12 replies to this topic

[Atlantis]

Hey all
New here, new to boating and here is some questions
Just bought 180 Challenger was this a good buy, I read so many things about it and all of it was good. Have not got it in the water yet

This is our first boat as my wife got tired of the waverunner

1-Would we see diffrence in speed?
2-how is this boat for tubing with 5 people in it?
3-how is this boat for wake boarding with 5 people in it?
4-How well this boat will perform on great lakes
5-can I run the engine (after breakin period) for lets say 8 hrs with out breaks
6-how is this boat on fuel(full out, how many hrs will it run)
7-how close to shore should I stay on larger lakes

I think thats it for now.
Hope you can help me with some of those questions
Matt

[NEEPER]

Welcome Matt!!! Congratulations on ur new C180!!!

I was in your shoes a few years ago, and still consider myself to be fairly new...but I have figured a few things out...

Make sure you try to keep the weight evenly distributed from side to side, and the secret I've found to tubing is to try to keep the tube out of the wash behind the boat. If you can keep the tube out to the side by turning the boat it'll make for some sweet tubing!

The boat is a blast. I average about 56 with three adult men, about 52 with 3 adult men and 2 women. I've had as many as 7 aboard, but I think it was a little too crowded...JMO

The boats not the best on fuel, but then again it's my first so it's hard for me to compare. I can stay out all day on one tank, but we stop alot and just float around:) About a good hour and a half of tubing will take you down probably 1/4tank...probably

Never been out on anything bigger than a 10,000acre lake...so I can't help you there, and i'm no good at wakeboarding, but it skis fine with 5 people aboard:)

Hope this helps some! ENJOY!!!!


Bruce

[Atlantis]

Thank you
I thought that I bought wrong boat
and thank you for a hint on tubing
This will be the first thing we will try after the breake in period

[stevenh]

Welcome Matt!!! Congratulations on ur new C180!!!

I was in your shoes a few years ago, and still consider myself to be fairly new...but I have figured a few things out...

Make sure you try to keep the weight evenly distributed from side to side, and the secret I've found to tubing is to try to keep the tube out of the wash behind the boat. If you can keep the tube out to the side by turning the boat it'll make for some sweet tubing!

The boat is a blast. I average about 56 with three adult men, about 52 with 3 adult men and 2 women. I've had as many as 7 aboard, but I think it was a little too crowded...JMO

The boats not the best on fuel, but then again it's my first so it's hard for me to compare. I can stay out all day on one tank, but we stop alot and just float around:) About a good hour and a half of tubing will take you down probably 1/4tank...probably

Never been out on anything bigger than a 10,000acre lake...so I can't help you there, and i'm no good at wakeboarding, but it skis fine with 5 people aboard:)

Hope this helps some! ENJOY!!!!


Bruce

The dream-o-meter might say 56, but a C180 won't go faster than 46MPH on a very good day with a light load. Check out the results on boattest.com. The Speedo's on these boats are very generous for the most part (although my S200's speedo tracks my GPS well). Ths Speedster 150 with the same engine (215HP) can only do 56 with much less weight and hull. I looked closely at the C180 before I purchased my S200, but wanted more power and a bit more room. The C180 looks like a very nice boat with lots of room and features, but with a single 215HP it looked a bit tame in my book and won't break 46 with any kind of load (not that that would make much difference for most folks!)

Steve

[brojms]

Hey all
New here, new to boating and here is some questions
Just bought 180 Challenger was this a good buy, I read so many things about it and all of it was good. Have not got it in the water yet

This is our first boat as my wife got tired of the waverunner

1-Would we see diffrence in speed?
2-how is this boat for tubing with 5 people in it?
3-how is this boat for wake boarding with 5 people in it?
4-How well this boat will perform on great lakes
5-can I run the engine (after breakin period) for lets say 8 hrs with out breaks
6-how is this boat on fuel(full out, how many hrs will it run)
7-how close to shore should I stay on larger lakes

I think thats it for now.
Hope you can help me with some of those questions
Matt

Matt:

We just bought a 2007 just like yours a couple months ago and have had it out 5 times now.

