13 replies to this topic

[Yuji]

Just an update as to how my boat mods are going. I'm not sure if this will stay in the C-180 index or be moved to the Tech forum once I get some pictures and how to's completed but until then.

I just finished installing my Rotax Racing thru-hull exhaust. This includes drilling a hole in the back transom so that it exits the rear instead of in the pump cavity. The exhaust is now 2.5" aluminum pipe instead of the black hose and I have removed the stock resonator. This should make for one mean sounding boat and it will be quieter then having it exit into the pump tunnel. There seems to be a resonating frequency (2500-3500) at the stock exit and it's way too loud for me. In stock form it's bearable but once you get rid of the stock resonator it's just too much.

I also installed a cold air intake that draws cool outside air from the side engine compartment vents. I used a 4" flex hose with a 4" flowrite waterproof filter on the end which goes directly to the supercharger inlet.

I am currently mounting a XSPOWER external intercooler and have removed the stock intercooler. This will yeild much better air flow and reduce the inlet temperature considerably.

I took my pump apart and re-pitched my impeller to 12/19..stock was 10/21. In checking the progressive pitch I had one blade that was to spec with the rest being out of wack. One of them was waaay out and had burn marks caused by cavitation. The wear ring had normal wear but I flipped it around so that I will be starting with essentially a fresh ring. I plan on either installing a Stainless Steel wear ring or getting the Rotax Racing motor mount which reduces driveshaft deflection. It's the deflection that seems to eat up wear rings and a worn ring causes mucho' performance loss.

I installed a new stereo as well:
Aquatic AV CD player mounted in glove box
2 wired remotes: Cockpit and Transom mounted
Waterproof auxillary input for mp3 or satellite radio mounted in cockpit area
Sony XPLOD 5 channel amplifier mounted in glove box
Polk Audio 6.5"s in stock locations
8" Bazooka Tower speakers
2 10" Aquatic AV subwoofers mounted under the back seat and firing towards front of boat
HDR-610 Humingbird depth finder mounted in stock intstrument cluster

I might install another set of Polk 6.5"s in the front bow area but want to hear how current set-up sounds on the water first. The bass is unreal and should be even more kick-a$$ once I get it on the lake.

Future Mods:
* I may change out the Supercharger impeller to a Riva or Rotax Racing
* Researching some possible trim systems to get rid of the porpoising and slow on-plane times
*When the funds allow I will consider the Rotax Racing ECU but only if I'm not satisified with performance of the existing mods. I want fast without sacrificing reliability.
* I would luv to install some Hydroturf but I'm still waiting for them to produce a pattern and a kit for us C-180 owners
*I am trying to find an affordable boat tabel similar to what comes on the Utopia

Well thats it for now...I will post some pics real soon of my mods and share my experiences once I get on the water.

Yuji

[Kevin Leclair]

Wow, sounds awesome! Can't wait to see the pics!

[Yuji]

Here are some pics

Enjoy

Before




During




After

[thumper]

call me old fashioned but by the time you have doen alll that wouldnt it have been easier to have just bought a different boat with the performance you wanted? i appreciate that circumstances may have dictated otherwise, and you seem exceptionally competitent with you mods, but just how much of the stock boat are you left with!
i take my hat off to you - you certainly dont mind pushing a few boundaries, well beyond my technical knowledge - good luck with it

[thumper]

now bear me out here as i am a little confused

i know you originally removed the stock resonator for about 8 inches of 2.75 diameter pipe to let the exhaust breathe better - which is something i would like to do - from your last post i am reading correctly that by doing that it was unbearably loud????? or now you have a staright thru is it unbearably loud - could you please elaborate........

cheers

[D Lo]

Good to hear Yuji...I'll be following once I get my boat back and funds straight.!

