Posted: August 18 2010 at 23:57 | IP Logged

 I have recently purchased a 2009 Tahoe 225 5.0L MPI w/ Alpha One Sterndrive using a 14.5x19 aluminum propeller.  The boat runs well and was "new" although a 2009, we got it in June of 2010 at BassPro in Hanover, MD.  After spending another $1500.00 we got most of the safety equipment on-board.  Lucky for us there is lots of on-board storage and everything stows away fine.

I have made runs from Leesylvania SP to SH-301 bridge and back, as well a the upper D.C. part of the Potomac to get , VA. used to the ride and legs of the boat.  Again every thing seems in order.  Both runs used a little over one half of the 48 gallons tank while running anywhere from 30 mph to as low as 10 mph during the day.  Round trip times worked out the be around 4 hours for each although the upper run is a little shorter.

I would like to know how other Tahoe owners run their various boat around the Potomac and Chesepeake, things to know and watch for, places to go!  We could also share issues and common fixes to our respective Tracker Marine boats as the come up.

I keep writing too.  Thanks.

Posted: September 08 2010 at 13:12 | IP Logged

After some thought and various trips on the Potomac I am going to a Mecury HighFive 13.25 x 19 SS 5-blade prop on the Tahoe 225.  The factory supplied 14.5 x 9 3 blade prop will now be an on-board spare.

According to all the write-ups and calculations I can do I expect to lose a little on the cruise speed in order to get more acceleration from a stop (like when pulling a big tube).  Current cruise speed is about 28-30 mph @ 4000 rpm.  WOT should be around 4500 rpm (~43 mph).  I will watch and see how this effects mileage which has been around 3.0 - 3.5 mph when cruising.

Also after several trips now I have identified a drainage problem in the starboard side "cabin" (front of the helm).  Water seems to stand in there frequently.  I will continue to watch it to see if there is stoppage somewhere, otherwise I will talk with the boat folk about what to do.