Texatl
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 80
- Reaction score
- 76
- Points
- 57
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2011
- Boat Model
- Limited
- Boat Length
- 24
Hi all-
I know, I know... another cavitation, loss of speed, gunk in the intake thread.
(and sorry its a long post, but I did try and do my home work first). Not new to boats, and not new to mechanical thingies (built/rebuilt lots of cars, trucks, motorcycles)
But, I have been searching and reading and still a little lost. My 2011 242 Limited is new to me and my first jet anything. Had it about 6 weeks. It is wet slipped at a marina, dirtiest water I have ever seen.
Been using it a bunch the first 4 weeks of ownership and its been great. Love the boat., family loves the boat. We love it, I love it, everybody loves it. It could hit 50-ish mph at WOT, cruise at 6k rpm at a comfortable 30mph. All was good. We have been busy the last couple of weeks. So its been 2 weeks since we have run the boat. This morning we head out for a day of fun and sun on the lake (5 of us, 2 adults 3 kids... which is about normal for us) and even at WOT it just barely makes 30mph. It won't go any higher. I noticed this because I was going to cruise at 6k rpm on our way to a cove and it wouldn't go above 20mph. Bewildered. There are 160 hrs on the engines (one has .5 more), all fresh water (my use and previous owners use).
The engine(s) also cut out twice over big wakes. First one was both engines (caught us by surprise), and then next time it was the port engine. (I did figure this out. top wasn't latched all the way and the bouncing popped it up enough to trip the cut offs). Solved
So I cut the trip short. Came home. Came here and did a bunch of searching and researching (thanks to you all!!!). Then went back to the marina, with tools and checked the following (along with a test quick run by myself to see if anything changed):
- Oil is good and about 1/2 way between low and full- clean and clear (Oil and filter change right when I picked it up)
- Engine bay is clean and looks great. All hoses, exhaust clamps, air intakes, air cleaners, exhaust, mufflers, hoses, clamps- look good. No water in engine bay and no fuel smell. Bilge blower and bilge pump working good.
- *Fuel - its full and I filled it up last day we used it. (filled it up at marina pumps, 87 octane, then did some slow speed action teaching my 13 year old how to drive) then put it away in its slip (2 weeks ago).
- Spark plug caps and wires look great. Didn't check spark plugs themselves due to not having the correct long enough socket (what size it it anyway? So I can buy a proper socket, its clearly not car sized plugs)
- Clean out ports were well seated. I pulled them to check for anything clogging that I could reach from the hole- nothing, nada.
- Doesn't overheat.
- Both Pissers are moving water, that does change pressure and volume as rpm increases/decreases
So- I am at a loss. I bolded Fuel above, because it was the only thing that changed, between. But, I cannot imagine it being the marina gas. If it was bad gas the whole marina would be flipping out. AND- see below... It hits max RPM fine. Meaning air/fuel/spark is ruled out. right??
I can pull plugs but I'm not thinking its that. Both engines will hit 7,200 - 7,500- ish RPM at WOT no problem. Doesn't miss at all. It pulls great and feels good torque wise (on the butt dyno) and it feels like the same power. Like rolling start at WOT feels the same. Its just doesn't go beyond 30mph.
Intake clogged at the opening? That cannot be reached from the clean out port? Should I pull the boat? Could the front of the intakes at the hull be clogged?
Could, maybe, the yucky lake water that has now gunked up my hull over the past 6 weeks really slow me down and hold me back by 20mph overall??
What am I missing? Did I do something stupid? Am I moron? Something I didn't check?
I am all for having a "oh duh" moment. In fact I would feel better if it was... cuz I am confused.
Thoughts? thanks in advance.
I know, I know... another cavitation, loss of speed, gunk in the intake thread.
(and sorry its a long post, but I did try and do my home work first). Not new to boats, and not new to mechanical thingies (built/rebuilt lots of cars, trucks, motorcycles)But, I have been searching and reading and still a little lost. My 2011 242 Limited is new to me and my first jet anything. Had it about 6 weeks. It is wet slipped at a marina, dirtiest water I have ever seen.
Been using it a bunch the first 4 weeks of ownership and its been great. Love the boat., family loves the boat. We love it, I love it, everybody loves it. It could hit 50-ish mph at WOT, cruise at 6k rpm at a comfortable 30mph. All was good. We have been busy the last couple of weeks. So its been 2 weeks since we have run the boat. This morning we head out for a day of fun and sun on the lake (5 of us, 2 adults 3 kids... which is about normal for us) and even at WOT it just barely makes 30mph. It won't go any higher. I noticed this because I was going to cruise at 6k rpm on our way to a cove and it wouldn't go above 20mph. Bewildered. There are 160 hrs on the engines (one has .5 more), all fresh water (my use and previous owners use).
The engine(s) also cut out twice over big wakes. First one was both engines (caught us by surprise), and then next time it was the port engine. (I did figure this out. top wasn't latched all the way and the bouncing popped it up enough to trip the cut offs). Solved
So I cut the trip short. Came home. Came here and did a bunch of searching and researching (thanks to you all!!!). Then went back to the marina, with tools and checked the following (along with a test quick run by myself to see if anything changed):
- Oil is good and about 1/2 way between low and full- clean and clear (Oil and filter change right when I picked it up)
- Engine bay is clean and looks great. All hoses, exhaust clamps, air intakes, air cleaners, exhaust, mufflers, hoses, clamps- look good. No water in engine bay and no fuel smell. Bilge blower and bilge pump working good.
- *Fuel - its full and I filled it up last day we used it. (filled it up at marina pumps, 87 octane, then did some slow speed action teaching my 13 year old how to drive) then put it away in its slip (2 weeks ago).
- Spark plug caps and wires look great. Didn't check spark plugs themselves due to not having the correct long enough socket (what size it it anyway? So I can buy a proper socket, its clearly not car sized plugs)
- Clean out ports were well seated. I pulled them to check for anything clogging that I could reach from the hole- nothing, nada.
- Doesn't overheat.
- Both Pissers are moving water, that does change pressure and volume as rpm increases/decreases
So- I am at a loss. I bolded Fuel above, because it was the only thing that changed, between. But, I cannot imagine it being the marina gas. If it was bad gas the whole marina would be flipping out. AND- see below... It hits max RPM fine. Meaning air/fuel/spark is ruled out. right??
I can pull plugs but I'm not thinking its that. Both engines will hit 7,200 - 7,500- ish RPM at WOT no problem. Doesn't miss at all. It pulls great and feels good torque wise (on the butt dyno) and it feels like the same power. Like rolling start at WOT feels the same. Its just doesn't go beyond 30mph.
Intake clogged at the opening? That cannot be reached from the clean out port? Should I pull the boat? Could the front of the intakes at the hull be clogged?
Could, maybe, the yucky lake water that has now gunked up my hull over the past 6 weeks really slow me down and hold me back by 20mph overall??
What am I missing? Did I do something stupid? Am I moron? Something I didn't check?
I am all for having a "oh duh" moment. In fact I would feel better if it was... cuz I am confused.
Thoughts? thanks in advance.
Last edited:
Wow. Ok. 
