www.iFourWinns.com

What is the top speed on your 2011 H180 with 135/190hp engine? If yes, which engine, how fast and was it measured by the speedometer or GPS?

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT

Mine is a 2009, which is virtually identical. I saw 40 mph on the speedo tonight, boat was full of fuel, and 3 people on board with the full canvas up. I have measured with gps, and have hit 43 mph with a lighter load of fuel, the full canvas down and just myself on board. That is with the 135hp Merc, turning a 20p enertia prop

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

With the 20p, did you gain more acceleration and/or top end?

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT

That's with a 19inch vengence stainless steel 3 blade prop 2 people on board, and who knows how much fuel with a 135 mercruiser.
Hope this helps and enjoy the new boat when it comes. BTW I think the speedo reads about 1or 2 mph fast but I have never checked against a gps

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Ardy, I think you are about right on with the 2mph faster on the speedo than GPS.

Dope, the difference with the 20P enertia was in cruising speed and top end. The boat is about the same out of the hole as it was with the aluminium I had on before (I think that was a 21P black max), but I gained about 2mph while on plane throughout the entire speed range of the boat. Only when it is heavily loaded does it lag a bit out of the hole (6 or 7 peeps on boat). Fine though once up on plane.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

Thanks Ardy and Chris. I appreciate it. Both of you have some sweet rides. It looks like im going to end up buying a SS 19"/20" prop myself. Chris, do you know if there is any major differences between the Enertia and Vengence?

Four Winns confirmed that they no longer have the 4.3L Mercruiser / Volvo engine in stock because it doesn't meet the US EPA standards. In a few days or so, I'm going place an order for the H180 with 3.0L Mercruiser Multi-Port Injection (MPI). I was told that you'll get a higher resale value in the US due the stringent emissions requirements.

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT

Personally if I had the choice now I would go with the same pitch(19inch) but go with the enertia. I read somewhere that the enertia has thinner blades because it is made frome some wizz bang stainless. Having said all that I am still quite happy with the set up that I have.
Hope this helps

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Sounds Great Dope! I will be really interested in how you like the boat with the 3.0 fuelie. Truthfully, the 3.0 with the carb is most fussy at idle, which the fuel injection should cure.

As far as the difference between the Vengence and the Enertia, the two are at the different ends of the spectrum of Mercury's standard prop offerings. The Vengence for all intents and purposes is a black max aluminium prop that is made out of stainless steel. It wont flex like an aluminum prop will, and is much more durable. The enertia is one of the newer props in Merc's lineup, and is made of new stainless alloy that Mercury has developed. It is supposed to allow the blades to be much thinner than previous stainless props. The claim is that the prop is lighter (less rotating mass and smoother shifting into gear) and more efficiency due to the thinner blades.



Here is a writeup that trailer boats did a few years ago about the prop.

http://www.trailerboats.com/output.cfm?ID=1222309

I have been happy with this prop. It is expensive though (especially here in Canada) so only you can decide if the extra dough is worth it. The vengeance sounds like it is serving ardy well, and honestly if I hadn't found my prop at the price that I did, I would have the vengeance on my boat. If skiing, then ardy is right, the 19p version of this prop would haul you out of the water pretty quickly. As it is right now, the 20p cruises at a few mph faster (or a few hundred rpm slower for the same speed) and brings the revs right up to the max rpm.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310

I hit 51 on the speedo with 3 people and 3/4 tank of gas...190hp. I think I could have gotten another mph or two, but the lake was tiny and I had to turn around .

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2011 H180ss 4.3 Merc

The 4.3l V6 Mercruiser non catalysed engine was exempt from the most-recent round of EPA exhaust emissions regulations because GM Powertrain, which manufactures the base engine, had told the marine industry it would be dropping production of the 4.3. The EPA granted the exception so marine engine builders would not have to invest in developing a catalyst package for an engine that would only remain on the market for a single season. However, GM later changed its plans, and the 4.3 remained in production and is a popular engine option on small to mid-size runabouts and cruisers. GMPT released the new catalysed 4.3L V-6 in January of 2011, it will replace the old version as the pipeline dries up. It's almost dry now, as most builders bought all of them up late last year, and have already installed them in boats that are already produced.
Volvo Penta, has announced it will not develop a catalyzed version of the 4.3-liter V6, but will offer that engine with either a carburetor or fuel-injection system, with availability limited by the number of low-emissions, catalyzed engines the company sells.

So the 4.3L V-6 will remain, and it is not true that the 3.0L version in any similar boat has a higher resale value, than a boat equpped with either version of the now 220HP 4.3L V6. That was a sales trick to get you to buy the 3.0L. Which in iteself is a good engine, but when selling a boat, 98% of the time, more horespower will sell the boat quicker than less horespower, and at a higher sell price.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I had a FW Freedom (just under 18 foot) before my h200. It had a carbed OMC V6 4.3 and man that thing would take off like a rocket and fly! (I had a jet ski clock me at around 55mph) I think it was only like 160 hp... now I have a h200 with a 270hp V8, and it takes FOREVER to get on plane and only hits around 48mph. I guess that's the sacrifice you make for going with a bigger boat

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2007 FW Horizon 200 5.0GXi/SX-A

Cap, thanks for your great insight. I meant to say that the 3.0L Mercruiser MPI 135 engine would hold a higher resale value than than the now banned 3.0L carb engines. My local dealer said Four Winns are now offering the 4.3L V6 Mercruiser MPI 190 hp engine, but at a $5K premium. I might as well buy the 2010 H190 Volvo GXI/SX V6 225 on their showroom floor for that price.

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT

51-52, two people, calm waters, 3/4 tank.

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2007 Horizon 180, 4.3 Merc
2004 Toyota Sienna
2000 Lexus RX300 AWD

I will get my boat after July 4th. I will defintely let you know what I think about the 3.0 MPI.

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT

As promised. I took delivery of a brand new 2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135 hp) on 6/28. More pix to come.

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2011 Horizon 180 (Mercruiser 3.0L MPI 135)
2006 Honda Ridgeline RT