Boat stalls when pulling skier?

Question

help! we have a 16' criss craft with a 115 horsepower outboard motor. it works fine normally. we have looked at it and had a mechanic overhaul the corroborator. the problem is the motor will stall when trying to make the boat go faster in order for the skier to fully stand up. when not pulling anyone this is not a problem, the boat will go as fast as you want and not hesitate. anyone have this happen? what is wrong?

Answer 1

I with Ghadahav Kaffee on this one.  Could be the prop size, or the engine isn't powerful enough.  

I had this problem and it took forever to plain out.

Answer 2

sounds like it is loading up - probably not jetted properly, or maybe you are using too big a prop.

how high does the tach go when you are under way with wide open throttle? It should be about 5000 - if not you need a tune up or maybe need to get a shorter prop

a chris craft? how heavy is that? you might not have the horsepower to pull a skier if you only have a 115 on the transom

EDIT

Definitely sounds like you either need to get a shorter prop so you can get onto the powerband quicker or rejet it so it doesn't run too rich and put out the fire before the powerband...see Jtexas advice, too...good advice there.

Answer 3

Your fuel uses is more than the engine gets so runs out of gas> Check the vent on the tank> Primer bulb going bad or is bad replace it>Fuel hose kinked> Pick up in tank screen plugged>

Answer 4

yup, that's a heavy boat.  assuming the motor is running right (the mech should have checked it with a test wheel in a test tank), then if it's not underpowered, it's overpropped.

Couple things to check....when you first put the hammer down, is the motor trimmed in far as it will go?  

Does the prop have plugged vent holes that could be opened.  If so, that would improve your hole shot tremendously.

Otherwise, drop a couple inches of prop pitch -- should make you happier.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"The motor dies altogether, not just bogs down..."

you don't say what brand of outboard, but assuming it's a carbed 2-stroke:

ok, before ya tear down the carbs, take the airbox cover off and observe the carb butterflies.  

They should be fully closed at idle and perfectly horizontal (not beyond) at WOT, and parallel throughout their range of motion.

The timer base (or whatever your brand of outboard calls the mechanical spark advance) should move smoothly without sticking when the throttle is advanced.

The spark advance has to begin before the carb butterflies start to open, otherwise the motor loads up on fuel and falls flat on it's face.  If it's a johnnyrude,  the throttle cam has to hit the cam follower roller right on the mark.

If all this checks out ok, do a compression test (no point spending money on a motor with bad compression) and if that's ok then it's carb rebuild time.

Answer 5

sounds like carb problem to me, the mechanic is he good, i dont trhink so just cause he calls himself a mech that doesnt mean hes good