Ally-Sun
Active Member
So after a making the jump to a 3 Liter, 250 Pro XS, w/1.62 gear ratio Sportmaster on my Grandsport. Along with a month of cruising, testing, and a little tuning. I must say I am really enjoying this setup. I will also say I am not one who is looking to get every mph out of the GS. Honestly it's an absolutely amazing hull. That handles like a dream, takes rough water well, is extremely efficient, and will fit many needs. Yet for all out top speed and high speed stability, I personally don't think it's the best choice. If you want that, I would say look fro a SS or an XR. All that being said this is hands down the best all around sking/cruising/speed hull I have ever ran.
Thus far I have ran a Hydromotive 26P QIV-X O/T, a Trophy Plus 27P, and a 28P Bravo I 4 blade. The Hydromotive and the Trophy handle almost identical. They are both great for taking off, mid range acceleration, and descent top end thus far. (87 mph @ 6000 rpm). I think there is a little more as I hadn't hit the limiter and my friend's 250 Pro XS does so at 6200 rpm. With the exception the Trophy has just a touch more blowout (which isn't much at all) on take off and could be a few mph faster. The only time I have been by myself to make speed runs with the Trophy it's been really windy. So I haven't been able to get all the speed the Trophy has to offer. With the Bravo it was the same deal as the Trophy. There was plenty of potential for even more speed. One thing I did notice with the Bravo was letting out of the throttle with the thru hub and larger diameter. When I did so, albeit slow, the prop really pulled when slowing down. It felt like I let a parachute out. I could feel a real potential for dropping the bow hard if one were to chop the throttle. Thus improving the chance to hook. I have not yet decided on a prop to get me in the mid 90's. With which I will be happy as far as top end. Later this summer I am going to try a Billy Eaves worked 28P ProMax. From there I will decide which way to go.
In closing, I absolutely love this engine/hull combo. The engine runs and idles like a dream with no smoke. Which I never minded anyway, being an old 2-stroke guy. She takes off great with the 3 Liter torque. Has amazing mid-range acceleration and handling. The Optimax has incredible fuel mileage. I.E. on one run last fall with my old 225 ProMax I used 17.5 gal of gas plus nearly a half gallon of oil. On the same run with the 250 Pro XS a few weeks ago. I used a little less than 8 gallons of gas and I am sure a lot less oil. As I have only burned @ 1 gallon of oil all this spring on multiple trips. The oil hardly drops in the tank at all. So I am using less than half the fuel and oil!!! Top end could easily be in the triple digits if you want to set up that way. Yet I wouldn't recommend it with this combo! If you want a triple digit river rocket to race across the water most of the time. Choose a different hull, yet to each his own. Me, I am happy playing, skiing, and cruising below and up to 70 mph 95% of the time. Which I can do all day long, with the way the Optimax sips fuel. In my opinion, if you are looking for an awesome multi-purpose setup. Treated with time, care, patience, and RESPECT. The 3 Liter on a Grandsport is a fantastic setup!
Thus far I have ran a Hydromotive 26P QIV-X O/T, a Trophy Plus 27P, and a 28P Bravo I 4 blade. The Hydromotive and the Trophy handle almost identical. They are both great for taking off, mid range acceleration, and descent top end thus far. (87 mph @ 6000 rpm). I think there is a little more as I hadn't hit the limiter and my friend's 250 Pro XS does so at 6200 rpm. With the exception the Trophy has just a touch more blowout (which isn't much at all) on take off and could be a few mph faster. The only time I have been by myself to make speed runs with the Trophy it's been really windy. So I haven't been able to get all the speed the Trophy has to offer. With the Bravo it was the same deal as the Trophy. There was plenty of potential for even more speed. One thing I did notice with the Bravo was letting out of the throttle with the thru hub and larger diameter. When I did so, albeit slow, the prop really pulled when slowing down. It felt like I let a parachute out. I could feel a real potential for dropping the bow hard if one were to chop the throttle. Thus improving the chance to hook. I have not yet decided on a prop to get me in the mid 90's. With which I will be happy as far as top end. Later this summer I am going to try a Billy Eaves worked 28P ProMax. From there I will decide which way to go.
In closing, I absolutely love this engine/hull combo. The engine runs and idles like a dream with no smoke. Which I never minded anyway, being an old 2-stroke guy. She takes off great with the 3 Liter torque. Has amazing mid-range acceleration and handling. The Optimax has incredible fuel mileage. I.E. on one run last fall with my old 225 ProMax I used 17.5 gal of gas plus nearly a half gallon of oil. On the same run with the 250 Pro XS a few weeks ago. I used a little less than 8 gallons of gas and I am sure a lot less oil. As I have only burned @ 1 gallon of oil all this spring on multiple trips. The oil hardly drops in the tank at all. So I am using less than half the fuel and oil!!! Top end could easily be in the triple digits if you want to set up that way. Yet I wouldn't recommend it with this combo! If you want a triple digit river rocket to race across the water most of the time. Choose a different hull, yet to each his own. Me, I am happy playing, skiing, and cruising below and up to 70 mph 95% of the time. Which I can do all day long, with the way the Optimax sips fuel. In my opinion, if you are looking for an awesome multi-purpose setup. Treated with time, care, patience, and RESPECT. The 3 Liter on a Grandsport is a fantastic setup!
