carguy79ta

@BoardCo, very well done.

Depends on if you want to maximize the potential of the boat. I have a 257, bought in 17, with 1000 lead. Added the lead after 2 months. Is it required? No. It makes thewave that much better. We typ havve a crew of 3 or 4.

Not sure what the locker bags actually are. I run 1000 lead with 100 under each locker bag near the front of the bag, then 400 each side just in front of that. The wave is like freaking huge. Also run the bow sack. Everything full and overfull.

I am thinking about winterizing my '17 257 myself this year. Has anybody done this yet themselves? I have my shop built so I can work on it at home as opposed to trying to do it at the lake with limited tools/time. I am going to check a service manual and talk to my dealer also. Besides saving some coin, I will save hauling it 200 miles ea way, and having to make a hard call on when my season is over. Thanks!

Hi guys, been very busy with life. Winterizing now. Boat is in shop so no probs. I changed oil and filter, worked great with surflo extractor. pulled all of the 9 blue plugs, no probs. The tyranny one was a biotch. Used compressed air to blow out the heater core lines. Gently, so I wouldnt burst the HC. Am going to check the impeller, easy access with the locker panel and top locker panel support rail out. Going to pour pink AF in heater core lines also want to do the motor just to be sure. Which house would you all suggest pouring AF into? @wheels, my fake lake doesn't cover the brass strainer all the way, so I cant suck it up that way...I guess..yours did?? The fuel filter access is going to be tough, will prolly have to remove another side panel, which I am not sure how big the panel is.

Thanks! Prolly going to drain and fill with RV antifreeze, then do the oil and all filters in march..

I understand what the website says, but @Darkside and others said, was that the factory shipped out bigger bags after they had already taken possession of their boat because Fineline figured the boat needed more weight. I am assuming I already have the larger sacs since my 17 arrived a couple months after Darside's did.

@Darkside said that Fineline sent him larger bags after he took delivery of his '17 257. My wt calcs.. Boat plus full fuel 7800 per bosshogg. Ballast with larger(?) bags 6150 Crew, Gear, anchors toolset, etc 1000 Lead 1000 Total 16000 or so

Imgur works....waiting for me to winterize it. Shop is heated tho. Life threw me a curve ball, so I havent had the time.

I came from an 15 A22, in all fairness it was an awesome boat, , did load it with 4k ballast. Also the dealer was great. And the 2 pairs of revs410 speakers . Buuttt..I wanted more. Researched the big boats and the ri257 is the heaviest combo of dry wt. + stock ballast. Add 1000 lead and the wave is unparalleled. I figure with a crew of 5, we gross 16000, using Bosshog's scale ticket for boat and fuel. @BoardCo, can you clear something up for me? I am under the impression, that Fineline upped the transom and both rear lockers by 200 lbs. (I have a 17 Ri257) If so that would be 6150 of stock ballast. Is this true? I just want to make sure my bragging rights are accurate.

I have the 2829 prop on my 257. 16x15 with .075 cup, I also run 1000 lead. It generally does okay. Have thought about getting the 16x13 prop , but havent.

What was your speed? Looks great!!(also the wave!)

I didnt get a table with mine..

I dont know about the fi personally, but on my ri 257 with 1000 lead, I have not hydrolocked ever. My swim platform is 6 inches underwater. I generally dump ramfill before we take a swim break or tie up, and leave pnp full. One time, we floated for an hour with 4 of us on the back of the boat fully ballasted(I forgot to empty ramfill), no probs. I also have a buddy with a fi23 he put a lot of lead in the transom, and his swim platform was prolly 12in under water(he said). It did hydrolock. He pulled the plugs cranked it over to pump out the water, then put the plugs back in and it started. He then went on to finish the day, no probs. Doing what the dealer says is no probs. It takes 60 sec or so to empty ramfill. That is our 'rule'

I have a '17 257 and highly recommend it. If you go that route, get all the ballast options, including the front sack and rear transom. I have also put 1000 lead in under the rear seats. We typically have a small crew, 2-4. The wave is massive. See short vid. Me surfing, wife and daughter in the boat. With lead. When the transoms bag is full, I dont think you can fit boards back there, never tried tho. I know you can fit them in if the rear transom bag is empty. I dont use CATS much, but would prolly always order with it.

Wonder if I need to lube my ramfill gates on my 17 257..(??)thinking prolly do..

As in "touched in the head"?

Yep they are iridium. Also pcm has an impeller for 60, and Kelly, I think, has one for 35. Will prolly go with kelly.

Thanks for the replies. Found the sparkplugs on Amazon for $6 ea. Do you use the PCM branded plugs, or the automotive 41-114 plugs. On pcm website they are about 15/ea. Thanks

Yeah I will start buying the stuff I need. Do you all get your filters, plugs, etc from your dealer? or online somewhere. Thanks for all your help.

I dont know where the 2nd plug is. A while back, I looked in all the access hatches and couldn't find it. I guess I will crawl under the trailer and find it that way. Thanks! Also I will run a fake lake and fog the engine. Do you guys do that? I dont do that on cars tho.

I know you dont want a 2500 diesel, but they can tow anything and I get 17+ commuting thru hills and have clocked 22 going to the lake, it was flatter. All hand calcd. I have a 200hp time which I always run, even when towing the 257. I have a13Ram, my wide has a 18 Dmax and her normal driving says 19.5 to 20. We have 800m trip on a month and will take her truck and I will hand calc the mpg....well my 2c.

Thanks guys I downloaded the pcm manual, it looks like what you said @wheels. I will also change the spark plugs and oil and impeller and whatever else they reccomend in the manual. I think the divider between the transom and engine compartment can be removed to better gain access (??). Also do we have to do anything to the bags and hard tanks? My dealer also dumps some antifreeze in the hull since there is always some water in there. Sounds like a good idea. I will keep the battery tender plugged in. Any other thoughts?

I am thinking about winterizing my '17 257 myself this year. Has anybody done this yet themselves? I have my shop built so I can work on it at home as opposed to trying to do it at the lake with limited tools/time. I am going to check a service manual and talk to my dealer also. Besides saving some coin, I will save hauling it 200 miles ea way, and having to make a hard call on when my season is over. Thanks!

I also agree with 4x4 for pulling up the ramp. If you change and go HD diesel, you can pull up a ramp in 2wd. I do with my 2500 Ram (257 with lead) no probs. I had a halfer to pull my Axis and had to put it in 4wd to pull it out.