For those who have taken their wakeboard boat to Powell, has anyone noticed if it ran or sounded differently. As you can see from my profile, I have a newer boat (2007) and I am wondering if there is something (computer chip, etc.)that adjusts the timing for the higher altitudes. The boat ran fine under full power but when I was yanking people out of the water, it almost sounded like I have an exhaust leak, plus it didn't have the pull I normally have here in AZ. I have yet to run it here in AZ since I got back to see if I have an issue or not. Any input will help and hopefully put me at ease. Thanks, guys.
I live in Phoenix and my 2000 SAN pretty much ran the same there except that it seemed to have a little less of a hole shot due to the altitude. I roll with 2000 lbs. of ballast and my hole shot at Bartlett is great but it seemed a little more sluggish in Powell. The engine and exhaust sound was exactly the same though so you may have an issue. I would take the boat out here and see if everything appears normal but you have my experience above. Good luck and hopefully everything is ok.
could the "exhaust leak" be from the canyon walls deflecting the sound. i run a good amount of weight also and had no problems but i'm at altitude all the time so hard to tell the difference
My boat is an I/O which is different than yours. With the altitude, you might try to change your prop to a lower pitch. My boat runs best with a 21 pitch at sea level, but runs best with a 19 pitch at Lake Powell.
I noticed a loss of some power at Powell, but did not sound any different. I normally operate really close to sea level. What i couldn't figure out was why i had to bump up the RPM's in PP RPM mode for surfing. Might have just been the amount of weight in the boat but i don't think it was any different than i normally run (people+ballast). I really wish there would have been more gas stations, ran out 1/2 mile from dangling rope and luckily got pulled in by a houseboat. NOw i know why people run around with 6-8 gas cans on the swim deck. What a beautiful lake!
Thanks for the input guys. Come to find out I did have an exhaust leak (since been repaired) and now I know why it didn't have the pull out of the hole (high altitude). Thanks again!!
Actually Chris, when you're at 3700 ft. you would probably be down 17% on power compared to sea level from dyno tests I've run. I always feel really good when I get to drive at sea level.
Interesting Art, that's more like 4.5% loss per thousand ft. No wonder when I took my old V-6 I/O up to Shaver Lake (5000 ft.) it was such a dog... Anytime you want to boat down at sea level, let me know... Maybe New Year's Day??