[Yuji]

call me old fashioned but by the time you have doen alll that wouldnt it have been easier to have just bought a different boat with the performance you wanted? i appreciate that circumstances may have dictated otherwise, and you seem exceptionally competitent with you mods, but just how much of the stock boat are you left with!
i take my hat off to you - you certainly dont mind pushing a few boundaries, well beyond my technical knowledge - good luck with it

I bought the boat because it was a fresh new look and it had everything our family needed. I got it on the water and found the performance less then desirable (slow plane, porpoising, overall acceleration and top end). I chose to research what I could to improve it and I think these mods will get me where I want to be. I really think the bigger fresh air intake, truing rideplate and getting the prop pitch bang on is the most bang for the buck and can be done for next to nothing if you know or know someone who can do this. After that the mods start cuttin into your weekly allowance

The easy way would have been to just buy a Speedster 430hp but it was bigger then what we wanted and considerabely more money, not that I couldn't afford it. I figured purchasing a 180 and put in some elbow grease would be more cost effective. If all goes well I will have spent under a 1000.00 Cnd for my peformance mods...this is alot less then what Riva wants for their Stage II kit 3400.00 Cnd plus shipping/taxes/duties. There are a couple of items that are not applicable in the kit but u get the point.

Basically, I raced snowcross and motocross for many years and have always tried to improve my rides by modding them...it's a disease!

[thumper]

point taken - but what about the exhaust note - check out my previous post for the question - cheers

[Yuji]

Taking out the resonator and installing the straight thru, or freeflow as some call it, causes a loud drone around 3000 rpm. It might be different on your boat but I know the PWC guys that do it complain about the same noise. If you want to change the sound to a more aggressive growl, then you will like the freeflow mod...it's the 3000 rpm drone that is annoying. The stock resonator was developed to reduce db levels and tuned to the offending frequency but restricts flow thus leaving a small amount of hp on the table.

Choose yer poison

[thumper]

idont spend much time at 3000 rpm so im guessing that above this is ok? - i did speak to someone who had freeflowed an rxp and they said it sounded like a v8?
although i suspect thay hadnt heard a v8? what do you think

[Yuji]

Took the boat out today and tested all my mods. The exhaust sounds awesome and is much quieter then previous...I'll never go back to stock. My performance has gone up substantially with the work that I have done to it this year. I had a best of 47.8 mph last year with 1 occupant and 1/4 tank of gas on fairly smooth water conditions. This year I ran 1/2 tank fuel, 3 occupants, light chop with a 10mph wind and averaged 50.0mph. I then ran with just me in the boat and 1/3 tank of fuel and had a best of 51.8mph! The accelleration is improved with much better midrange response. Now, the mph increase is not due to just the exhaust mod but the sum of all the following:

* Stock impeller repitched to 12/19 by me (was 10/21)
* XSPOWER external intercooler with 3" plumbing (lowers intake temps and improves flow)
* 4" Cold air intake (Kanaflex flex hose and silicone couplers)
* Rotax Racing thru-hull exhaust (removed restrictive stock resonator)
* Filled rideplate/intake grate holes (used permatex ultra black silicone)

I have a 3 blade skat trak impeller to try and I am also going to repitch my stock one again. I want to be at 8100 rpm with minimal cavitation and quick planing and I honestly think I can get it to 53/55mph with some more tweeking and better water conditions (glass would be nice) ha ha

I installed my stereo and depth finder and am really blown away by the performance. I put in a Aquatic AV head unit and wired remote. Sony Xplod 5 channel amp, 2 Bazooka tower speakers, 2 - 10" Polk Audio subs, 4 - 6.5" Polk Audio Coaxials and an Exide blue top dry cell battery. I'm still working on the Humingbird HDR-610 transducer location but should have it operational next time out.

I hope to get some Hydroturf by the end of June and maybe come up with a portable table configuration for the front bow....sooo many wants, sooo little money

I will take pics of everything tomorrow and post

Yuji

[brade07]

Hey, I just bought a 2009 c-180. I've found the same thing the performance is just a bit lower than i expected. I would like some details on your mods if possible. Especially your exhaust and intake installation, and parts you used.

[H-do-O]

do you have any pics of the sound system mods.

[terrye]

pics please