New to me Sundowner 205

Beaudryvt · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:47 am **Posts:** 18

I bought a 2002 Sundowner 205, with a 5.0L VP SX stern-drive, a couple of weeks ago. This is my first boat and I am pretty excited about it. I has a few used boat issues that I could use some help with.

1) This boat seems to have nothing coming out of the hole. I don't think it could pull up a skier right now. It has a four blade 14.5' x 19 pitch prop on it. I was expecting more from the power plant that is on board.

2) May be related to #1. The boat seems to have a hard time getting on plane and then when it gets on plane staying there. When the trim is raised up a little the boat starts to porpoise. So I have to put the trim down. It is very touchy. At WOT it runs about 4400 rpm and I got about 42mph for top end. I am thinking of putting a three blade 14.5" X 19 pitch prop on, that is Four Winns says it came stock with.

3) My factory depth sounder is not giving me any readings if I am sitting still or traveling at no wake. It makes a lot of noise and is annoying. When I am moving along it seem start working but I am not sure about how accurate the reading is. I can't find the transducer that is supposed to be mounted somewhere in the bilge area.

4) I have a horn button, but when pushed there is no horn. I don't see one mounted to the outside of the boat anywhere. Is it possible that this boat never had an installed horn?

5) Is there an easier way to access the rear of the instrument cluster? I replaced the tachometer and I may need to do more but working from underneath with no sight is frustrating.

Thanks for any insight.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 6:26 pm

You might check the exhaust flapper valves in the top end of the Y pipe on each side. I had one come loose and partially block the exhaust flow as it was passing through the transom. The engine ran smoothly but could not make full power.

Others with a similar boat can give you a better idea on performance, but it does sound like you are not getting the performance you should. For a boat that is loaded heavy in the back, the porpoising when trimming up is common. You will notice that you can trim up more with a heavier load in the front.

The factory digital depth finders are not normally very good. There is most likely a round black transducer visible on the bottom of the hull near the center maybe 2 feet ahead of the transom. I would recommend a sonar graph. The digital units get confused over weeds and you don't know whether you are reading weed depth or the bottom. Digital units are usually lower power, and the transducer is mounted at an angle due to the deadrise of the hull.

The horn should be just ahead of the drivers windshield. It is recessed under a white plastic oval cover with several slots in it. Check fuses, and you may need to replace it.

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

The depth sounder, seems like it may be set to the wrong mode. Try messing with the mode button on it. Is it the Faria one? I think on mine the transducer was on the outside, stern, starboard side. Not inside the bilge.
The horn was on the port side at the bow, in the hull. Mine was a chrome oval grill. As for the switch, mine had a loose connection when I got it, under the switch. Check for 12v under there.

As for performance, I had trim tabs and if there was any purpoising deploying them eliminated it. Do you have tabs? If not, smart tabs are inexpensive and can help some with hole shot too from what some folks say.
Anyways, good luck with the boat and welcome!

hutch9900 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 22, 2011 7:14 pm **Posts:** 456

Oh and performance on my 5.0 MPI merc was about 48 mph WOT and 4900 to 5000 rmp.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Jun 09, 2014 9:12 pm

I can answer this very easily with two questions answered. Our boats are almost identical.

Carb or fuel injected?
How many people were on the boat?

If 5.0 carb, anything more than 4 people on that boat it's going to be a total dog doing anything. Wrong engine to haul a bunch of passengers. Not going to water sport anything unless there's only 2 adults onboard.

If 5.0GXi (270hp) it's not going to be a racecar, but it should do water sports just fine with 4-5 people onboard.

Beaudryvt · **Joined:** Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:47 am **Posts:** 18

It is a carb'd 5.0. The first time out we had 5 adults the second time it was just me and my wife. I have tried messing with the mode on the depth sounder and it doesn't even respond. It is a Faria one. I guess I will look at replacing it. I will check my horn out. I was looking for something more noticeable. Thanks for the input so far.

deafwish · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 5:27 am

How is your engine's health?
What timing are you running?
I'd also be checking the flappers if this model came from factory with them...

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jun 10, 2014 6:20 am

We have almost identical boats. Same size/weight/engine/cuddy.

If he's getting 4400rpm with that prop it's about right on power wise. Top speed should be right around 42-45mph and cruising at 3000rpm at 25mph. 5 adults is about all the boat can handle weight wise, and if the "heavy" ones are sitting all the way in the back it will be tough to get on plane.

You have two choices, under-prop it to get better low/mid performance but sacrifice fuel consumption and top speed OR swap out the 5.0 for a 5.7. You can get a reman with warranty 5.7 with 300hp anywhere for around $2200 shipped, and you'll just need a 4bbl marine carb ($500) and the labor of swapping the blocks out ($1200ish).

Look around the used market.
http://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/4501568670.html

Paying a mechanic "after hours" i bet the whole swap could be done for around $2000 with that motor AND you'll sell the 5.0 for $500-800. $1500 for an extra 100hp? Totally worth it. If I wasn't house shopping you'd see a thread on this site of me motor swapping my boat. Hopefully I can start on it this winter. 220hp in this sized boat is painful. 320hp would be insanely fun.

204Angler · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 11:50 am

I didn't see anyone else say it (sorry if I missed it) but the easiest way to access gauges on MINE way different boat/era is a panel in the cuddy that comes out with a few screws. It is obviously directly behind the instrument cluster.

ric · **Posted:** Tue Jul 22, 2014 12:10 pm

I found that 12* base timing works better than the factory 10*. No ping, more midrange power. It's how I'm getting 47mph WOT. My boat was at around 6* and it wouldn't get out of it's own way and maybe 42 tops. With 12* timing, smart tabs, and vensura prop I now have no problem getting a full load of 7 people on plane. Before all that? 4 people was max and it was still a struggle.

www.iFourWinns.com

New to me Sundowner 205

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