Getting R-23 on plane

[Eplace]

Recently purchased a 2018 R-23. When we went out for sea trials, the broker got the tug up on plane easily. I took over and got the tug up on plane without much thought (20-25 mph). When we purchased it, took it out and was unable to get up on plane nor over 11-13 mph. Was fighting a bit of current, but when we got out of the channel, still could not get on plane.
Have had it out a few times playing with motor trim, tab trim and engine speed. Feels like the prop isn’t biting, but my previous boat was a Cobalt Condurre 243, so it may just be the difference in feel to me.

Three questions, what is the optimal engine speed for a Suzuki 200 hp, what speed SHOULD I reasonably expect from an R-23 at sea level and any tips on getting the boat up on plane?

 

[knotflying]

Can't give you stats. but how much did you load on the boat and where? Having a lot of weight further back will make a difference as well as how many people and where they are.

 

[SgtAlf]

Replace the spark plugs. On the second trip out this season I had what sounds like the same problem. 14 MPH max, felt like I was dragging a sea anchor. I was told to replace the spark plugs. I did, problem was corrected. I'm told the only thing that ever goes wrong with the Yam 200 is the spark plugs. When they go, they go. ran fine one day, didn't the next.
You can help the boat getting up on plane by lowering the trim taps, once on plane raise the taps. You should see around 30 MPH with a light load on board. You put 4 people and a bunch of crap on board and you won't see that speed. You can also use the trim taps independently to level the boat. I have a 2018 R-23.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B072D ... UTF8&psc=1

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

Spark plugs are not the only thing that can go wrong with the Yamaha 200. At 170 hours, I’m starting over with a new engine block (if the parts ever get here).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[briandunnington]

Spark plugs are not the only thing that can go wrong with the Yamaha 200. At 170 hours, I’m starting over with a new engine block (if the parts ever get here).

I dont want to hijack this thread, but CruisingElvinRay, what happened!?!

To provide some actual info for the original question - when we first bought our 2018 R23, it came up on plane quickly and easily during our sea trial as well. On our maiden voyage however, we couldnt get the boat up on plane at all! What changed though was that we had 6 people on board, almost all of whom were in the cockpit at the back of the boat. Eventually I had some people move forward and the boat was able to get up on plane.

Most of our cruising since then has just been my wife and I, and the boat pops up on plane just fine, even with a full load of gas/gear/supplies/etc (note that this is not a ski boat though - it never gets up on plane 'quickly', but more like 'satisfactorily')

If we do have a bunch of people onboard, I follow a modified version of this 'recipe' that a fellow Tugnutter shared: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=18104&p=118667&hilit=plane+recipe&sid=115825e047b3a0e331d14d69f0ba47cc#p118667 - but I will start with trim tabs all the way down until about 18mph and then all up and it usually planes easily (then just adjust for port/starboard balance as necessary).

As for speeds, on a glass-smooth outing recently, I got up to 35mph at wide-open throttle (I think it was around 5500rmp, but dont recall precisely). If conditions are calm, we usually cruise at around 28mph/4800rpm. (This is with the Yamaha 200 - I know you said you have the Suzuki)

 

[Capt’nKarl]

2018 R-23 with Yamaha 200 hp. Check to make sure you’re not hauling 50 gallons of water in the engine pod. That will certainly bog you down. I can get ours up on plane at 14-15 MPH with two adults, 70 gallons of fuel and a full fresh water tank. Max speed I’ve reached is about 35 mph in calm conditions.

 

[geontemt]

Definitely check engine pad for water. I manually run the bilge for the pod before every trip, it usually has no water but occasionally has some. Our R-23 will get up on plane starting around 19 knots (never timed it but within 15-30 sec depending on load and weather). 4400-4600 RPM will get 22 knots (depending on conditions) which keeps the boat on plane. We ran with 80 gallons of fuel, 10-15 gallons of water, 4 people (900lbs), 150 lbs of gear on Saturday to James island and back. We are getting 4 blade prop b/c with the weight the boat doesn't have enough stern lift and takes a lot of adjusting throttle and trim tabs in chop to go fast enough to stay on plane but as slow as possible for comfort.

