Info on Pulse 186 --> max power, best match?

[Tompulse]

Hi,
I have a '91 pulse 186 of which you can find a picture in the boat of the month election of I think may or june last year (the black one with the rude 225HO). I have quite a serious problem at the moment: the 140hp Yam I had behind it (I couldn't afford the 225HO at that moment, a pity cause I only liked a little ) blew end of december . (piston got stuck, driveshaft broke and took a look outside).

Now I am searching for a replacement obviously. Thinking of going above the US Coast guard) suggested 185hp which in my opinion is not enough to get it running as perfect as it should be able to. The question is however how much hp is perfect on this pulse? should I stop at 200-225 would the boat easily handle over 250hp? Money is obviously a critical point . (i.e. a nice mercury racing 250XS is slightly out of the question).

info which could be valuable --> the engine is most likely to end up at a 5" CMC Manual Lift. Is 5" enough or would you advise more with added hp?

Any advice is (apart from the suggestion to sell it, cause that ain't gonna happen ).

 

[jonnyspeed]

Go for it!

Hi,
I have a '91 pulse 186 of which you can find a picture in the boat of the month election of I think may or june last year (the black one with the rude 225HO). I have quite a serious problem at the moment: the 140hp Yam I had behind it (I couldn't afford the 225HO at that moment, a pity cause I only liked a little ) blew end of december. (piston got stuck, driveshaft broke and took a look outside).

Now I am searching for a replacement obviously. Thinking of going above the US Coast guard) suggested 185hp which in my opinion is not enough to get it running as perfect as it should be able to. The question is however how much hp is perfect on this pulse? should I stop at 200-225 would the boat easily handle over 250hp? Money is obviously a critical point . (i.e. a nice mercury racing 250XS is slightly out of the question).

info which could be valuable --> the engine is most likely to end up at a 5" CMC Manual Lift. Is 5" enough or would you advise more with added hp?

Any advice is (apart from the suggestion to sell it, cause that ain't gonna happen ).

Hi Tom.

I Just purchased a Pulse 186 myself. I too have wondered about the HP. If I remember correctly, someone around here put a 2.5 260hp Merc on about 10" or 11" setback jacked up around even with the pad. I think he was running well into the 80's. I'm sure he will chime in. I remember that he said that it ran very well. I think the key is setup.... Tight steering, solid mounts, right amount of setback and engine height. Other than that a good driver can get a fairly good turn of speed out of a 186. Good luck!

Shoot me a PM if you want to share setup info!

Jon

 

[Tompulse]

Hi Jon, :cheersthanks for your response.
what do you have behind your 186 at this moment?
260 sounds great. 225 HO did great as well over 75MPH (personally I thought the 51MPH with the 140 wasn't too bad (for the amount of horses) as well).
brilliant hull.

 

[KevinR]

A freind of mine is running a 91 pulse with a 2000 225 EFI hydrolic steering and 10 bobs hydrolic rapid jack 24 bravo II. Very stable with the bravo prop and gets around 75 with 4 people in it. Hope this helps. His boat is very stable and easy to drive I hope to someday get my 21BR pulsare setup as well. I'm getting close but I still need to tweek it some more.

Good Luck

 

[Tompulse]

A freind of mine is running a 91 pulse with a 2000 225 EFI hydrolic steering and 10 bobs hydrolic rapid jack 24 bravo II. Very stable with the bravo prop and gets around 75 with 4 people in it. Hope this helps. His boat is very stable and easy to drive I hope to someday get my 21BR pulsare setup as well. I'm getting close but I still need to tweek it some more.

Good Luck

I presume mean a 10" setback ?

I would very mucht like to get to 75mph with 4 people in it...... It didn't make that with the 225HO so thats really bounce:

 

[Tompulse]

By the way, newbie question: shaft length....

I have seen a nice 225 DI rude but the thing has a 25" shaft
Does anyone have any experience mounting a 25" shaft engine on a boat which is intended for a 20" ......

Would adding extra setback help? (adding a 6" static setback to the current 5 setback)

Thanks guys

 

[jonnyspeed]

By the way, newbie question: shaft length....

I have seen a nice 225 DI rude but the thing has a 25" shaft
Does anyone have any experience mounting a 25" shaft engine on a boat which is intended for a 20" ......

Would adding extra setback help? (adding a 6" static setback to the current 5 setback)

Thanks guys

Tom,

I'm not positive, but I think a 25" shaft would be even worse the farther you put it back... Imagine the boat viewed from the side running at speed... the boat is skimming along the near the surface of the water but the water actually rises slightly above the actual surface level as it moves past the transom.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the farther back you go the farther up you can/need to go (to a point). So a longer shaft would make it that much more difficult.