The first three times out we just cruised around to learn how to properly handle and steer with the jet boat controls and get some launching and retrieving experience since this is our first boat too. Fuel economy was about 3 gallons per hour of lake time. We kept speeds around 30-35 mph (still in break-in period). With stopping and starting we went through about half a tank in 5-6 hours (less than two "boat hours") each trip .

The last two times out we pulled towables with 3 adults and 3 teenagers. Performance was excellent in my opinion. We had a SeaDoo Big Kahuna tube which we took back since it was a very uncomfortable ride. We just got a Super Mable from Costco.com which gave a thrilling and comfortable ride for up to three at a time. We use a Airhead rope (Wal-Mart.com) with a 5ft. bungee section which eliminates "jerks" in the ride.

We kept speeds around the recommended 20mph (the tube can go airborn at about 25 or so on turns if you like picking up riders). Fuel economy jumped to about 5 gallons per hour of lake time. The low fuel light came on after about 6 hours of tubing.

The ride, control and performance still make this boat a good choice even though it will burn a few gallons more than most others. I am sure with experience fuel consumption can be managed to get the most out of each boat trip and still have a great ride.

James

[ZZSDMSMY]

HELLO,

I HAVE ABOUT 16 HOURS ON MY 2007 CHALLENGER 180SE AND IT SEEMS THAT MY ALL AROUND RUNNING OF BOAT INCLUDING CRUISING, TUBING, WAKEBOARDING, SWIMMING, ETC. AND I DO GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 GALLONS A HOUR. THE MOST I'VE WENT THROUGH ON A DAY TRIP WAS 16 GALLONS, AND THAT WAS USING MY BOAT TO HEARTS CONTENT.

CURRENTLLY IN SHOP BECAUSE IM TRYING TO GET MORE TOP RPM'S OUT OF IT THAN THE 6900 RPM I WAS GETTING. CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT BACK SO I CAN GO AGAIN. LOVE THE BOAT EXCEPT FOR THE TOP RPM THING. SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY OF POWER TO GET TUBES AND WAKEBOARDS UP. HAVE NOT TRIED SKIING YET.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING TOP RPM OF ANY OTHER OWNERES OUT THERE.

THANKS

[MikeAllard]

HELLO,

I HAVE ABOUT 16 HOURS ON MY 2007 CHALLENGER 180SE AND IT SEEMS THAT MY ALL AROUND RUNNING OF BOAT INCLUDING CRUISING, TUBING, WAKEBOARDING, SWIMMING, ETC.  AND I DO GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 GALLONS A HOUR.  THE MOST I'VE WENT THROUGH ON A DAY TRIP WAS 16 GALLONS, AND THAT WAS USING MY BOAT TO HEARTS CONTENT.

CURRENTLLY IN SHOP BECAUSE IM TRYING TO GET MORE TOP RPM'S OUT OF IT THAN THE 6900 RPM I WAS GETTING.  CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT BACK SO I CAN GO AGAIN.  LOVE THE BOAT EXCEPT FOR THE TOP RPM THING.  SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY OF POWER TO GET TUBES AND WAKEBOARDS UP. HAVE NOT TRIED SKIING YET.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING TOP RPM OF ANY OTHER OWNERES OUT THERE.

THANKS

7980 RPM's - can't break 8000!

[ARC]

I am in the same boat,New guy what motors are in the 1800 1997 rotax 85 or 110

[jeepster]

HELLO,

I HAVE ABOUT 16 HOURS ON MY 2007 CHALLENGER 180SE AND IT SEEMS THAT MY ALL AROUND RUNNING OF BOAT INCLUDING CRUISING, TUBING, WAKEBOARDING, SWIMMING, ETC. AND I DO GO THROUGH ABOUT 3 GALLONS A HOUR. THE MOST I'VE WENT THROUGH ON A DAY TRIP WAS 16 GALLONS, AND THAT WAS USING MY BOAT TO HEARTS CONTENT.

CURRENTLLY IN SHOP BECAUSE IM TRYING TO GET MORE TOP RPM'S OUT OF IT THAN THE 6900 RPM I WAS GETTING. CAN'T WAIT TO GET IT BACK SO I CAN GO AGAIN. LOVE THE BOAT EXCEPT FOR THE TOP RPM THING. SEEMS TO HAVE PLENTY OF POWER TO GET TUBES AND WAKEBOARDS UP. HAVE NOT TRIED SKIING YET.

