215 Express Cruiser

H2ONUT

H2ONUT

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2006
2,658
Savanna GA
Boat Info
2000 215EC
Engines
5.0 EFI Mercruiser Alpha
Looking at buying a 99 215 Express Cruiser. It has the 5.0 in it. Looking for likes and dislikes.

Thanks

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H2ONUT said:
Looking at buying a 99 215 Express Cruiser. It has the 5.0 in it. Looking for likes and dislikes.

Thanks

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I had a 1998 215EC and loved it....it was a great all around boat...small enough to do water sports but large enough to camp on....here is a link to the official thread for this boat....

http://clubsearay.com/showthread.php/16955-Official-215-Express-Thread

I did numerous upgrades and improvements to my 215EC so if you do get one and want some ideas let me know....

cliff
 
I had a 2000 215 EC from new. Loved it! The biggest 21.5 on the planet. I added trim tabs and that helped the port to starboard lean because I'm a big guy. We ran that boat everywhere.. Put almost 100 hours the first season. Plenty of power, plenty of room. I wished mine had the extended platform and I almost ordered one, but ended up trading it in and going to the 240DA.
 
Thanks everyone. I'll be sure to check out the 215 thread.

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Had one for a short time....it IS a "big, heavy" feeling 21 footer, and with the 5.0 TKS that I had, I always felt it was underpowered......JMHO.
 
RichardS said:
Had one for a short time....it IS a "big, heavy" feeling 21 footer, and with the 5.0 TKS that I had, I always felt it was underpowered......JMHO.
Click to expand...
Underpowered with 2 people? It will just be me and my wife.

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Well, the 215EC isn't meant to be a speedboat, but I found it's stock 200HP just didn't give it any "oomph" at all, with no real top end at all and a little bit of a struggle to get on plane. I had trim tabs which was nice, but that doesn't add power. Like I said, it's a heavy hull, especially for a 21 footer........I wished it had the optional 5.7, because I think that would have been a minimum to get what I like out of a boat's performance. Sold it because an Express Cruiser didn't fit our needs, but my opinion of the performance is the same regardless.
 
RichardS said:
Well, the 215EC isn't meant to be a speedboat, but I found it's stock 200HP just didn't give it any "oomph" at all, with no real top end at all and a little bit of a struggle to get on plane. I had trim tabs which was nice, but that doesn't add power. Like I said, it's a heavy hull, especially for a 21 footer........I wished it had the optional 5.7, because I think that would have been a minimum to get what I like out of a boat's performance. Sold it because an Express Cruiser didn't fit our needs, but my opinion of the performance is the same regardless.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input!

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I concur with RichardS...awesome boat, but always felt sluggish when trying to get on plane. Usually only had beach gear and 2 kiddies with us so it wasn't due to load. I had the '96 model and it was a perfect day trip bay boat.
 
My buddy has one with the 5.0, underpowered.............hard to get on plane with 2 people.
 
I had the 5.7L in my 215EC......I had no issues with power or getting on plane.....

cliff
 
What's the horse power and drive on the boat you're looking at?

My 225 Weekender (same boat but with a swim platform, so more weight, and that in the stern) has the 5.0L (240hp in my model year) with the BIII drive, and I've never felt it was underpowered. The 5.7L option would have been a bonus, but mine's not underpowered without it.
 
I agree with lawndoctor. We have a 215 Weekender and dry weight is 4770 lbs. Powered by 5.0 MPI 260hp with an Alpha 1 drive. Definitely do not think it is under powered. One tip - you cannot try to get on plane gradually. When we took delivery of the boat we were instructed to give it a lot of throttle right out of the hole - 3200 - 3500 rpms. Once on plane then back off the throttle to a comfortable cruising speed.
 
lawndoctor said:
What's the horse power and drive on the boat you're looking at?

My 225 Weekender (same boat but with a swim platform, so more weight, and that in the stern) has the 5.0L (240hp in my model year) with the BIII drive, and I've never felt it was underpowered. The 5.7L option would have been a bonus, but mine's not underpowered without it.
Click to expand...
5.0, Alpha

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Buckeye Boater said:
I agree with lawndoctor. We have a 215 Weekender and dry weight is 4770 lbs. Powered by 5.0 MPI 260hp with an Alpha 1 drive. Definitely do not think it is under powered. One tip - you cannot try to get on plane gradually. When we took delivery of the boat we were instructed to give it a lot of throttle right out of the hole - 3200 - 3500 rpms. Once on plane then back off the throttle to a comfortable cruising speed.
Click to expand...
That is what I have done with every boat I've owned. Hammer down and then back off. I do that now with my 300 Weekender.

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Just sold my 88 300 Weekender and bought a 2001 215, will pick it up on Sunday. Can't wait!!!


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In case anyone is interested, here are the stats on my boat taken yesterday on the run to winter storage.

Conditions
Fuel tank full
FW tank empty
1 person aboard
Light load of gear aboard
Bimini closed
Drive trimmed up slightly at WOT, trimmed full down otherwise
Zero trim tabs
Wind and current negligible

4400 RPM (WOT)
43.5 MPH (37.8 KN)
19.31 GPH
2.25 MPG (1.96 NMPG)

3200 RPM
27.8 MPH (24.2 KN)
8.60 GPH
3.23 MPG (2.81 NMPG)

3000 RPM
25.1 MPH (21.8 KN)
7.93 GPH
3.17 MPG (2.75 NMPG)
 
Last edited:
lawndoctor said:
In case anyone is interested, here are the stats on my boat taken yesterday on the run to winter storage.

Conditions
Fuel tank full
FW tank empty
1 person aboard
Light load of gear aboard
Bimini closed
Drive trimmed up slightly at WOT, trimmed full down otherwise
Zero trim tabs
Wind and current negligible

4400 RPM (WOT)
43.5 MPH (37.8 KN)
19.31 GPH
2.25 MPG (1.96 NMPG)

3200 RPM
27.8 MPH (24.2 KN)
8.60 GPH
3.23 MPG (2.81 NMPG)

3000 RPM
25.1 MPH (21.8 KN)
9.12 GPH
2.75 MPG (2.39 NMPG)
Click to expand...

What motor do you have?


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