You could always just look for a 20" lower unit for that motor and swap them out.

-Jon

 

[KevinR]

Yeah I meant 10" of set back. Not sure why you couldn't get 75 with the 225 rude. My 96 21BR with 12" of set back, a 1996 225 EFI merc, and a 26 trophy plus can get 72 MPH on GPS with 2 people and 1/2 tank of gas. I know it can go faster but i also like to be stable when i have other people in the boat.

Good Luck

 

[JW]

You should run a 20" shaft on a Pulse transom. You could possibly run a 15" SS version, but it would have to be set back enough for the powerhead to clear the transom when tilting up. A 25" XL shaft wouldn't work well, be a big mistake to mount one on the Pulse.

 

[Tompulse]

Yeah I meant 10" of set back. Not sure why you couldn't get 75 with the 225 rude. My 96 21BR with 12" of set back, a 1996 225 EFI merc, and a 26 trophy plus can get 72 MPH on GPS with 2 people and 1/2 tank of gas. I know it can go faster but i also like to be stable when i have other people in the boat.

Good Luck

perhaps the fact it only had 5" of setback did it. added to this this 77 MPH was only achieved with one adult and one kid aboard. 3 adults and the kid did about 70

strange in the NL people are not too enthousiastic about setbacks and lifts. one does see the 5" manual and hydraulic lifts on faster boats like phantoms which are used for (ski)racing but for the rest hardly one is spotted. strange crowd those dutchies

 

[Tompulse]

Tom,

I'm not positive, but I think a 25" shaft would be even worse the farther you put it back... Imagine the boat viewed from the side running at speed... the boat is skimming along the near the surface of the water but the water actually rises slightly above the actual surface level as it moves past the transom.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that the farther back you go the farther up you can/need to go (to a point). So a longer shaft would make it that much more difficult.

You could always just look for a 20" lower unit for that motor and swap them out.

-Jon

You should run a 20" shaft on a Pulse transom. You could possibly run a 15" SS version, but it would have to be set back enough for the powerhead to clear the transom when tilting up. A 25" XL shaft wouldn't work well, be a big mistake to mount one on the Pulse.

Thanks guys, think I 'll keep on looking for a 20" shaft engine.

 

[Tompulse]

if I read all the suggestions I do not see any warnings in regards to going even above 250hp. Is there a limit constructionwise (other then the limit to which one builds outboards at the moment)?

 

[alwaysredee]

if I read all the suggestions I do not see any warnings in regards to going even above 250hp. Is there a limit constructionwise (other then the limit to which one builds outboards at the moment)?

The shaft length can cause a lot of stress on the transom as well. The longer shaft creates a different angle by which the engine torque pressure is loaded to the transom. Yeah, it's a good strong transom and all...but? Better to go with the 20 or you could find the need to become an advanced woodworker.

 

[JW]

Checkmate builds the transoms on all the boats to handle WAY more horsepower than they are rated for. Transoms do wear out, and the further you set an engine back the sooner it may wear out, but the wear depends on a LOT of other factors like moisture and running stresses.

I'd have no reservations with mounting a Merc 300XS on the back of a Pulse 186 on a 6" jack plate, as long as the transom is dry and not cracked or damaged in any way.

 

[83PREDICTOR]

Checkmate builds the transoms on all the boats to handle WAY more horsepower than they are rated for. Transoms do wear out, and the further you set an engine back the sooner it may wear out, but the wear depends on a LOT of other factors like moisture and running stresses.

I'd have no reservations with mounting a Merc 300XS on the back of a Pulse 186 on a 6" jack plate, as long as the transom is dry and not cracked or damaged in any way.

That would be awesome

 

[JW]

Would be awesome, and un-insurable, and a huge liability if you hurt anyone with it

 

[Tompulse]

Thanks guys, my pulse is in excellent condition so I have no worries inputting up a lot of hp on there (except for the insurance )
i'll keep you guys updated on what I find to hang on the back of it.

 

[Tompulse]

I am being offered the following engines anyone an idea how fast the pulse would be with them? (assuming I keep current 5" setback)

1998 Mercury 175 (std/carbs)
1996 Yamaha 200 (std / carbs) (fresh nicosyl/pistons etc)
1995 Yamaha 225 (std/carbs)
198? Merc 220 (?) Efi (Xri? low water pickup/nosecone)

Any advice on durability (as my Yammie blew up a few weeks ago, I have heard many stories similar to mine, confidence in yamaha is not getting any better)

Thanks guys?

 

[Tompulse]

any input is appreciated:cheers

 

[JW]

I'd have a tough time deciding between the '98 Merc 175 and the 225 Yamahammer....