06 Sabre numbers

[1bassfan]

I am finished with the 2 hour break in period but not the 10 hour break in period. I have an 06 Mercury 150 xr6 with a 24p Tempest. I got the boat up to 63 gps with my partner and I, almost a full tank of gas, and with a tournament load today at wot turning 5600 rpms. The water had a slight chop to it. Does anybody know if after the 10 hour break in period is over will I gain any speed? Mercury recommends after the initial 2 hour break in period that you dont drive the motor at the same rpms for no longer then 10 minutes.

[Bass Cat Boats]

Once you are out of the double oil mode, you pretty well “get what you get”. The motor might well loosen up a bit more, the rings might seat a bit better, the cylinder-to-cylinder crankcase seals might seal better and loosen up a bit more, over time. But you are basically not going to see much more performance. The only proviso is that for the remainder of the break-in period, they want to restrict how the motor is run until the final seating has completed, before you make those long runs.Note that running at WOT is actually not as hard on the motor as running in the 4000 RPM range or so, for that carbed non-EFI motor. Timing is advanced all the way, but the motor is starving for fuel/air. Thats one of several reasons they want you to vary the speed for a while.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

[Bass Cat Boats]

On an XR-6 you may gain a bit in time, though most will come from adjusting your set up. OT57 has given you the ins and outs on the engine itself. They also pump a bit more oil into these to make them live longer at various speeds. The top end advancement will not increase any, and fuel will be the same. Thus the break in gain is minimal. Try moving that plate around a little bit, assuming you have a Jackplate. Some models of the Sabre do not have plates, and they will be running as is. We would not invest in a plate for a mph or more if you do not have one. BCB

[TnSabre]

It sounds like you are getting some good speed already. I played w/ my 03 Sabre w/ 03 150xr6 setup for a year. I adjusted my plate and ran a 23 and 25 Tempest and a 24, 25, & 26 Trophy on mine. The best speed I had was w/ the 25 Trophy, I turned it a little over 6100 rpms and got 71.9 gps mph out of it w/ a light load and 1/4 tank of gas. Loaded down w/ partner, gas, and gear I would run the 24 Trophy and I could see average speeds from 67-69 and from what Ive read on here my xr6 seemed to be a little on the strong side from the average xr6. Thats why I said you are getting some good speeds already and I would say you are very close w/ your setup now.

[Bass Cat Boats]

I have the same rig, now 1 year old. 06 Sabre/05 XR6. I am running a 23 Tempest that came with the rig from the factory and after adjusting the jack plate a few times can run 66 mph loaded, sometimes give or take up to 2 mph depending on the water. I found that the motor works best a little lower than the other threads I have seen. I had to lower the motor to get rid of the torque and the whole rig handled better. I still may not have the motor height adjusted perfect but am getting close.

[Bass Cat Boats]

You are close MacBassJudge…BCB

[oldtimer57]

your numbers are incredibly good.1. you are running at just under 8% prop slippage, where 10% is considered very good.2. getting an XR6 up to 6100 is a non-trivial task. They have an exhaust tuner that goes from the exhaust plate all the way down to just above the lower unit exhaust outlet, not to mention reduced compression, etc. Thats a very difficult number to reach. I had a “warmed up” XR6 that would pull a 30″ chopper, but it would not turn a 24″ laser to 6000. Almost acted like it had some sort of electronic governor on it, although I had removed the rev-limiter (an ignition retarder) already…BCB Memo on OT57s comment. We generally use that 8% number in calculating slippage on all BCB hulls, except the P4.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

[dweller01]

Same setup here. 23 tempest with T load and partner is around high 50s to 61gps. Just myself is around 63 to 65.Jason Desertdweller.com Get Your Bass in the Boat!

[TnSabre]

oltimer, I know my numbers are hard to believe, but I had other people drive the boat including the mechanic at the dealership I puchased the boat from and they all said that motor was very strong. Im not mechanic and I do not pretend to be one. All I can go on is what the gauges told me and what the gps read. I thought my tach might be off, but the mech. said “NO” to that when I left it with him and he test drove it a couple of times. One of the other guys I fish with has a bullet w/ a merc 280 on it and he drove the boat and said that was the funnest and fastest stock 150 he had ever seen. He said it ran more like a 200 and they even had a rumor going around for a little while that I had 150 stickers on a 200 when I first started a few of the local wildcats. I no longer have the boat, but I sure do miss driving it. My new PII is flying a small jet on autopilot and that Sabre I had was like flying a kite.

[oldtimer57]

I dont doubt your numbers. I personally drove an Allison with a bone-stock 150XR6 with a 28″ chopper Allison modified and sold back in the early 90s, and it broke 80 mph on radar, with me driving and holding the radar gun. I found it hard to believe, but I saw it. And no, it wasnt a 200 in 150 clothing, it was _my_ XR6 that we were playing with. Just not my boat.I was just pointing out that your numbers are very good. Lots of explanations, from a motor with tight tolerances, which happens, to a prop that is dead on with pitch, rake and cup, etc…70 isnt impossible. Just rare.congrats… 2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200

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