Q on MARADA
Rick Hughes
indeed. http://www.marada.com/198ske.html
Now I know nothing about MARADA, and in fact had never heard of them
here in the UK - but they make a good play about I quote - "..Earning
the American Water Ski Associations coveted Endorsed WaterSport Boat
rating, this sleek watercraft delivers the performance the perfect wake
and the traking and handling needed for
wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and slalom all while delivering a smooth,
safe, and comfortable ride, even in choppy water. "
I am unaware if the AWSA endorsed actually means anything or not.
Anybody care to comment on this or on the MARADA 198ske boat ?
Rick
Tom Ruta
>Just read a test report on the MARADA 198ske and it came out very good
>indeed. http://www.marada.com/198ske.html
>
By chance was the report from Waterski Mag's BBG?
>Now I know nothing about MARADA,
Your basic I/O IMO.
>and in fact had never heard of them
>here in the UK - but they make a good play about I quote - "..Earning
>the American Water Ski Associations coveted Endorsed WaterSport Boat
>rating, this sleek watercraft delivers the performance the perfect wake
>and the traking and handling needed for
>wakeboarding, kneeboarding, and slalom all while delivering a smooth,
>safe, and comfortable ride, even in choppy water. "
>
That could apply to a Bayliner in this context.
>
>I am unaware if the AWSA endorsed actually means anything or not.
>
Gee.. I wonder <g>
Tom
Rick Hughes
No the magazine is 'Sportsboat & Waterski International' a monthly mag
here in the UK.
99.99% of all sportsbaots here in UK are Deep Vee hulls, and this one is
pretty radical from that point of view - it is a medium Vee up front
tapering to very shallow deadrise at the stern. More akin to a
tournament hull design but with a rear mount powerplant driving an i/o
leg.
They state that they have taken the tournament hulls designs and coupled
them with outdrive legs.
I have asked some of the more logical questions and here are some of the
answers -
What does it track like -
-The 198SKE tracks a straight line perfectly. I can drive at 3mph
-down our marina for 100metres without touching the steering wheel. This
-benefit probably stems from the wide beam relative to hull length plus
the
-very low centre of gravity (below water level) in the 198 design.
How does the i/o drive leg perform for pull out torque -
".. Each Mercruiser outdrive leg is available in about 4 gear box ratios
and good boat builders choose the ratio and the prop size/pitch to give
the performance they want the boat to have. With the 198 Marada use a
combination which enables the engine to develop maximum torque about one
and a half seconds after flooring the throttle. This gives the amazing
pull out but the down side is a top speed of only about 48mph and at
this speed the auto rev limiter starts cutting in. .."
190 hp seems underpowered what are the options, compared for eg to
Malibu with 320 hp.?
".. The boat we have been discussing has 190 prop horse power(php)
It is available up to 210php via electronic fuel injection. If you want
to consider LPG power at some future time there is a 205php normal carb
version as well. Do not consider the 220php+ versions of the V8 as the
extra engine weight completely upsets the boat balance.
I have driven a 198SKE in the States with 280php and it was a monster.
..."
What do you mean by 'a monster'
".. The 280php version I drove was overpowered, dangerous and completely
out of balance, on leaving the water at high speed it would rotate
upside down before crashing back into the water in about 3 seconds. Not
the sort of boat to sell to any one walking in off the street. Good fun
all the same. Marada reckoned it out accelerated a Ferrari from 0 to
35mph.Neck breaking!
If you are prepared to pay the price then in my opinion the best boat
would be the 210php EFI engine driving a single HiFive prop .."
What is the bow rise like - biggest complaint about i/o drives is
excessive bow rise when starting off.
"..Never noticed a significant bow rise on the 198SKE. I suppose if you
want to pull up two 15 stone guys on monos it would come up a bit but
then just have a passenger sit in the front.
Each year we have a Company boat for our staff to use. (Normal companies
supply cars :-) )This season we have a 198SKE. All who have ski'd
behind her have remarked on the excellent pull out performance and wake.
Comments form anyone ?
Rick
Paul Oman
> ...
