G21 Best Engine Choice

[new210]

What is the SAN G 21's best engine choice. I know this is a broad question, but I would like to hear some recommendations by others on the best engine choice for this boat. I personally have a brand-new G 21 with a 550 hp, we surf 90% of the time and 10% we wakeboard. I love the G 21 it's a great boat. With Stock ballast and few extra friends the Surfwave is very good. One of the reasons we chose the 550 for the G 21 was because our dealer said that it performs the best for surfing and it didn't pull the boat to one side when driving due to the fact that the prop size is smaller than the 17 inch on the 409. I am told this pull is much more prominent with the 17inch prop?
My question is has anybody experienced the 2:1 transmission on the 409? is anybody finding that this boat does indeed pull hard to one side when driving it? I've been told that there is a possibility I may have to put 300 or 400 pounds in the opposite ballast bag in the stern of the boat to compensate?
With my 550,I do notice a slight bit of pull to one side when I'm driving.I just weight the boat with passengers to compensate on the opposing side.
Could somebody with a new G 21 with the 409 2:1, give some comments on how it performs and how they feel their fuel consumption is when they are surfing the boat? just general overall thoughts on performance. Thank you

[nyryan2001]

with my limited 200+hrs of G experience... If I were getting a G21 it'd have the 450 or 550, period. if you plan to go heavy and push limits, it'd be a mistake to go less than th 450 or 550. if you really wanna push the limits of whats possible, the 550 is still considerably more power than the 450 on the 17" prop IMO.

If you are doing more of the chill family thing, or a more laid back approach, or 91/93 octane isnt available and your boat is kept on a lift? 409 would be a strong possibilityand do 90% of what anyone would ever ask.

frictional tq bias. ok, so the larger 17" prop IS more efficient than a smaller prop per se. no one debates that. A larger diameter prop will have less prop slip and a better grab on the water.

however, 2 exactly same weighted boats, a 450 on a 17" prop and a 550 on a 15" prop, traveling at the same speed will have the exact same fictional tq bias (lean favoring the starboard side). 550 prop turning at higher rpms of course... but the frictional tq induced would be the same to achieve the same speeds equally weighted.

This isnt something to be worried about, that frictional tq bias real world is somewhere is the 200-400lb category... easily counter weighted with ballast, passengers or a few 50lb lead bags. I wouldnt for a second let this have anything to do with my engine choice. its all about power and what you might ask of the boat... nothing to do with the lean induced by the direction of the prop spin.

[kodiak]

I'm so glad I got the 550. I had it at 5000 ft the other day with full ballast, and it took a few seconds longer to get to plane then half ballast. I'm sure the 450 at sea level would be fine but the 409? Not sure I would even want that, resale might be a problem too.

[new210]

I'm so glad I got the 550. I had it at 5000 ft the other day with full ballast, and it took a few seconds longer to get to plane then half ballast. I'm sure the 450 at sea level would be fine but the 409? Not sure I would even want that, resale might be a problem too.

I do agree the 550 is great. I just find it hard on fuel. Also, when cruising the boat I find all that extra horsepower not necessary. Have you tried the 409 with the 2:1? I am told 20% overall fuel savings and that it is totally adequate full ballast with a full load of people. I really am hoping to here from people who have the 409, see how they find it's performance.

[jonsquatch]

I have ridden on a G21 with the 409 a couple of times now and I have had 2 pulls behind it albeit at 1,365'. At 23.4 and 70' the wake is huge at 1/2 factory ballast and it pulls me up (almost 300lbs) like I am not there. By comparison at the same lake I was behind a Supra SC 450 with full factory ballast and I felt like I got drug half the length of the lake getting up to speed and the wake wasn't as firm or large. Last weekend we had full factory ballast and 7 people on board and it was still like a rocket ship and extremely maneuverable. Absolutely no complaints on the 409 in the G21 unless you are planning on going way beyond the factory ballast. If I were filling out an order form right now it would be for a G21 with the 409.

[new210]

I have ridden on a G21 with the 409 a couple of times now and I have had 2 pulls behind it albeit at 1,365'. At 23.4 and 70' the wake is huge at 1/2 factory ballast and it pulls me up (almost 300lbs) like I am not there. By comparison at the same lake I was behind a Supra SC 450 with full factory ballast and I felt like I got drug half the length of the lake getting up to speed and the wake wasn't as firm or large. Last weekend we had full factory ballast and 7 people on board and it was still like a rocket ship and extremely maneuverable. Absolutely no complaints on the 409 in the G21 unless you are planning on going way beyond the factory ballast. If I were filling out an order form right now it would be for a G21 with the 409.

Thanks, How many people in the boat?Curious what you thought if the Supra in comparison? Did you like the G21?

[seth]

Not trying to put words in jonsquatch's mouth but...
people in boat: 7
Supra in comparison: I felt like I got drug half the length of the lake getting up to speed and the wake wasn't as firm or large.
Like the G21: If I were filling out an order form right now it would be for a G21 with the 409.

[Andrew@OrlandoNautiques]

I have a G21 with the 409. Full stock ballast, 3 400lb bags (2 stern, 1 bow), boat gets on plane no problem with a few people.
While I havent surfed a G21 with the 550, I wouldnt expect the wake/wave would be too different just because of the prop sizes.

[sja]

Sorry if this is veering too far off topic, but I did some basic calculations and if I run 150 hours a season, move from a 550 to a 450 and get 20% better fuel economy I save less than $1000 even when accounting for the price differential between regular and premium gas. This is a personal decision, but the annual benefit isn't enough for me to want a smaller motor. I also wonder if the new gear ratios designed to get a better hole shot result in RPM's at wakeboarding speeds in the 450 and 409 that exceed the max manufacturers recs (any one have that data in the G21,23 or 25?)

[robertdodson]

I have a G21 with the 409. Have had no issues getting anyone up and have had full ballast with a fair amount of people. The boat does "list" to the right with no one is in the boat. It is annoying. A friend with same boat having the same issue. Nautique gave us 200 lbs of lead bags to compensate. Seems fine. I have no issues with the 409. Great engine.

[new210]

I have a G21 with the 409. Have had no issues getting anyone up and have had full ballast with a fair amount of people. The boat does "list" to the right with no one is in the boat. It is annoying. A friend with same boat having the same issue. Nautique gave us 200 lbs of lead bags to compensate. Seems fine. I have no issues with the 409. Great engine.

Are you happy now with the 200 extra lbs of lead in the port side? Curious why add lead perhaps fill port tank? How do you find your fuel consumption? Any other input on how the boat performs with the 409?

[JoeA]

You get one chance to put the "right" engine in a new boat. I like saving money but I never want to be disappointed while I am on water. Bigger engine = better resale value and easier to sell. Just my 2 cents.

[migs]

I recently pulled some riders on a G21 with the 409. Full factory ballast, 6 people onboard, 1 rider. Boat got on plane pretty quickly without any hesitation. When it was only myself & the owner - I did notice the pull to the right.

[oklaking]

We have a G21 with the 409 and are fine with the performance. Have surfed with stock balast and 6 people in the boat and its pulled up everyone fine, wakeboarding just the same. If it's just my wife and I in the boat cruising I fill up the port tank about 1/4 full so that its not listing to the right.

[new210]

We have a G21 with the 409 and are fine with the performance. Have surfed with stock balast and 6 people in the boat and its pulled up everyone fine, wakeboarding just the same. If it's just my wife and I in the boat cruising I fill up the port tank about 1/4 full so that its not listing to the right.

How do you find the fuel economy?