220 DA thread

Those things work great on mine - they were already on when I bought the boat... just figured they were standard equipment with the rope locker underneath! Of course with a 19 year old boat, you never know what's been added or changed.
Wouldn't mind a windlass, but the cost/benefit ratio doesn't work for me. We end up with shore anchors or tied to a bigger boat overnight most of the time anyway.
 
BTW, many following this list may have already done this sort of thing, but we added a decent battery setup this year and the results help my wife and I relax a little more on weekend trips.
Just made a setup with two larger house batteries and a third starting battery on a separate circuit via an automatic battery isolator - replacing the standard manal battery switch.
Maybe it sounds stupid for something designed to be transparent to make me happy, but the piece of mind from running 3 fans, cabin lights and a fridge off and on a 3 day trip without worrying about starting up in the morning to face 4 knots of current turns out to be surprisingly pleasant!

(of course it's entirely possible I just burn too much electricity)
 
Kerry

Could you take some photos of your anchor setup? I was looking to see where you mounted it on the bow and if you had a door for your anchor locker. I do not have a door on mine and didnt know if I should add one or just tie the rope to my rail.
 
Hi all, I am new to this site it looks like alot of help. I have a 1990 220 DA with a 2006 5.0 MPI
 

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Thanks Mark..yeah I read through the whole thread and found lots of good info and ideas.

There is alot that I want to do to my 220 starting with the extended platform, it looks like it ads alot of usable space.
 
wkskate03 said:
Thanks Mark..yeah I read through the whole thread and found lots of good info and ideas.

There is alot that I want to do to my 220 starting with the extended platform, it looks like it ads alot of usable space.
Click to expand...
Hi, and welcome. I was wondering: How much cost an engine like yours in USA? I have a 5.0 carb. model with only 220 HP, and would like to have a MPI. But it's rather expencive over here.

Greatings
Thomas
 
The cheapest I have found here with a brand new Alpha drive are in the $9,000 to $11,000 range.
 
That sounds about right...I have the receipt from the person I bought it from and he paid $8,000 for it installed. I still have the original alpha out drive so not sure what the package price would be. I will say that with the extra horse power the boat performs way better, my dad had a 220 DA with a 4.3 in it, and it took forever to get on plane with just enough stuff for a weekend trip and if I can remember correctly the top end was only about 30 mph, I am getting 46 on gps at wot.

-Dustin
 
Also, if anyone has any knowledge about the smartcraft gauges and how difficult it would be to install them, I would appreciate the input. I have read that my engine is compatible.

-Dustin
 
Re: seat and swim platform

Marckmann said:
The swim platform is great. It is not a giant trim tab. I have noticed no difference in the performance of the boat while moving. I have noticed a great difference while anchored. We have so much room now. The ladder is now under the platform and in the middle. We don't have to work around it anymore. I feel as if I have gained lots of square footage on the back in of the boat. From the looks of the swimplatform you would think it would get in the way--but the guys at swimplatforms.com know what they are doing and it is nothing but a wonderful addition.

The seat is very basic. It is attached to the raised section where the old front seat was attached. The front seat is still attached the same way--so if I want to go back and can just unscrew the new seat and presto the boat is exactly the way it used to be. All you need to do is flip the old seat back into place.

We made the seat in our living room one evening with marine vinyl (purchased from a local fabric store), foam, a staple gun, a 2X8 and some 2X4s. We painted the boards white and also purchased some netting to hold additional items in under the seat. We hold two lifejackets and koozies under the new seat. We are thinking about naming our boat some sort of redneck name since we custom make our own seats now. You might also notice that the seat is much higher than the older one that is now flipped backwards. We "designed" it this way. We always stood up or sat on one knee. I believe it is about 6 inches higher than the old seat. We also used about 4 inches of foam--so it is nice on you over the roughest waters. But I no longer have a backrest. I don't mind--I am boating in Iowa so no worries.

We did construct the seat too long the first time and had to cut off about 2 inches to allow for room for the controls on the starboard side of the boat. So the seat is about two inches shorter than the other two chairs. Overall I think we spent less than $100.00 on everything for the new seat.

I will attach another picture. Hopefully this will help.
Click to expand...

I like the helm seat idea, what are the dimensions of the storage area created underneath?
 
jamfred said:
...Could you take some photos of your anchor setup? ...
Click to expand...

