Hey Guys, Been a while coming with my destroyed lower unit….but it all came out for the good. Insurance covered the cost of a new lower unit, but I decided to use that money as down payment on a new 225HO. Got $3000 trade-in on top of the big insurance check. Check out that ETEC….looks pretty good on my Cougar! By the way, thats me hiding behind the seat (in blue). My boats not shy, but I am…hahah. Took a ride today! First startup alone was impressive. Almost silent at the turn of the key. Nothing compared to that throaty beast of the Johnson 225HO. I tried with a 28 Raker. Holeshot was good, but a little bow high compared to what I was used to with my 4blade 27 Renegade. I took it easy for the first 1/2 hour. Noticed crusing speed was excellent….3700-4000 RPM was looking at 45-50mph. Mid-range acceleration is incredible compared to the Johnson. It just leaps forward at the press of the hotfoot. I still wasnt sure if it was going to be faster yet. Still not fully accustomed to the 3 blade Raker, I had to drive it more than I was accustomed. The sun was really bright in my face…so it took extra concentration to be safe. Took it light until sun was behind me. When I finally decided to crank it up, with Hydraulic Jack about 1/2 way, I started to see the potential. Got it to 76.6MPH at 5500RPM! There was a little left to be had but I was coming up on a tug-boat so laid it back down. The fastest I had ever seen with the Johnson HO was 75.7. Now I saw 76.6 on the first trip, not even being sure how to drive it with that Raker. My wife even drove it to 70mph fairly easily. Hard to believe how much difference there is between this engine and my Johnson. It really seems like a brand new boat. Honestly, I think the 28 Raker 2 is too much prop. We had 40 gallons of gas and the wife and I… I will try it tomorrow with some water in the livewell. Then I will probably hand it back and get a 27 Tempest. 1st impression? Outstanding. Thanks, BassCatDanLast edited by Basscat Dan on October 20th, 2007, 2:21 am, edited 1 time in total.
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