I CAN'T DRIVE 55!!

[Joesfreezing]

I have a problem folks! My newly purchased 175hp '99 Sugar Sand Tango will only hit about 37mph! Apparently as we discovered yesterday, it's still fast enough to toss my 13 year old daughter right off the side into Vallecito Reservoir.....?
But seriously, it advertises as being able to hit a little over 50mph. I understand that Vallecito is nestled in at about 8,000ft but I bought her from a gentleman that lives at about 6,500ft and he claims to have had it up to 50.
Soooooo yeah, what do you think? maybe the carbs need cleaning or re-jetted?

 

[Dave burke]

How big is the boat? For comparison, my 2009 Sea Doo Sportster (looks like a similar design to yours) is 155HP and it tops out at 42mph. I’m at 1500 ft.

When I bought mine, the dealer said the next size engine (205HP) would add maybe 5 mph.

Let’s see what others who run at very high elevations say but it feels like 50 mph might be a stretch.

 

[Brad460]

Change the spark plugs...

 

[Joesfreezing]

How big is the boat? For comparison, my 2009 Sea Doo Sportster (looks like a similar design to yours) is 155HP and it tops out at 42mph. I’m at 1500 ft.

When I bought mine, the dealer said the next size engine (205HP) would add maybe 5 mph.

Let’s see what others who run at very high elevations say but it feels like 50 mph might be a stretch.

It's 175hp and 16ft long. Of course they clocked that speed at sea level so I'm not expecting that top speed, just more than 37

 

[Joesfreezing]

Change the spark plugs...

That sounds like an obvious answer that I hadn't thought of, considering it's a 2 stroke I suppose it's even more critical to perform that service....think it'll make that big of a difference? it's not like it has any apparent incomplete combustion or am I barking up the wrong tree with that logic? IDK the only other machine I have that's 2 stroke is my chainsaw....

 

[OrangeTJ]

At 8,000 feet, your 175 hp (at sea level) engine is probably more like 130 hp - perhaps less depending upon other factors that impact density altitude (temperature, humidity, etc.). I have no experience wth that particular boat but I'd imagine 40ish is probably in the right ballpark for top speed. Of course, you also need to ensure you have your fuel:air mixture set properly, have good clean plugs, etc.. But I would not expect 50 mph.

 

[Joesfreezing]

Thanks!
Do you have any experience with "power chips" for Mercury engines? Wondering if that may help a little.

 

[tdonoughue]

Also, in a 17' boat with those HP, the loading and amount of fuel on board will make a difference. You very easily may find that with just you and 1/2 a tank of gas you can get to 45ish...

 

[Joesfreezing]

That's a good point. I'll test that theory here in a couple hours and report back!

 

[snowguru]

I have had four of these boats ,they do between 45 and 50, check make sure your impeller is in good shape ,what are you pulling for rpm? Should be 4800 to 5000, 8000 is a lot of elevation I would think you should jet it.there is a sugar sand Facebook page a lot of information there

 

[Joesfreezing]

Hey thanks!
I think that's about where I'm at with RPM. Taking it to Powell tomorrow so we'll see how she does at 4K