> What does it track like -
>
> -The 198SKE tracks a straight line perfectly. I can drive at 3mph
> -down our marina for 100metres without touching the steering wheel. This
> -benefit probably stems from the wide beam relative to hull length plus
> the
> -very low centre of gravity (below water level) in the 198 design.
This isn't normally what skiers are interested in terms of tracking. In
fact it's not unusual for serious skiers to make special efforts (e.g.
filing rudder) to avoid neutral steering. What's much more important
for skiing is a boat's ability to maintain a straight path under the heavy
sideways load of a strong pulling skier. This usually requires tracking
fin(s).
IMO the boat you're looking at is plenty adequate for recreational
skiing. If you want to do some serious skiing with an I/O check
out something like:
http://www.sangerboats.com/models/zx/zx.html
Tom Ruta
<Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
>> By chance was the report from Waterski Mag's BBG?
>
>No the magazine is 'Sportsboat & Waterski International' a monthly mag
>here in the UK.
>
How much do they charge to profile a boat? How much advertizing do
they have from Marada? What is their ad/ed ratio?
...
>They state that they have taken the tournament hulls designs and coupled
>them with outdrive legs.
>
FWIW, the 184 DLX and 184 SKE (essentially similar it seems) were
reviewed in the last two year's of the WS Mag BBG.
...
>-The 198SKE tracks a straight line perfectly. I can drive at 3mph
>-down our marina for 100metres without touching the steering wheel. This
>-benefit probably stems from the wide beam relative to hull length plus
>the
Very few people ski at 3 mph. <g> Even my son skis at 10 or 12. What
counts is tracking at speed, PULLING a skier.
>-very low centre of gravity (below water level) in the 198 design.
>
Cool. It doubles as a submarine. This might be true at rest, but
then again, see above re: speed.
>How does the i/o drive leg perform for pull out torque -
>
>".. Each Mercruiser outdrive leg is available in about 4 gear box ratios
>and good boat builders choose the ratio and the prop size/pitch to give
>the performance they want the boat to have. With the 198 Marada use a
>combination which enables the engine to develop maximum torque about one
>and a half seconds after flooring the throttle. This gives the amazing
>pull out but the down side is a top speed of only about 48mph and at
>this speed the auto rev limiter starts cutting in. .."
>
The last two reviews of the 184 were less than complimentary for the
pulling power. Esp. if the CG is so low it makes sense. Aren't they
using std. Mercruiser engines?
>190 hp seems underpowered what are the options, compared for eg to
>Malibu with 320 hp.?
>
>".. The boat we have been discussing has 190 prop horse power(php)
>It is available up to 210php via electronic fuel injection. If you want
>to consider LPG power at some future time there is a 205php normal carb
>version as well. Do not consider the 220php+ versions of the V8 as the
>extra engine weight completely upsets the boat balance.
Nice non-answer.
>I have driven a 198SKE in the States with 280php and it was a monster.
>..."
>
>What do you mean by 'a monster'
>
>".. The 280php version I drove was overpowered, dangerous and completely
>out of balance, on leaving the water at high speed it would rotate
>upside down before crashing back into the water in about 3 seconds.
Someone is confused with a roller coaster. Or else hyperbole has set
in with a vengeance!
>Not
>the sort of boat to sell to any one walking in off the street. Good fun
>all the same. Marada reckoned it out accelerated a Ferrari from 0 to
>35mph.Neck breaking!
Not sure which Ferrari they referred to, but if it accelerated like it
did the test results should have submitted to Guiness.
...
>What is the bow rise like - biggest complaint about i/o drives is
>excessive bow rise when starting off.
>
>"..Never noticed a significant bow rise on the 198SKE. I suppose if you
>want to pull up two 15 stone guys on monos it would come up a bit but
>then just have a passenger sit in the front.
What is the dead rise?
>Each year we have a Company boat for our staff to use. (Normal companies
>supply cars :-) )This season we have a 198SKE. All who have ski'd
>behind her have remarked on the excellent pull out performance and wake.
