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Author Topic:   180 Dauntless Engine Height.

livin posted 09-21-2009 04:06 PM ET (US)
I am new to Boston Whaler boats. I purchased a 2003 180 Dauntless a few week ago with a 115-HP EFI four-cycle motor. I think that this boat is a little under-powered, but I will have to live with it for now. Is there anything I can do to help with performance? The motor is mounted in the lowest position and the propeller is a Solas 13 1/2 X 15.
K Albus posted 09-21-2009 04:13 PM ET (US)
I have a 2002 Dauntless 180 with 2002 Mercury Optimax 135. When my boat was delivered by the dealer, the motor was mounted in the lowest position. I have moved it up two holes, which resulted in a measurable improvement in performance. I think that I still need to move the motor up another hole, but I haven't gotten around to it yet.
Check out this thread for the details of my testing and results: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006379.html
Tom W Clark posted 09-21-2009 06:37 PM ET (US)
I agree, raise that motor at least two bolt holes.
The use of a good stainless steel propeller will improve the boat's performance as well.
livin posted 09-21-2009 08:26 PM ET (US)
Thanks, I will plan on moving the motor up two holes this weekend.
Feejer posted 09-25-2009 08:42 AM ET (US)
Raise the engine up so you can see the cav plate while the boat is on plane. It could be buried and creating drag. I'll be raising my 150 up two holes over the winter on my 2007 180.
What is your WOT RPM?
Feejer posted 09-25-2009 08:45 AM ET (US)
Check this link out http://www.whalerparts.com/Diagrams/2003/180%20Dauntless/ PB180DA28-layout1.pdf
I wonder how the boat ended up with a 115? The smallest engine supplied with it was a 125
jimh posted 09-25-2009 09:07 AM ET (US)
In 2003 Boston Whaler was offering the 180 DAUNTLESS with the following engines:
--standard: Mercury 125-HP
--optional: Mercury 135-HP OptiMax
--optional: Mercury 150-HP OptiMax
Feejer posted 09-25-2009 09:41 AM ET (US)
I realize that...........thats why I asked.
jimh posted 09-25-2009 09:55 AM ET (US)
Excuse me for providing the information you already knew. I will try to never let that happen again.
Feejer posted 09-25-2009 10:00 AM ET (US)
Jim
I didn't me to be a smart ass, I had already looked up the information, that how I knew the 125 was the smallest factory installed engine.
livin posted 09-25-2009 09:46 PM ET (US)
Thanks all. I am not sure why it has the 115 on it, I found the original sale invoice with the owners manual. I am planning on moving motor to hole #3 this weekend. The tach goes to 6000 and I peg it at WOT, which I don't is right. The 115 is max 6000.
jimh posted 09-25-2009 11:23 PM ET (US)
I would not lament missing the 125-HP two-cycle Mercury. I think you are better off with the 115-HP four-cycle.
livin posted 10-07-2009 11:50 AM ET (US)
Well I moved the motor up two holes and took the boat out this pass weekend to the Gulf. Boat did seem to get on plane faster and there was no problems when running in the chop. I tried to look at where the ventilation plate was when running around 35 mph. My wife was at the wheel and she did not feel very good about me hanging around the stern very long, I think the motor still could be moved up one more hole. I am getting a small amount of water inside the upper cowel not as much as before I moved the motor up. I do not think this is normal or good for the motor. Anybody have any ideas on this?
thanks,
Michael
Tom W Clark posted 10-07-2009 01:45 PM ET (US)
Michael,
So, you are saying it is now mounted in the fourth set of holes (three holes up) and there is one more set of holes to go?
Yes, move it up and see. There should be no spray upwards into your cowl.
livin posted 10-07-2009 04:17 PM ET (US)
Tom, Let me see if I can get this right the motor is in hole #3 and there are 5 holes. I moved it from #1 to #3. A lot of this is all new to me. I have learned a lot from reading post here. I have to look at my steering cable to see if I can get one more hole (#4), I think I can if I can get the cable in the top part of the boot.
thanks,
Michael
Tom W Clark posted 10-07-2009 05:58 PM ET (US)
OK, you are now using the third set of holes, which is "two holes up".
Yes, raise it one more set of holes, by all means.
