I had a prop and power problem (5150 rpm and 42 mph WOT), but now I’m getting 5750 rpm and 46 mph Wide Open Throttle.
With the prop, I hit something moving forward while in reverse (long story - as if what follows isn't) that bent the tips of the blades back and put a couple of cracks in one blade. I shipped it to Mike Meyer in Charleston, SC (a gifted and talented former GM mechanical engineer). He repaired it for $115 and shipped it back (~$10 each way). Check out the site his wife and daughter tag teamed to get a better idea of what they've accomplished. As a civil engineer, I'm impressed (although I probably shouldn't be) with a balanced, efficient prop. I'm trying to swing an ACME 540 or 542 to use the OJ as a spare. Sorry, I digress...
http://www.prop-repair.com/http://www.pitchblock.com/With the power problem, I remember getting 5600 rpm and 45 mph WOT when I bought the Epic 22 in 2007. I got 8 each Denso 3297 spark plugs from Advance Auto for $8 each, Mass Air Flow sensor aerosol cleaner, throttle body aerosol cleaner, aerosol brake cleaner, WD40, Sea Foam and Marine Sta-bil (everything under $200 - including gas). I cleaned the MAF sensor, the butterfly valve in the intake plenum, the air intake screen (w/an old toothbrush and brake cleaner), lubed the throttle cable a little w/WD40 and dumped the Sea Foam and some Sta-bil in a fresh tank of Amoco unleaded premium (93 octane white gas; ~23 gallons for $80).
Wow! What a difference!! It’s like having a new boat. After skiing and tubing the 4 kids from 7 to 9 AM Memorial Day, the boat seemed to be running 5800 rpm and 47 mph WOT. I’m not sure which made the difference, but the more I run it, the cleaner it seems to be and faster (Sea Foam?). Maybe it’s from burning ~6 gallons of fuel (~50 lbs. of weight). And no vibrations what so ever, just flying across the water with my hair on fire!!!
I calibrated my Suburban speedometer to several interstate mile markers (1 mile in 60 seconds = 60 mph), checked the speedometer to the GPS, and the adjusted the boat speedometers to the GPS; so I think its close enough. I had trouble getting the MAF sensor off because one of the nuts was spinning in the plastic air intake. I finally popped it out, broke the nut loose from the bolt, worked the nut back into the plastic and heated the plastic until it melted back around the nut (I’m trying to avoid buying a new intake - no offense Captain Rick; $ is just real tight). I put a speck of anti-seize in the nut hopefully to help it come apart a little easier next time. I have to remember to check those bolts each time I go out to make sure they don’t fall out (w/the anti-seize). Anyway, I hope my trial and error can save you some time and $.