>
To bad even the ever pleasant reviewers at WS Mag didn't agree about
its sibling. They cite lack of pulling power, small, hard slalom
wakes, inadequate wakeboard wakes for all but rank beginners, etc.
Maybe the 198 is a whole 'nother beast.
Tom
Rick Hughes
>
> How much do they charge to profile a boat? How much advertizing do
> they have from Marada? What is their ad/ed ratio?
I don't know I just read it :-)
>
> FWIW, the 184 DLX and 184 SKE (essentially similar it seems) were
> reviewed in the last two year's of the WS Mag BBG.
As far as I can make out the hulls are the same, but it is the bigger
i.e. the 194 that I have been reading about.
> Aren't they using std. Mercruiser engines?
Yes - but that is not in itself a problem is it ? .. the choice of
gearing of the outdrive couple to it is of course important.
>
> What is the dead rise?
Don't have the figure but it is shallow, from the picture it looks
around 15 degree or so.
Rick
Tom Ruta
<Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
...
>> How much do they charge to profile a boat? How much advertizing do
>> they have from Marada? What is their ad/ed ratio?
>
>I don't know I just read it :-)
>
My point is that you will get editorial bias. The more ads, the more
bias I bet <g>.
>> FWIW, the 184 DLX and 184 SKE (essentially similar it seems) were
>> reviewed in the last two year's of the WS Mag BBG.
>
>As far as I can make out the hulls are the same, but it is the bigger
>i.e. the 194 that I have been reading about.
>
Do get a copy of the 184 reviews then. Revealing...
>> Aren't they using std. Mercruiser engines?
>
>Yes - but that is not in itself a problem is it ? .. the choice of
>gearing of the outdrive couple to it is of course important.
>
I think the prop is the issue here.
>
>>
>> What is the dead rise?
>
>Don't have the figure but it is shallow, from the picture it looks
>around 15 degree or so.
By the looks of it it'll do well in chop. Have you tested one?
Tom
Rick Hughes
Tom Ruta wrote:
>
> On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 17:01:10 +0100, Rick Hughes
> <Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
>
> ...
> >> How much do they charge to profile a boat? How much advertizing do
> >> they have from Marada? What is their ad/ed ratio?
> >
> >I don't know I just read it :-)
> >
>
> My point is that you will get editorial bias. The more ads, the more
> bias I bet <g>.
I guess you can never be sure about this. Reviews in UK tend to be
fairly reasonable - but I take your point - they are hardly going to
'rip to bits' their advertiser !
> Do get a copy of the 184 reviews then. Revealing...
I now have a copy of 2 reviews from the US (Trailer Boat Magazine is
one) it gives the 198ske very good review, especially on tracking &
slalom wakes - but not so happy about wakeboarding wakes.
If anybody wants the reviews - I am happy to scan them and email them
out.
>
> >> Aren't they using std. Mercruiser engines?
> >
> >Yes - but that is not in itself a problem is it ? .. the choice of
> >gearing of the outdrive couple to it is of course important.
> >
>
> I think the prop is the issue here.
They use the 5 blade hiFive stainless steel.
>
> >
> >>
> >> What is the dead rise?
Now have the figure, it's 17 degrees.
The 198 hull is 20' with an 8'5" beam - which is pretty damn wide, and
it's heavy at 2700Lb with the 6 cyl and I guess a fair bit heavier with
the 8 cyl.
Rick
Tom Ruta
<Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
...
>I now have a copy of 2 reviews from the US (Trailer Boat Magazine is
>one) it gives the 198ske very good review, especially on tracking
I've yet to ski behind a recreational I/O that holds a candle in
tracking to an inboard. That is not to say that they can't be good..
> &
>slalom wakes
Any word on spray? The 184 was toasted on that.
> - but not so happy about wakeboarding wakes.
...
>The 198 hull is 20' with an 8'5" beam - which is pretty damn wide, and
>it's heavy at 2700Lb with the 6 cyl and I guess a fair bit heavier with
>the 8 cyl.
WIth a six that's quite a push.
