the trim tabs yet, once again was a but rushed at the seakeeper guys were waiting for me to test their boat out. So this test was very much, raw, no tweaking. I am now having a water leak from the toilet at the front! Happened just after the video. So that's my next thing to tackle......

[@johnevans4015]

Hi again Now the tab’s Check the wiring, if they are wired to the instructions they may be wrong for your logic. In the instructions they wire them so when you press bow down port the starboard side tab goes down .lifting the starboard stern and vice verser I could never work it out. So I wired mine for logic. Port button down = port flap down and in your head flap down = port side up as it lifts that side like a plane this may be just a John condition but I found that I understood it better when controlled the tab not the result if you understand that I mean. Anyway if you understand what the tabs do you can make this boat do everything Bertram designed it for, and that was to out run every other boat in any conditions. Big V, weight and big horsepower But be careful in big seas on the quarter the boat will stay at 90deg to the water and gravity will not come into it like a plane and on the side of a wave you can tip over as you are now flying this boat not just steering it. Have fun but be careful Regards John

[@BaitBallin]

Thanks man got advice!

[@johnevans4015]

@@BaitBallin just sharing so you have an enjoyable day in your boat because it can over power you and your family will loose confidence and not go with you. It is all about the illusion that you know what you are doing to others not that you actually do know what you are doing. 😱

[@Timbuctoo]

Mate, that sounds great. I'm currently looking at a Bertram Reef Runner 21ft with a 5L V8 (240HP) bravo drive. Any idea what these are like as far as fuel goes? Fuel is a huge factor these days, prices are crazy. We like the inboard because we want to do Great Barrier Reef trips for spearfishing and the diving platform is excellent.

[@BaitBallin]

Hey, the old V8s are absolute pigs on juice. I've had a few mates with old school reef runners with the original 8s and they are not workable. Having said that any of the fuel injected models can't be too bad. Tough old rigs, but have their issues like any boat.

[@Timbuctoo]

@@BaitBallin it's a 2004 model 5.0.MPI upgraded from factory with Bravo drive.

[@Michael-gf2er]

Solid 👍

[@BaitBallin]

It's coming back from the dead!

[@Glenny_J]

How did the retrieval go?

[@BaitBallin]

Went very well actually. Absolutely a 2 person job but we did well this time round

[@jburn7360]

A lot of spray coming off your outdrive at planing speed,what’s your cavitation plate high in regards to the bottom of keel.

[@BaitBallin]

Will check it out

[@jburn7360]

@@BaitBallin just seen another one of your videos, probably your leg shower 👍

[@BaitBallin]

Yes that's exactly what it is now I think of it.

[@coryleacy372]

4kn zone is so boaties don't run into each other or the bridge when navigating under it. Bit overkill but worth it in the long run.

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah it's just very large, as in loner than I thought. But anyway all good

[@coryleacy372]

@@BaitBallin think about how dumb the average person is, then put them in a boat lol. they need all the time they can get. cracking boat anyway keen to see the electronics fitout

[@BaitBallin]

Hahaha yes very true! Yep Il get the boat home next weekend, do some measuring and go shopping

[@no_triggerwarning9953]

The fuel consumption at cruising speed of 40kph for a heavy 23' boat is outstanding with fuel burn of just under 29 lph. Have you calculated the fuel burn at typical 5-8 knot trolling speeds?

[@BaitBallin]

Yes I agreed!!! And no not yet unfortunately

[@hildablanco1591]

Always ask for the 1979 bandit 6.6 liter 383 mercury with TRS drive

[@BaitBallin]

True, should have 👌💪

[@resultsmayvary5848]

Noce mate! How good are the old caribbeans. I get around 1.9 to 2km per litre in mine at 23 knots! Thats with a 230hp diesel :)

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah that's awesome economy

[@BaitBallin]

Yep love this old thing tbh

[@Timbuctoo]

Hey mate, I'm looking at a Reef Runner with 5L V8 (240HP) bravo drive. The boat is about 21ft I think. Is this similar specs to yours? I'm keen to know fuel data given the cost of fuel at the moment. Maybe the government wants us driving electric boats, hahaha. Or ban boating altogether.

[@gozbil]

Where’s that new bridge? I know Nowra building a new 1 but doesn’t look like Nowra

[@BaitBallin]

Batemans bay.... Nice bridge. Well over due.

[@fisher266]

What was the barcrusher achieving?

[@BaitBallin]

With the 4 blade at similar speeds 1.6 - 1.8km per L off memory

[@fisher266]

@@BaitBallin shit thats good aye

[@stabifisho7576]

Have you thought of a 4 bladed prop and a different pitched prop you might get a better WOT and better fuel economy but maybe not good in open seas.

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah I have thought about changing one of the props down the track. Dot now just need the basics working well so I can start fishing again asap

[@scottwillis5494]

L&r boat latch not boat catch mate. There bad for relesing backing down too hard because there designed to put the boat in gear and drive it forward which releases the mech then reverse it back. Best bets stop just before you have to get your feet wet. Remove safety chain , flick latch lever etc then back it back to desired depth gently. Then bump the boat forward to release the latch then off ya go in reverse. Possibly went back abit too hard that first time and the force of the water on the transom was enough to push the boat forward and release it. (They have also been known to release them selves on ramps if its abit bumpy so always move just forward enough to get your feet out the water before you do the safety chain

[@BaitBallin]

Yep good idea will give it a go

[@jb243wp]

Yep if you can put up with the release chord they (Boat Catch) are far more superior than the L&R design, the Boat Catch design has one he'll of a (virtually fail-safe) powerful spring loaded system in it.. I've had both, L&R on my old boat and Boat Catch on my current boat, think L&R may be more suited for ally boats and glass boats being up to 6mtrs max

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah I will be using it very carefully indeed

[@Sluf7]

Pretty good on gas for 6.2. Yeah big plastic boat more comfortable as don,t Bob around like lighty does. Bloody sensors eh real pain. What don,t electronics not like heat, vibration, water.....Carry on.

[@BaitBallin]

Yeah just started for seemingly no reason at all! Ohwell Bluetooth module will be good in future