So, my 2025 Bayliner VR5 200 hp 4.5L mercruiser STILL barely pulls me up

[Bob_VT]

Have the boat weighed........ you would not be the first owner to have water trapped inside your hull. It will change performance drastically

 

[Chris1956]

Gee, it is a 2025. Even Bayliners last longer than that.

I suspect a MerCruiser electronics issue. Intermittent ign coil, bad connection to the ECU, something.

 

[stakultexsun]

No water in the boat. Taking it to a bayliner dealer 6/24/25.

 

[Timr71]

So, what did they say at the dealer? Anything interesting?

 

[stakultexsun]

So, what did they say at the dealer? Anything interesting?

Saying put a hydrofoil on it and/or trim tabs. They're putting the SE300 on ALL their VR5s new. warranty isn't covering anything to do with this weakling boat. even with the 15 pitch prop it has trouble pulling my 180lbs son up on a slalom (he just learned though!).

Lastly, Bayliner did mention that water could be getting in the swim deck, that seems likely.

 

[Pmt133]

It really seems like the ECM is pulling power based on your two runs.

I mean no offense by this, but it isn't exactly a heavy or large boat. Your numbers on that second pull are in line with what the boat tests at with a 19 pitch propeller.... I really think something is up. For comparisons sake, my 19.5 foot boat with a 3.0l would do that well....

And could a whale tail help? Maybe... but if the engine ain't right it don't matter what gets bolted on.

If they mentioned water in the swim deck, I would have them fix that as yes, that'll do it too....

 

[Stinnett21]

Not sure what they mean by "water in the swim deck". This is not a new boat. It has been manufactured for several years. I highly doubt water is getting in the swim platform somehow. I tend to agree with Pmt. Seems like something is up with your engine. 2025 should be under warranty. Does it ever act sluggish just cruising? Or does this problem only occur when trying to pull up a skier?

 

[Scott06]

So, like my previous post said, (post is closed for some reason).

I've since tried a 3 blade 17 pitch and a 4 blade 17 pitch prop. I can't really tell the difference.

I'm now 210lbs, trying to get up on a slalom ski with 2 adults and one child, their combined weight is like 460lbs, all except the 180lb driver are in the bow.

Takes about 45 seconds or longer to get me up. Trim all the way down, minimal stuff in the boat.

I'm about to try a 15 or 16 pitch 4 blade if I can find one soon enough.

Related side note: All the VR5 bayliners I see at the dealer have a hydrofoil installed. This boat feels like it has about 120hp. If it's just 2 people, 390 lbs cruising in the boat it is just slow as hell, largely due to the bow pointing so high and taking so long to plane.

Here are my "results":

Me and a friend, about 360lbs:
Factory 3 blade 19 pitch:

46mph @ 4800 rpm, trim "optimized for speed"
41.5 mph with trim all the way down 4450 rpm.
0 - 20mph 6.0 seconds
0 -30mph 9.4 seconds

3 blade 17 pitch:
43mph @ 4810 rpm with trim up
41.5mph @ 4450 rpm with trim all the way down.
0 - 20 mph no change
0 - 30 mph 9.2 (no real change)

At this point, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I don't think I can mentally handle the $30kish I'll lose by trading it in and getting a real ski boat, or a boat that is ~20ish foot with a MINIMUM of 300hp.

I didn't realize that $50k would not buy me a boat that I could ski behind. I've skiied behind 19.5' boats with 120hp outboard, and a 135hp inboard. The 120hp boat pulls me up like this 200 horsepower boat. the 135hp boat pulled me up in like 20 seconds or less.

This is ridiculous. Bayliner should make sure they label this wakeboard boat as not a water sports boat. It's OK for wake boarding and good for tubing, and cruising around, that's it.

You should try the 15” or 16” prop I ran a 4 blade 16” on my 3.0 powered boat made a big diff in water starts. I also had a hydrofoil that helped until it snapped the cav plate.

Your boat is the 200 hp version, my understanding is the ecu is only change for the 250 hp version. Not sure if the dealer or aftermarket folks can reflash it to the 250 version.

Assume you have all the weight in front when taking off ? We have a bench across the back and every one like to sit there and watch the skier . Makes a big diff in plane out time . Trim tabs will likely help

Yes I think what you are finding is 200 hp in a boat that size is too little for skiing