Engine Computer and Ballast Tanks - 2 Questions

[davidirwin]

I recently purchased a 1999 Super Sport and have two questions:

Question 1: When I open the throttle all the way (was testing the top speed while the boat is still under warranty), after the RPMs get to about 5,000, the motor skips as if not enough fuel is getting to the engine (like a clogged fuel filter). The marina where I bought the boat says that this happens because the boat's engine computer is not programmed to handle process over 4,500 RPMs. Does this sound right?

Question 2: The ballast tanks take about 15 minutes to fill (going at more than 20mph) and more than an hour to empty (while standing still). Using the "fill/empty" switch does not seem to speed up the process at all. Is this normal? Any reccomendations?

[skinautique]

Sounds like the ballast is taking too long. Open both valves and then go 25 mph or faster to fill them. When you empty them, leave the valves open and sit there in nuetral. It takes a little longer to fill that system but not quite that long. Make sure your main valves in the engine compartment are open too. One other thought is that they are full but your senders for your ballast gauges aren't working.

[Edwin]

I'd bet you're hitting the rev limiter at 5,000 rpms. What size prop is on the boat?

[Frost]

Question: in 1999 were there pumps in the ballast system? I think what you have is one intake for both tanks, and it may be that no ballast pumps were installed.

I want to say I remember when tanks first came out the pumps were an option but that was in 98...

[SilverSpraySports]

There was an option for the launch control system with or without the pumps. If you look down in the bilge area in and around the engine, you should be able to see if there were pumps or not. They would be mounted right along the stringers.

As far as the RPM's I would check to see what size prop you are running for starters.

-Doug

[davidirwin]

I need to check the size of the prop, I just had a new one installed. For the ballast pumps, the boat has a fill/empty switch. Could this switch still be installed even if a pump was not?