 

[Hamster]

I've said this many times: I think 200 hp on the R23 is underpowered. It is the weight in the back end that affects it getting up on plane. I've added drop fins to the trim tabs and then switched out the prop to a 4-blade. Each of these helped, along with starting out of the hole with trim tabs down, but still got stuck in the hole in big swells with a full cooler in the cockpit.

The R23 is 6,000 pounds of dry weight. Add fuel, water and gear and you're probably getting closer to 7,000 pounds. The rule of thumb is you should have between 40 and 25 pounds of weight for each horsepower. That gives you a power range of 175 to 280 hp. Based on my experience these past four years, the R23 should have 250 hp (or 300 hp since the weight of both are identical).

I think Ranger Tugs needs to update the power for this boat.

 

[briandunnington]

I think Ranger Tugs needs to update the power for this boat.

They did - but it is called the R-25 :lol:

The R-25 addresses the two biggest shortcomings with the R-23: less powerful motor and separate head. They are essentially the same physical size even though one is called a 23 and one is a 25. I think the R-23 only remains to be the lower-cost option (since it has the smaller motor and everything can be added as options, unlike the NW/Luxury Edition approach of the other boats).

But to the original intent of the thread: @Hamster - Would you say the drop fins or the 4-blade prop did more to help with getting on plane? I have considered both, and was leaning toward to the 4-blade prop since @Submariner and others have said it allows staying on plane at lower speeds. But with just my wife and I, our little R23 gets up on plane just fine so it hasnt been a big deal so far.

 

[Hamster]

I think the 4-blade helped with getting on plane quicker, but it came at a fuel efficiency price. Dropped probably 0.3 to 0.5 mpg.

 

[Capt’nKarl]

We took our 2018 R-23 with the 200 hp Yamaha outboard out today in Pensacola Bay. We had the fuel tank topped off at the marina so we had 75-80 gallons of fuel on board. Two adults and the freshwater tank was just less than half full ( or half empty if you’re pessimistic). The Bay was smooth and we got up on plane at 14 mph @ 4600 rpm. We cruised at 26-28 mph at 46-49 rpm and 2.1 miles per gallon. I can’t complain.

 

[forfun1960]

I agree the R-23 could use some help planning. Seems like it took a very long time for us.

This really showed up when we went to Lake Powell could not get over 4500 RPM and could never plane with standard prop but changed to 13 pitch and did find. The altitude there reduces the hp quite abit.

When I went home to Southern Ill. The boat really performs well. I keep the 14 pitch for spare.
I would suggest anyone have trouble planning look at getting a 13 pitch.

Well worth the money.

 

[Chimo]

I think the 4-blade helped with getting on plane quicker, but it came at a fuel efficiency price. Dropped probably 0.3 to 0.5 mpg.

That's about right from my experience. Fluid dynamics and hull/prop design are fascinating subjects and there are always too many variables but there are some starting "rules of thumb:

Hull speed in knots is around 1.34 x sqrt waterline length.
Prop efficiency hierarchy: surface piercing (on plane) - 2 blade - 3 blade - 4 blade.....
Stainless blades (thinner) more efficient than aluminum.

there's others but I thought you might be interested since you're experience is in line.

 

[jschutzler]

Definitely check engine pad for water. I manually run the bilge for the pod before every trip, it usually has no water but occasionally has some. Our R-23 will get up on plane starting around 19 knots (never timed it but within 15-30 sec depending on load and weather). 4400-4600 RPM will get 22 knots (depending on conditions) which keeps the boat on plane. We ran with 80 gallons of fuel, 10-15 gallons of water, 4 people (900lbs), 150 lbs of gear on Saturday to James island and back. We are getting 4 blade prop b/c with the weight the boat doesn't have enough stern lift and takes a lot of adjusting throttle and trim tabs in chop to go fast enough to stay on plane but as slow as possible for comfort.

 

[jschutzler]

Could you please elaborate on the engine pod bilge pump? I opened it up and there is definitely water in it but I cannot see a pump inside at all and I also can’t find a switch for one or a fuse. I have a 2017 R23. I can use a manual water pump to get water out but I’d love to use a bilge pump if there is indeed one inside the pod.