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

 

[stakultexsun]

Ok everyone, I'm hesitant to believe the issue is resolved, however, I have very positive news.

The dealer installed the se300 hydrofoil I bought (I paid them), and had them change the oil and other recommended 100 hour service even though it was at 45 hours.

So, it pulled me up on a slalom with 6 people in the boat .... better than it ever has!!!

The 6 people weight is about 1000lbs. Probably 200lbs of gear & coolers on the boat as well.

So 2025 vr5 with 200hp, 20'7" long. 15" 15 pitch 3 blade EMP prop with the se300 hydrofoil enabled this boat to pull up my 210lbs up on a slalom in about 15 to 20 seconds vs 30 to 45 seconds.

The hydrofoil seems to have cut about 0.5 might off of top speed. I was at 40mph, now I'm 39.5, I don't care about that. It did affect the handling a little, but not too bad, still can sling a tube all over the place.

Great day on the lake on the 4th of July! It was a happy 4th of July, hope y'all had a good one too!

 

[stakultexsun]

Also, to address a couple of people's comments.

When I took to the dealer, they checked for codes and engine issues, none found.

The swim deck has drain holes in it, I do see water draining from them often, so water does get in there... not sure if water is getting in from those holes, you'd think it would be water tight (without the holes).

And Scott... you're hydrofoil snapped the cavitation plate?!!?! More details please. How old was boat? used in salt water? How big of a boat?

The service guy at bayliner said the VR5 has this issue because the bow is so light. He said the VR6s do not have this issue... find that hard to believe, but after this weekend, I'm considering buying a couple of 50lbs ballast bags to put in bow for when not very many people on the boat

 

[Chris1956]

Get hydraulic trim tabs. That will solve your issue, much better than a whale tail.

 

[stakultexsun]

I'll look into the trim tabs

 

[Scott06]

Also, to address a couple of people's comments.

When I took to the dealer, they checked for codes and engine issues, none found.

The swim deck has drain holes in it, I do see water draining from them often, so water does get in there... not sure if water is getting in from those holes, you'd think it would be water tight (without the holes).

And Scott... you're hydrofoil snapped the cavitation plate?!!?! More details please. How old was boat? used in salt water? How big of a boat?

The service guy at bayliner said the VR5 has this issue because the bow is so light. He said the VR6s do not have this issue... find that hard to believe, but after this weekend, I'm considering buying a couple of 50lbs ballast bags to put in bow for when not very many people on the boat

Yes I think I had it on for 8 years or so. This was the older design where you drill 2 holes in cav plate , cracked right at the holes. Boat was fresh water its entire life alph gen one drive .

i got similar results to you better holeshot and lost a little top end

same situation trying to ski on a underpowered boat. made it work …

 

[Chris1956]

The advantage of hydraulic trim tabs is that if properly installed, when retracted, they are well above the transom/hull point and do not drag. When extended, they will really lift the transom. So, on an underpowered or tail heavy boat, tabs down for takeoff, then pull them up. If heavy seas, trim motor down, trim tabs down until ride is smooth.

With my '88 SR 19 footer, 4.3LX (205HP) MerCruiser and 8 people in the boat, pulling a skier. put tabs down, fill the bow with people, hit the throttle and wait a few seconds. Now lift the tabs, move people to rear of boat and enjoy.

 

[stakultexsun]

I am noticing a little carbon build up on the propeller shaft, is that a problem?

Also, I do get a little vibration at certain rims. I think around 2k, wondering if the propeller has bent or something. I do see a little paint peeling off.

Carbon build up on propeller shaft

2025 bayliner vr5 with about 55 hours on it. 4.5 liter 200hp mercruiser with alpha one stem drive. I've been trying different props to pull me up on a slalom ski. Finally got that going well after 4th prop. This is a 15" 15 pitch 3 blade EMP propeller. Boat goes 39.5 to 40mph at around...

forums.iboats.com

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I am noticing a little carbon build up on the propeller shaft, is that a problem?

Also, I do get a little vibration at certain rims. I think around 2k, wondering if the propeller has bent or something. I do see a little paint peeling off.

Carbon build up on propeller shaft

2025 bayliner vr5 with about 55 hours on it. 4.5 liter 200hp mercruiser with alpha one stem drive. I've been trying different props to pull me up on a slalom ski. Finally got that going well after 4th prop. This is a 15" 15 pitch 3 blade EMP propeller. Boat goes 39.5 to 40mph at around...

forums.iboats.com

If the prop was bent it will always vibrate just get worse as the rpms increase. I wouldn't worry how many hours on the motor?

 

[stakultexsun]

If the prop was bent it will always vibrate just get worse as the rpms increase. I wouldn't worry how many hours on the motor?

Regarding the hours on the motor, I was referring to the carbon build up and the fact that I had the 100 hour service

 

[stakultexsun]

The advantage of hydraulic trim tabs is that if properly installed, when retracted, they are well above the transom/hull point and do not drag. When extended, they will really lift the transom. So, on an underpowered or tail heavy boat, tabs down for takeoff, then pull them up. If heavy seas, trim motor down, trim tabs down until ride is smooth.

With my '88 SR 19 footer, 4.3LX (205HP) MerCruiser and 8 people in the boat, pulling a skier. put tabs down, fill the bow with people, hit the throttle and wait a few seconds. Now lift the tabs, move people to rear of boat and enjoy.

What brand did you buy? Did you install? I'm going to pay big to get them put in I'm assuming.

 

[Chris1956]

I think your boat is a tail dragger. You are not alone, as many are such.

It gets worse for larger craft. A lot of boats up to 24 ft boats have SBC power. On those cruisers, you need to send everyone into the bow portion of the boat to get on plane. Once there the boat performs well. The main culprit is the cast iron block weight. Say 1100# for a V6 205HP, Verses an OB of 175HP for 500 #.

I would have hoped that Mercury with their custom aluminum blocks would have fixed this issue to compete with modern outboards.

You should decide if your current boat meets your needs for skiing, vs people carrier, space to move around etc. Skiing is a small part of boating. Most of our time is spent riding, swimming crabbing fishing etc.

If you think the added performance of hydraulic trin tabs is worth it, spend the $600 or so to get the hydraulic trim tabs. Get a size over, IMO.