New 05 C180 owner!!, 39 hrs, Tower, clean, justa few Q's. Cavitation on hlsht (Pics)

[SLOWBRAH]

After doing some heavy research (Thanks mostly to this forum) I found the boat for my Lady and I. We had to drive 5 hrs but I got a killer deal. It's an 05 Challenger 180 with the 215 Rotax. She has 39 hrs on her(verified at the dealership), the owner advertised the boat as having 70 hrs! I still talked him down quite a bit and am proud of the deal I got. He threw in a hyperlite wake board, big birtha tube, and 4 body glove jackets!! I am having some concern about the propulsion system because I can't "Hammer down" from a dead stop. It will cavitate and bounce of the limiter. So I have to "ease/feather" the throttle till I'm up on plane. Is this normal? I wouldn't think there would be an issue with such few hours. We also blewout the top section of the rear seat on the drive home . Anyone know if I could order another one? With three people in the boat on fairly smooth water I tracked 43mph via gps. I am very happy with the boat but I have a few questions:

1.) How can I get more "bite" for the whole shot? I really hate having to ease into the throttle. (Wear Ring?)
2.) Anyone know where I could get the top sction of the rear seat? It blew out
3.) I've read about a charger upgrade... anyone have link with more info?
4.) Are the Chargers lubricated by the engine oil? Is there a waste gate/BOV?
5.) What's the fastest anyone had had one of these boats?
6.) Anyone have any pointers for stereo upgrade?


THANKS!! Here are a few pics

 

[James.Moon]

I don't know about your 2005 but I have some experience with my 2009 180SE 255 HP. When new, it would hesitate for a couple of seconds before taking off when hitting full throttle from stop. Others had the same problem but one member found a dealer that diagnosed a sealing problem with the pump/ride plate assembly. After arguing with my dealer's mechanic for awhile and escalating to BRP customer service, mine was fixed on warranty. I have 105 hours on it now and it is up on plane doing 35-40 mph in a matter of 2-3 seconds.
I have had severe cavitation problems a couple of times when picking up a stick or weed in the jet pump. The solution is simple, fish it out although my dealer mechanic even missed that simple solution once.
Also, often first time out after sitting it is a little sluggish when hitting full throttle, however after going full throttle then stopping and starting again from stop it performs excellent - perhaps there is a bit of plug fouling (while idling through the speed limited channel at my Marina) that clears itself under full throttle.
I wouldn't expect wear ring either at low hours unless the jet pump has chewed through a few rocks or ropes or something. First thing to check visually is the wear ring and impeller condition.

Speed wise - It will do about 50 MPH per GPS = Speedo reads higher above 55 MPH. It really cruises nice at 40MPH about 6000-6500 RPM.

 

[SLOWBRAH]

Hmm... So these boats SHOULD bite and go immeadiately after full throttle?


Well... this stinks. Looks like I maybe wrenching on my boat before I can really even enjoy it....

 

[chlarson23]

The problem we run in to with these boats is that people don't understand the pump. they power beach thier boats or run in them in water that's to shallow or even drive over thier ski ropes thinking there is nothing to get them stuck on. unfortunatly for them they find out the hard way that they can't do that stuff. my impeller and wear ring were trashed when i got my boat, had serious cavitation problems but on the bright side it only takes a couple of hours tops to replace them both. make sure when you do you throw the pump in the freezer for about 15 minutes and the ring will slide right out, then leave the housing out and put the ring in the freezer for 15 minutes and the new one will slide right in. Super easy to do. good luck with everything.

 

[SLOWBRAH]

I'm going to swap the wear ring and inspect the impeller... unfortunately I had to leave for a work trip the day after I get my new seadoo So I can't pull them this week.



What Wear Ring should I order for my 05 Challenger?? What size is it??

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

I'm going to swap the wear ring and inspect the impeller... unfortunately I had to leave for a work trip the day after I get my new seadoo So I can't pull them this week.



What Wear Ring should I order for my 05 Challenger?? What size is it??

Have a look at the carbon dirve shaft seal as well, it keeps the jet pump from sucking air down through the drive shaft tube in your bilge. If the previous owner ran the boat out of water, the carbon seal could be toasted.

Click the parts icon in the upper right corner of this page and I'll take you to the page where you can select year and model, choose which parts you want/need and obtain part numbers or buy from the site sponsors.

 

[SLOWBRAH]

THANKS!!! This forum DELIVERS!!!

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

THANKS!!! This forum DELIVERS!!!

I was looking at that missing center cushion, seems like since it's flat you could make one if you can't find it elsewhere.

And while you're looking over the carbon seal, take a look at the bellows it's mounted in, it's like a rubber "spring" and it pushes the carbon seal against the stainless sealing ring on the drive shaft as the drive shaft rotates. If the carbon seal overheated from being run out of water (the lake water keeps it cool) then the rubber bellows "spring" could've been overheated and lost tension.

 

[RFoster130]

The wear ring is really no big dea. to change out You can use the boat like it is, it wont hurt anything. It just helps that take off a lot more with a good ring. Sucks you found out the hard way about seat cushions flying out. Thats why i will only tow my boat covered. They come out really easy. You could probably still find it new somewhere...but it wont be cheap. Id try to find someone with the same boat who will loan you theirs as a template. Im betting a boat upholstery shop could make it fairly easy.

As far as the stereo...i can give you lots of ideas...all depends on how much you wanna spend and what your needs are.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Yeah. if you wanna tow and not have stuff fly out, then a net works pretty good. I learned towing with a cover usually results in the cover getting thrashed, and towing in the rain is a bad idea too..

 

[RFoster130]

Yeah. if you wanna tow and not have stuff fly out, then a net works pretty good. I learned towing with a cover usually results in the cover getting thrashed, and towing in the rain is a bad idea too..

Im guessing you have never owned a Poppy cover They are designed for use while towing. They use a vaccum type system where it is drawn down to the boat. they fit like a glove. I am on my 2nd boat using their covers. Between the 2, I have logged over 5000 miles and both look brand new still.

 

[Sportster-2001-951C-Stock]

Im guessing you have never owned a Poppy cover They are designed for use while towing. They use a vaccum type system where it is drawn down to the boat. they fit like a glove. I am on my 2nd boat using their covers. Between the 2, I have logged over 5000 miles and both look brand new still.

Oh I see, LOL!

 

[kram925]

i lost the same seat cushion on my 05 c180 the day i bought mine also....they no loger make that seat cushion for the 05 but.....they do for the 07 its the same cushion the blue in the center is exact match the white on the outside is a little different but its close the only problem its 350 bucks but you can get one still...

 

[SLOWBRAH]

Yeah... I found them. I'm going to try and have one made from the material off of the "sunpad" seat so that it matches exactly. I'm going to embroidery "Challenger" or something else in orange. Finding that material maybe impossible.


I've also ordered a new wear ring... however after further reading and considering the low hours on my boat, I am thinking that my problem may lie in the carbon seal, or ride plate. Anyone have a good link for resealing the plate or replacing the carbon seal?

 

[pvamax]

I've also ordered a new wear ring... however after further reading and considering the low hours on my boat, I am thinking that my problem may lie in the carbon seal, or ride plate. Anyone have a good link for resealing the plate or replacing the carbon seal?

Hours mean very little in regards to the wear ring. It only takes one time. Sure, more hours give you many more chances at ruining a wear ring, but that one time could occur in the first 20 minutes you own the boat if you dont know what you are doing.

 

[pwgsx]

I put this stereo in and love it. Also has a rear usb as well with a 2ft cable and has the output to add control pods in your boat. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BU2M29O/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1