Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

[Bulbash]

I have 17.5' bayliner bowrider with OMC 2.3 Cobra I/O. Last season I was pulling tube with full boat no problem.. Now I wonder, should I invest in the water ski's or board? The biggest question would I have enough power to pull me up, I'm 200lb... What is easier to pull ski's or board? My prop is pitch 15.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

You should have no problem getting up on a pair of skis or a board behind your boat. Getting up on one ski will be difficult unless you really know what you are doing.

 

[Bulbash]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

What is easier to pull out of water in general skis or boards?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

What is easier to pull out of water in general skis or boards?

Pretty much the same if you are talking about a pair of skis or a wakeboard. Neither requires any real power

 

[Bulbash]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I'm just debating on what should I get, skiis or board...

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I'm just debating on what should I get, skiis or board...

Really depends - do you want to face forward or stand sideways? Consider looking around on craigslist and picking up both to try. Ski sets are super cheap even new, and you should be able to get a half decent used board for $120 or so.

 

[Bulbash]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I do downhill skiing so i kinda feel that skiis might be abetter choise.... What would be a diffrence between short and wide skiis vs the longer ones?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I do downhill skiing so i kinda feel that skiis might be abetter choise.... What would be a diffrence between short and wide skiis vs the longer ones?

The only short wide ones we have are kids skis, so I couldn't say for sure. I'd assume that the wider ones come out of the water faster. Main thing is to find something that the bindings feel right on. At 200lbs you probably want a set of 67-68"

Something like these would be decent if you want to try to slalom as well.
Connelly Quantum Combo Water Skis | Combo Water Skis | WaterSkis.com


These are a lot more expensive, but probably the nicest combos you can buy:
O'Brien Performer Pro Water Skis | Free Shipping From WaterSkis.com

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I do downhill skiing so i kinda feel that skiis might be abetter choise.... What would be a diffrence between short and wide skiis vs the longer ones?

A few years ago I bought a pair of the wide skis. Somewhere you can find my 3 year post about getting up on the things - it's pretty easy once you learn the trick, which took me the 3 years! The trick is to take your back foot out of the boot and level the ski as much as possible, as opposed to sitting down on your back foot with the ski tip pointing up. With a wide ski, that just doesn't work. But actually taking a foot out and kind of leaning forward just felt so counter-intuitive!

Anyway, once I did get up on the wide ski, it was no fun. Easy, yes - the ski just kind of turns itself when you lean a bit. But I couldn't carve like I did on my old narrow ski. No rooster tails...

Hope that helps.

Dave

 

[chrisrooter]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

I have 17.5' bayliner bowrider with OMC 2.3 Cobra I/O. Last season I was pulling tube with full boat no problem.. Now I wonder, should I invest in the water ski's or board? The biggest question would I have enough power to pull me up, I'm 200lb... What is easier to pull ski's or board? My prop is pitch 15.

When you say full boat? What is your capacity rating? my 17' boat with a omc 2.3 I/O also is 6 people or 900 lbs. with full load and tube pull what is your top speed. I think also I have a pitch 15, and WOT rpm is 5500. Speed around max 30. With 2 people. Not sure if I'm water logged somewhere? :grumpy:

 

[Bulbash]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

When you say full boat? What is your capacity rating? my 17' boat with a omc 2.3 I/O also is 6 people or 900 lbs. with full load and tube pull what is your top speed. I think also I have a pitch 15, and WOT rpm is 5500. Speed around max 30. With 2 people. Not sure if I'm water logged somewhere?

Boat rating is 8 people on the boat, not sure in lb. It is 17.5 ft bayliner bowrider. With 4 people in and one on the tube I can easily do 30 - 35mph at 4500 - 5000 rpm without going WOT... No tube WOT with two people on board in very calm water 44mph at 5600rpm. My engine was rebuilt and new carbs 2 -3 years back by previous owner... Try to do a tuneup, check timming, new coil, points, rotor, ignition cover, good gas without ethanol. It is a great small motor, at least it worked very well for me last summer.

 

[chrisrooter]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

Hi there just responded to your carb post question too, but yes hopefully my deficient speed is result of bad carb, only 1 of my air adjust screws were working and no spray from accelerator pump shot. Now carb was rebuilt over the winter and crossing fingers should be a world of difference with fresh carb rebuilt, boat sat for few years and result was a gummed up carb along with a host of other things, overall, I think i am ready this spring. At least ready for some new problems!

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

that boat can pull a skier with 2 skis no problem. But I think you are running your engine to high rpm - i thought about 5000 was max for that engine, hate to see your toast it.

 

[Bulbash]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

that boat can pull a skier with 2 skis no problem. But I think you are running your engine to high rpm - i thought about 5000 was max for that engine, hate to see your toast it.

This engines max rpm must be between 5400 and 5600rpm according to the original manual...

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Bayliner Capri OMC 2.3 Cobra 17.5' Enough Power?

sounds like your running perfect then - I wouldn't change anything.