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Make sure that the engine has good compression and if it is carbureted that the carbs are clean. Basically make sure that the engine is in perfect running condition.
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Ah yes, the engine. That's really what my question about top speed is all about. Compression is good, carbs are clean, plenty of spark, all that's good. But the engine itself is what my mechanic calls a Frankenstein motor.
It was basically thrown together using a bunch of black parts. Not sure who built it, boat was sold to me by a small dealer who had it on consignment. The powerhead is a factory reman '03 200 EFI with carbs and reed block off a 150XR6. I don't know about the mid and lower. I've been researching the differences between the 150XR6 and 200, and it looks to me like the differences are mainly in the carburetion and exhaust tuner.
The XR6 had either large bore carbs like the 175s and 200s, or small bore carbs like the standard 150s, depending on year of manufacture. Mine are the large bore WMV-3s. I hypothesized that if I rejetted the carbs with the same mains and backdraft vent jets as a 200, I would boost horsepower. Nope. No difference. I don't really want to pull the powerhead to check the exhaust tuner. Maybe I'll look at it from the other end when I pull the lower to change the impeller.
The bottom line is that if I'm already getting the performance expected of a 200 on this hull, I don't want to waste any more time trying to squeeze another 4 or 5 mph out of it. If not, I'll keep tinkering. Just don't want to spend a couple bills on 200 HP carbs and not get anything out of it.