Questions about my 200BR...operating temp, alarm, rough ride

[bighorse]

I finally got the opportunity to launch my new to me 2003 200BR. The water was fairly choppy, but this might be the roughest riding 21-foot boat I've ever been in. My 1987 Bayliner 2250 Cobra would have handled this water with no effort at all, but the 200 was very rough. I varied my speed everywhere between 20-50 and I couldn't find a speed that wasn't uncomfortable. Does this boat have a reputation for riding rough, and would Smart Tabs noticeably improve the ride?

My operating temperature was running about 175 in cool water. This is 15-25 degrees warmer than I'm accustomed to seeing in a boat. Is 175 degrees normal for a 5.0 MPI?

While I was idling at the ramp waiting for my wife to back in the trailer, I got a double beep alarm three times in probably a 10 minute span. My oil pressure showed to be fine, my gear drive oil was midway between Min and Max, the operating temperature was 175 (although it was running 175 earlier and I heard no alarm then), and the engine ran and idled just fine. This evening, I looked in the bilge and there was water a couple inches above the top of the bilge pump. Does this boat have a bilge alarm, or was this alarm telling me something else?

Thanks.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I finally got the opportunity to launch my new to me 2003 200BR. The water was fairly choppy, but this might be the roughest riding 21-foot boat I've ever been in. My 1987 Bayliner 2250 Cobra would have handled this water with no effort at all, but the 200 was very rough. I varied my speed everywhere between 20-50 and I couldn't find a speed that wasn't uncomfortable. Does this boat have a reputation for riding rough, and would Smart Tabs noticeably improve the ride?

My operating temperature was running about 175 in cool water. This is 15-25 degrees warmer than I'm accustomed to seeing in a boat. Is 175 degrees normal for a 5.0 MPI?

While I was idling at the ramp waiting for my wife to back in the trailer, I got a double beep alarm three times in probably a 10 minute span. My oil pressure showed to be fine, my gear drive oil was midway between Min and Max, the operating temperature was 175 (although it was running 175 earlier and I heard no alarm then), and the engine ran and idled just fine. This evening, I looked in the bilge and there was water a couple inches above the top of the bilge pump. Does this boat have a bilge alarm, or was this alarm telling me something else?

Thanks.

Well, I don't think you can fairly compare the ride of a 22 1/2 foot boat to one that is really only 19 1/2 or 20'. The extra length helps to span the waves.

Your alarm? Do you have Smartcraft? If so, what does it say?

Without Smartcraft, the alarm will only go off for high engine temp, low oil PSI or low drive lube. 175* is normal. No bilge alarm.

 

[flflatrate]

in an 2003 you probably have the older gauges which always say that the motor is about 10-20 deg hotter than it really is. you can have a tech plug in to the motor when you have it up to temp. and show you that it is around 160.