Tom
Rick Hughes
Tom Ruta wrote:
>
> On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 20:39:40 +0100, Rick Hughes
> <Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
>
> ...
> >I now have a copy of 2 reviews from the US (Trailer Boat Magazine is
> >one) it gives the 198ske very good review, especially on tracking
>
> I've yet to ski behind a recreational I/O that holds a candle in
> tracking to an inboard. That is not to say that they can't be good..
>
I guess the reviews agree with you - while they say it's not a
tournament boat it is much better than a standard runabout, the reports
state a good competent ski boat that doubles as a family runabout rather
than the other way around.
> > &
> >slalom wakes
>
> Any word on spray? The 184 was toasted on that.
I quote from the email I received ... "Have today seen the magazine
article on the 198SKE. Look how dirty the hull is, guess that's 8
months growth. Hence the max speed was about 8mph less than that
achieved with a clean hull. Also shows the acceleration was a bit slow
due to the fouling. The photographer had my colleague Trevor pull all
sorts of stunts for the photos whereas the boat actually makes no spray
and is
very docile. "
>
> > - but not so happy about wakeboarding wakes.
> ...
> >The 198 hull is 20' with an 8'5" beam - which is pretty damn wide, and
> >it's heavy at 2700Lb with the 6 cyl and I guess a fair bit heavier with
> >the 8 cyl.
>
> WIth a six that's quite a push.
I agree, it can come with the 5.7L EFI 260 hp that adds another 100Lb
to the weight figure.
> Tom
Tom Ruta
...
>I quote from the email I received ... "Have today seen the magazine
>article on the 198SKE. Look how dirty the hull is, guess that's 8
>months growth. Hence the max speed was about 8mph less than that
>achieved with a clean hull.
What? Maybe if it is barnacle encrusted.
>Also shows the acceleration was a bit slow
>due to the fouling. The photographer had my colleague Trevor pull all
>sorts of stunts for the photos whereas the boat actually makes no spray
>and is
>very docile. "
>
No spray, huh? At what line length?
...
>
>I agree, it can come with the 5.7L EFI 260 hp that adds another 100Lb
>to the weight figure.
Probably needed.
Tom
Jason Craveiro
Jason
"Tom Ruta" <ru...@cadvision.com> wrote in message
news:fqa1vsk03nlij0ej0...@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 20:39:40 +0100, Rick Hughes
> <Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
>
> ...
> >I now have a copy of 2 reviews from the US (Trailer Boat Magazine is
> >one) it gives the 198ske very good review, especially on tracking
>
> I've yet to ski behind a recreational I/O that holds a candle in
> tracking to an inboard. That is not to say that they can't be good..
>
> >slalom wakes
>
> Any word on spray? The 184 was toasted on that.
>
> ...
> >The 198 hull is 20' with an 8'5" beam - which is pretty damn wide, and
> >it's heavy at 2700Lb with the 6 cyl and I guess a fair bit heavier with
> >the 8 cyl.
>
> WIth a six that's quite a push.
>
Tom Ruta
<jcr...@umail.ucsb.edu> wrote:
>What about the Sanger ZX? Not too bad for an I/O.
...
>> I've yet to ski behind a recreational I/O that holds a candle in
>> tracking to an inboard. That is not to say that they can't be good..
I would not call the Sanger a "recreational I/O". By all accounts
they make a great boat. Very few of them up here.
Tom
Rick Hughes
Jason Craveiro wrote:
>
> What about the Sanger ZX? Not too bad for an I/O.
> Jason
> "Tom Ruta" <ru...@cadvision.com> wrote in message
> news:fqa1vsk03nlij0ej0...@4ax.com...
> > On Fri, 20 Oct 2000 20:39:40 +0100, Rick Hughes
> > <Rick....@alcatel.com> wrote:
> >
> > ...
> > >I now have a copy of 2 reviews from the US (Trailer Boat Magazine is
> > >one) it gives the 198ske very good review, especially on tracking
> >
> > I've yet to ski behind a recreational I/O that holds a candle in
> > tracking to an inboard. That is not to say that they can't be good..
> >