Feejer posted 10-08-2009 11:21 AM ET (US)
Keep in mind also you don't have to be running at 35mph to check the cav plate. The boat only needs to be planning which one mine is 17mph

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Author	Topic: 180 Dauntless Engine Height.
livin	posted 09-21-2009 04:06 PM ET (US) I am new to Boston Whaler boats. I purchased a 2003 180 Dauntless a few week ago with a 115-HP EFI four-cycle motor. I think that this boat is a little under-powered, but I will have to live with it for now. Is there anything I can do to help with performance? The motor is mounted in the lowest position and the propeller is a Solas 13 1/2 X 15.
K Albus	posted 09-21-2009 04:13 PM ET (US) I have a 2002 Dauntless 180 with 2002 Mercury Optimax 135. When my boat was delivered by the dealer, the motor was mounted in the lowest position. I have moved it up two holes, which resulted in a measurable improvement in performance. I think that I still need to move the motor up another hole, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. Check out this thread for the details of my testing and results: http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006379.html
Tom W Clark	posted 09-21-2009 06:37 PM ET (US) I agree, raise that motor at least two bolt holes. The use of a good stainless steel propeller will improve the boat's performance as well.
livin	posted 09-21-2009 08:26 PM ET (US) Thanks, I will plan on moving the motor up two holes this weekend.
Feejer	posted 09-25-2009 08:42 AM ET (US) Raise the engine up so you can see the cav plate while the boat is on plane. It could be buried and creating drag. I'll be raising my 150 up two holes over the winter on my 2007 180. What is your WOT RPM?
Feejer	posted 09-25-2009 08:45 AM ET (US) Check this link out http://www.whalerparts.com/Diagrams/2003/180%20Dauntless/ PB180DA28-layout1.pdf I wonder how the boat ended up with a 115? The smallest engine supplied with it was a 125
jimh	posted 09-25-2009 09:07 AM ET (US) In 2003 Boston Whaler was offering the 180 DAUNTLESS with the following engines: --standard: Mercury 125-HP --optional: Mercury 135-HP OptiMax --optional: Mercury 150-HP OptiMax
Feejer	posted 09-25-2009 09:41 AM ET (US) I realize that...........thats why I asked.
jimh	posted 09-25-2009 09:55 AM ET (US) Excuse me for providing the information you already knew. I will try to never let that happen again.
Feejer	posted 09-25-2009 10:00 AM ET (US) Jim I didn't me to be a smart ass, I had already looked up the information, that how I knew the 125 was the smallest factory installed engine.
livin	posted 09-25-2009 09:46 PM ET (US) Thanks all. I am not sure why it has the 115 on it, I found the original sale invoice with the owners manual. I am planning on moving motor to hole #3 this weekend. The tach goes to 6000 and I peg it at WOT, which I don't is right. The 115 is max 6000.
jimh	posted 09-25-2009 11:23 PM ET (US) I would not lament missing the 125-HP two-cycle Mercury. I think you are better off with the 115-HP four-cycle.
livin	posted 10-07-2009 11:50 AM ET (US) Well I moved the motor up two holes and took the boat out this pass weekend to the Gulf. Boat did seem to get on plane faster and there was no problems when running in the chop. I tried to look at where the ventilation plate was when running around 35 mph. My wife was at the wheel and she did not feel very good about me hanging around the stern very long, I think the motor still could be moved up one more hole. I am getting a small amount of water inside the upper cowel not as much as before I moved the motor up. I do not think this is normal or good for the motor. Anybody have any ideas on this? thanks, Michael
Tom W Clark	posted 10-07-2009 01:45 PM ET (US) Michael, So, you are saying it is now mounted in the fourth set of holes (three holes up) and there is one more set of holes to go? Yes, move it up and see. There should be no spray upwards into your cowl.
livin	posted 10-07-2009 04:17 PM ET (US) Tom, Let me see if I can get this right the motor is in hole #3 and there are 5 holes. I moved it from #1 to #3. A lot of this is all new to me. I have learned a lot from reading post here. I have to look at my steering cable to see if I can get one more hole (#4), I think I can if I can get the cable in the top part of the boot. thanks, Michael
Tom W Clark	posted 10-07-2009 05:58 PM ET (US) OK, you are now using the third set of holes, which is "two holes up". Yes, raise it one more set of holes, by all means.
Feejer	posted 10-08-2009 11:21 AM ET (US) Keep in mind also you don't have to be running at 35mph to check the cav plate. The boat only needs to be planning which one mine is 17mph