I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN KNOWING TOP RPM OF ANY OTHER OWNERES OUT THERE.

THANKS

6900 RPM Max...???

Looks like you have blown supercharger ceramic clutch washers my friend...my 2005 C180 SCIC pulls everytime at 8000-8100 RPM....lowest you should see is around 7900 RPM....lower than that and you have a power loss, mainly due to supercharger spinning freely (not driven) due to clutch washer breakage.

On tip...if you have to get this repair under the warranty, have the whole engine removed....the 2 oil pumps changed (ceramic debris ruins the pumps), and then once everything is re-installed and repair....(free of charge) ask the ceramic washers to be thrown away and replaced with Metal clutch washers...!!!
This is the only way you are going to have peace of mind.

I personnally changed mines to metal ones from Riva Racing....no problem anymore and constant boost = constant max RPM.

Hope this helps...

[jeepster]

As far as the speed goes...there is a lot that can be done to these little demons....on my 05 i currently many mods to blow the doors off....all depends on your wallet thickness (budget) and your objectives.

Among all there is:

1-SC metal clutch washers (first thing...needed...must...no choice...!!!)
2-SC higher boost performance impeller
(RR high boost, Grenhulk,Riva S3, Rudecharger...)
3-Bigger fuel injectors to replace the stock ones
4-Jet pump propeller replaced for a performance one from Solas (SRX-CD-14/19R)
5-Trash the stock intercooler for an external aftermarket one.
6-Block-off the stock location of the intercooler with a billet plug
7-Cold air intake+ K&N performance conical filtercharger
8-Exhaust resonator deletion and replacement with a straight pipe (improved flow)

etc...etc...and then you might be reaching for the 55-60 mph mark while having a killer acceleration too...!!!

But yes....stock it's about a 46 mph boat
(pretty slow i must say....SEA-DOO.....make that faster!!!!)Other than that it is a very good boat overall, just a bit too low on the front end....waves enter inside when riding at very low speed and hitting waves...! The bow cover should comes from factory on these C180...!!!

[doodaddy]

I just purchased a 2001 180 with 240 hp. Haven't had it on the water yet but I am learning to wakeboard as well, was this boat a good choice for this sport. I have heard alot of good things about this boat but I am curious about the wake that the boat makes, big , medium or what. Any other advice, warnings etc.... would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot. doodaddy

[jeepster]

I just purchased a 2001 180 with 240 hp. Haven't had it on the water yet but I am learning to wakeboard as well, was this boat a good choice for this sport. I have heard alot of good things about this boat but I am curious about the wake that the boat makes, big , medium or what. Any other advice, warnings etc.... would be greatly appreciated. Thanks alot. doodaddy

In 2001 there were none C180, the C180 is born in 04-05 i think, so yours might be more a C1800, the predecessor of the C180, and if it has 240hp you might be referring as well to the Mercury 2 stroke V6 240HP carbureted.

Keep a close eye on 2 things with this boat....

One.... is the pump intake grate, they got some spring loaded tins that tend to weaken with time, and then...they break and get ingested inside the pump, which can lead to impeller & pump damage or even worst....stuck on the water as the pump is seized on one of them....remedy....remove this stock intake grate and replace with a fixed aftermerket one.

Second....the little 2 stoke oil injection pump, it's got an internal little plastic gear, and if the engine overheat, this gear can melt, ending damaged, and then guess what...? no gear means...no poumping action = engine seizure due to lack of injection oil all because of a little plastic gear....have that replaced and get an aftermarket heavy duty metal one....long term insurance for your engine.

Sea-Doo boats do not give a very big wake, i'd say a rather small one.

[caherson]

Jeepster,
Wow thanks for the mod list!!!
My husband and I have been asking around on how to squeeze more speed out of our 180.
We only get around 44 mph.
Can all of this be done to a 2005 Challenger 180 scic?
Around how much $ to make this happen?
Did you do all the mods yourself or have a shop do the work?

Thanks,
Carrie