SeaOneEighty

I found it interesting that the 18' C-180 with the 215HP SCIC engine had almost exactly the economy numbers on BoatTest as the S200 with TWO 155HP engines on a 20' boat.  This was at best crusing speed and WOT.
Steve

And that is what led me to ask, 'Did they test a new boat?' Not only was the fuel consumption relatively high, but top speed was low. Were they testing a boat that was still in the break-in period and running with a richer mixture and reduced rev limits?

My C180 runs significantly faster than shown in the tests(GPS verified) and compared to other boats, does not seem to be any sort of a gas guzzler.

...thought about fitting a stainless gauze over thge intake to stop anything going in and presumably that which sticks to the gauze would get pushde off...

If you don't have to worry about 'hard' objects like sticks and rocks, consider taking the grate off completely. The grass will then just be blown through. Anything as soft as grass will be chewed up handily. As long as there is not so much that it will actually fill and clog the whole intake, the impeller will munch it and blow it through.

Others have 'sharpened' the outer side of the grate blade so that they more easily cut the grass and then let it pass through.

Make sure he leans back so you don't sub the tube.  Also use a harness and not the ski pylon to pull em.  My 2 cents.

jpeezy

Do you mean the harness that's made to the back of the boat? That's what I usually use. Is this ok?

We have pulled 2 that would total 300-350 using the normal ski-rope hook on the C180. There were no problems getting up and bouncing them around at all. There were 3 on board at the time, 5 total - all adults ranging from 130-220 pounds or so. Assuming your 500lb friend could actually get on and off the boat and the towable, I don't see why the C180 wouldn't pull. I would test to make sure. Somewhere near shore, but deep enough to be over his head, make him jump in the lake and then climb back on board!

If you are worried about breaking the normal ski rope hook, tie the line to the tie-downs using a triangle or delta harness. One line attaches to the two tie-down loops, the tow line attaches to the first and can slide around.