Max RPM on my 190 Sport?

bassadict69

Member
Feb 8, 2013
64
Benton, La
Boat Info
2012 190 Sport
Engines
4.3 mpi
How do I find the max RPM on my 2012 190 Sport with 4.3 liter 220hp engine?

I am planning to swap over to a High 5 prop and am wanting to make sure to get the correct pitch the first time.
 
4400-4800 is the WOT range. The over speed limiter engages at 4950 rpm.
 
Either I was reading it WAY wrong, or the tach sensor is WAY off...I could have sworn I was pushing 6k at WOT the other day. It will be about a week before I am off again to recheck it.
 
I finally finished my work week and had a chance to recheck my rpm's...

At WOT with just me in the boat and very little gear, fully trimmed up I am at 6200 rpm and about 58 mph per the guage (I know the guage isnt very accurate for mph).

At these readings I have hellacious bow lift and the only thing probably in the water is the very back of the boat and the lower unit. It even almost feels like a little chine walk, if that is even possible with a ski boat. The boat sounds perfect, and does not sound like it is pushing too many rpms. It sounds just like I would expect a good running boat to run. The numbers, though do not sound right.

The prop is a SS 21P Vengence prop.
 
I would check your tach. If it's really turning that high, it's just a matter of time before problems.
 
I'm pretty much a wuss when it comes to going WOT on my boat. Think I might have had it over 400O RPM once, and it wasn't for long. I do hammer the throttle when I'm puling up a (slalom) skier, but start to trim up and back off the throttle quickly once I'm on plane. I rarely sustain an RPM over 3300-3400 (slalom skier), and most of the time I'm towing wakeboarders or wakeskaters who are easy to pull up and don't want to go over 18MPH.
 
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I finally finished my work week and had a chance to recheck my rpm's...

At WOT with just me in the boat and very little gear, fully trimmed up I am at 6200 rpm and about 58 mph per the guage (I know the guage isnt very accurate for mph).

At these readings I have hellacious bow lift and the only thing probably in the water is the very back of the boat and the lower unit. It even almost feels like a little chine walk, if that is even possible with a ski boat. The boat sounds perfect, and does not sound like it is pushing too many rpms. It sounds just like I would expect a good running boat to run. The numbers, though do not sound right.

The prop is a SS 21P Vengence prop.
I have a 1990 180 BR, with a Merc 4.3. When I bought it last year, I was told that engine was a Jasper rebuilt engine and only couple years old at that time. The paperwork seemed to confirm that, though it showed it more like 3 years since it was installed. My tach too reads very high, I just don't think it is reading correctly really - if I hope it up all the way, it pegs out at 6K which is high as the tach goes, and runs 47 mph with just the wife and I in it. Now I normally cruise around 30-35, and seems like it is below 4K when at that speed, will have to check next time to be sure...
 
I finally finished my work week and had a chance to recheck my rpm's...

At WOT with just me in the boat and very little gear, fully trimmed up I am at 6200 rpm and about 58 mph per the guage (I know the guage isnt very accurate for mph).

At these readings I have hellacious bow lift and the only thing probably in the water is the very back of the boat and the lower unit. It even almost feels like a little chine walk, if that is even possible with a ski boat. The boat sounds perfect, and does not sound like it is pushing too many rpms. It sounds just like I would expect a good running boat to run. The numbers, though do not sound right.

The prop is a SS 21P Vengence prop.

The speedo isn't very accurate, sounds like your tach is messed up. If your boats a 2012, is it still under warranty? If you have an MPI engine it won't let you over speed, does an alarm sound at WOT? When I run the 21 vengeance I'm in the low 50s at 4600-4700 RPM.

If you use a GPS you get an accurate speed, can't trust the gauge.
 
I will take it in to the shop next week...I am almost positive it is not turning that high. No alarms are sounding.

I hit the "normal" rpm's at only very partial throttle. That definitely makes me think the tach is not set correctly. On my bass boat, there is a dip switch on back of the gauge, not sure on this one. It is under warranty so I will let the dealer figure it out.
 
I will check this weekend too. Went for a quick cruise tonight but didn't pay attention. I think WOT I'm around 5K on the tach. Trim about midway I'm showing 50 on the GPS (and somewhere between 5 and 60 on the speedo lol). I have the 4.3 MPI with a 19 Vengeance.
 
I had this happen after they replaced my tach for not being bright enough and I have seen other people on here with this problem Tach has to be set for 8 cylinders, not 6, changed mine it went from 5800 to right on the money at about 4600-4800. On the back of the tach there is a little screw that says 4,6,8. For the prop the high 5 I think NorCalGlenn on here said he went to a 19p with good results.
 
I had this happen after they replaced my tach for not being bright enough and I have seen other people on here with this problem Tach has to be set for 8 cylinders, not 6, changed mine it went from 5800 to right on the money at about 4600-4800. On the back of the tach there is a little screw that says 4,6,8. For the prop the high 5 I think NorCalGlenn on here said he went to a 19p with good results.

Bingo. Sounds like the switch just needs to be turned to the proper setting. Like Blaster mentioned, there's a reve limiter built into the ECM programming which would have kicked in. Besides, I've run lot's of these boats over and over, including the ones I've owned. You physically wouldn't be able to get that engine much higher than 5K w/o ventilating the prop... which you would know IMMEDIATELY.

You'll be able to see the switch (it's a rotary dial) by looking up through the storage bin by your knees. Make sure it's pointing to the "6P". Even if it is, move it around a bit to "exercise" it to make sure the contacts are clean.
 
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I am wondering if mine is the same way. I know the 4.3 Merc in my 1990 180BR is a Jasper rebuilt from about 3 years or so ago I understand. The original tach is in this boat far as I can tell, I am thinking maybe this boat when new might have had a 3.0 on it, but who knows. I have gone under the dash and looked at the back of the tach, but did not see any settings like mentioned. I just assume mine is not quite accurate. There is no way my engine is turning over 6K at full open, I would think things would not sound so smooth.
 
I know it sounds wrong, but you actually want it on 8 not 6, even though it is a 6 cylinder. There was another 190 sport owner had the exact same problem and moving it to 8 resolved his too. My is dead on where it is supposed to be at about 54mph right around 4800.
 
So tested mine out a bit. In fairly light chop I was wot yesterday at just a touch over 4k and around 45. Now I'm wondering if I'm missing out on another 800 rpm or so, or if the tach isn't accurate. Speed was GPS.
 
That sounds dead on for the speed. I have the 190 HP carb version and I maxed out at 51 on the GPS at 4600 rpm. Factory prop, full tank of gas and just me on the boat. Flat calm water and no wind.
 
Adjusted the tach setting...made a world of difference!

Me and my wife in the boat, calm winds, smooth water, 1/2 tank of gas and at WOT was at about 4600 on tach and about 56mph on speedo.
 

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