Rave!
The rave is specific to the Rotax engines. The 717 engine isn't equipped with the RAVE, which stands for rotax adjustable variable exhaust. Imagine building a racing engine in your car. When you put all the good stuff on top, like a high rise intake manifold, a huge Holley carb, you'd think your built to out run everyone. Well guess what, if you didn't change your exhaust ports, your not going any faster than you would as if you were stock. What ever the engine breaths in, it has to be able to breath out. When I built my first hotrod, I got rid of the 196 heads and went with the old double hump 202's. The exhaust ports were bigger!
Well that's exactly what the RAVE does, except it's automatic. As you build compression in your cylinders, the internal porting of the bellows expands, opening up the slide valve on the exhaust. Essentially enlarging the exhaust so you get greater performance!.......
My experience? I own the 1997 Challenger!.....and love it. No, I've never rode in a sportster, but I can tell you, the 787 engine is the perfect match for this 14 foot sport boat. It's fast enough to pull a tube, a kneeboard and a slalom. I used to barefoot and with one person in the boat, I bet it would pull me on foot. But like I said, I used to. At 48, I tend to feel the pain from a fall a little bit more than I used to, so I gave it up.