Sure - but it will be a couple weeks, sorry 'bout that. The boat is stored closer to the Ohio river, our usual adventure, an hour away. Next weekend is for jeeping... but we surely can't go without the boat therapy longer than that.

If you don't want to wait to mount it, the brackets are set up such that the anchor lies perpendicular to the bow, as close to the edges as practical. They are mounted such that you have to slide the anchor to one side or the other (into the depth of the brackets) to remove or install it. If memory serves (often refuses to do so) the mounting bolts are reinforced on the underside in the rope locker with a plate or large washers. There's also some kind of sealant (caulk or silicone?) under and trimming the brackets.

Hope that helps...
 
jamfred said:
Kerry

...and if you had a door for your anchor locker. I do not have a door on mine and didnt know if I should add one or just tie the rope to my rail.
Click to expand...

Shoot, didn't see the second part of your question. Yes, I do have a door on the rope locker under the bow (interior). The line feeds through a capped hole on the deck, and it's the perfect place to store it, although fishing it through isn't always the most enjoyable part of the trip. There's a mirror/door inside that is so hard to pull open that if the previous owner hadn't told me to yank on it, frankly, I may have decided it didn't open!

Anyway, I'll get a pic of that too...
 
Does any of you 220SD owners, run with a Mercruiser 5.0 220 HP?
I am not going as fast as i expected, and would like to hear about your experience.

It would be fun to hear about speed experience from other engines aswell :grin:

Rigth now i am going 30 mph max. (26 knots) at 4200 rpm.
I have a 15" prop.

Greetings
Thomas
 
Klopf said:
Does any of you 220SD owners, run with a Mercruiser 5.0 220 HP?
I am not going as fast as i expected, and would like to hear about your experience.

It would be fun to hear about speed experience from other engines aswell :grin:

Rigth now i am going 30 mph max. (26 knots) at 4200 rpm.
I have a 15" prop.

Greetings
Thomas
Click to expand...

Im not sure if we can answer this correctly because this is the DA thread and not the SD thread. I know it is all dependent on prop pitch as well as diameter, outdrive gearing, and altitude. I know up here in denver I am running a 16" x 13 pitch prop and roughly 25-30 mph due to the altitude of 6000ft. If I was back in the midwest I would be running a 14.5"x17 pitch prop at around 42mph with my 220DA. I would recommend calling your local prop shop for help because they are the pros and will know what to do. Hope that helps a little bit.
 
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Klopf said:
Does any of you 220SD owners, run with a Mercruiser 5.0 220 HP?
I am not going as fast as i expected, and would like to hear about your experience.

It would be fun to hear about speed experience from other engines aswell :grin:

Rigth now i am going 30 mph max. (26 knots) at 4200 rpm.
I have a 15" prop.

Greetings
Thomas
Click to expand...

I'm getting 46 MPH with a 21 pitch prop and 260 HP

Dustin
 
jamfred said:
Im not sure if we can answer this correctly because this is the DA thread and not the SD thread. I know it is all dependent on prop pitch as well as diameter, outdrive gearing, and altitude. I know up here in denver I am running a 16" x 13 pitch prop and roughly 25-30 mph due to the altitude of 6000ft. If I was back in the midwest I would be running a 14.5"x17 pitch prop at around 42mph with my 220DA. I would recommend calling your local prop shop for help because they are the pros and will know what to do. Hope that helps a little bit.
Click to expand...

Arent the 1989-91 220 DA and sundancer the same thing? I think there was only the DA but I am could be wrong.

Dustin
 
Saw another 220DA thread discussing props, speed and fuel 'economy' somewhere... I don't have a GPS so can't really say, but other people running the 5.7L claim to be getting into the 40+ range at WOT and light loads.
Mine's got a new motor that was supposedly rated for 290HP, and I can get 4600rpm with a 14x17 prop on a good day, so... whatever that means. Don't know my true top speed, but seems to keep up and pass other cruisers (no not inviting anyone to school me with a supercharged twin screw, haha, just an observation) - but it's quick and light for its class but heavy enough to blast through chop that lighter boats need to slow down for.
No, not a speedster, but even though my personality will always want more speed the boat doesn't disappoint.
 
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