David

I would make sure it’s not something simple like a throttle cable. I would check to see if the throttle body opening all the way.

Last year we had a father jump in to save his son and both ended up drowning. http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20120907/NEWS0107/209070394/

Can the tabs be deployed at wakeboard speed? It would be really cool if the driver could clean up the wake when your boats not loaded evenly. I get tire of asking people to move to the other side.…

My Faria Depth gauge has air and water. If your boat has a paddle wheel then you already have a water temp sensor installed. I would just install a Faria Depth finder; I think you can pick up a complete kit for around $160.

What do you mean by bounce? I haven’t noticed this on my boat; we fill center ballast as soon as we hit the water. Are you running any ballast when this occurs?

One more, I can’t fit a full sized wakeboard in any of the storage areas. My wife’s board will fit under the observer’s seat but mine will not.

04- Elite V My wife hates the cooler location in the walkway; we always bring a separate cooler for drinks and food. The built in cooler is worthless. I dislike how the removable carpet sticks and leaves black crap all over.

Is that an oxygen sensor I see on exhaust of the newer PCM motors? If the ecm can adjust the fuel mixture on the fly that could save allot of fuel.

My V-drive started leaking last season; I had enough room to get the pan off and replace the gasket without pulling the v-drive. I think it’s a fairly common problem and easy fix. This might help. http://www.centurioncrew.com/index.php/topic/4350-walter-v-drive-removal-and-reseal/

They should rename the Portland boat show and call it the Active water sports show. I can believe all the manufactures that they are carrying now days. Boat prices seemed much higher this year; I don’t see how people can justify 80K for a toy that you use 3 months out of the year. I don’t think I will be upgrading any time soon.

As a former SUV driver I would recommend you pick up a used ¾ ton diesel quad cab short box. Test drives some trucks any brand just stay away from the 6.0l ford motor. Maybe even see about hooking the boat up and test driving it loaded down. I have an older f350 7.3L diesel; I get 21 on the highway, 15 in town and 13 towing. Now when towing I have to watch my speed in the passing lanes (My truck will easily do 80mph uphill while towing). I do not believe the load ratings on SUVs, I had an expedition 5.4L rated at 9800# towing capacity. It was painful to tow with, a constant fight around corners, steep downgrades would warp the brake rotors not to mention the gas pedal was always smashed to the floor while climbing hills. Good luck..

Did you try replacing the water pump on the front of the motor, not the sea water pump? When a water pump go`s out they make all kinda of racket. I don’t get how a cam could cause an over heating issue either. Did you loose compression in any of the cylinders? You would think the repair shop would pull the motor apart to figure out what was wrong before ordering a new motor. Sounds like you got a plan,Good luck on the new motor.

Every time you wanted to check the oil or look under the hood you would have to un-screw wing nuts and lift the entire hatch up? Not cool, seem like a step in the wrong direction.

Have you changed the impeller in the out drive? Start the boat on the fake o lake and see if you get water out the center of the prop.

Thank for the advice Supertdf, I just went out and turned the prop. I am getting some resistance but no squeaking. Its sounding like I may have a new project on my hands. Assuming I need to replace the cutlass, what the risk of running the boat for one more weekend? I have a 3 day camping trip coming up and would prefer not to tear into this thing until after our trip. My boat is an 2004 with 200 hours on it, do you think this type of ware is premature? Do you know off hand what size the cutlass bearings are? I want to get parts on order asap. Sorry for all the questions.