Skiing behind a 260DA with the 5.0 liter 260 hp engine.

S

sergtech

New Member
Feb 10, 2009
3
Is this possible? We aren't looking to catch some killer air. just the occasional adult skier behind this model boat.
 
Put the trim tabs down and hammer down the throttle. I pull tubes and wake boards and anything else that floats. Use a full length ski rope so your passenger stays behind the tail of the thrust. It's like skiing off piste. :thumbsup:
 
Might be marginal. I had a 26' with the 230 hp (rated @ prop shaft) 5.7 V8. If was fine for tubes and combo skis, but it was poor for slalom and trick skis. Took a long long time to pop a medium sized guy out of the water. That's very hard and fatiguing on the skiier. Those small blocks don't have the low end torque necessary for boat of that size and weight.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I agree with Frank -- a skier would be marginal. We have the 5.7L/260 hp/Bravo 3 and can pull a tube with a lighter-weight rider pretty easily; heavier riders are more difficult, and a skier would have to fight to get up. Also, as Frank pointed out, the boat is fairly slow to plane even without a tube behind her, making it even harder for the skier.
 
When I read this post, my first reaction was "something is going to break". I had 1979 260 Sundancer with Merc 260 (5.7 litre) /Alpha 1. In the 3 years that I owned it, I lost a flex coupling, broke a shaft inside the outdrive and spun the hub on a prop. I also blew a whole in a piston from pinging. My friends nicknamed the boat "Breakdown".

That boat was underpowered and overstressed. There may have been advances over the years in the drivetrain, but I wouldnt plan on towing a water skier with that boat/engine configuration.
 
we had a 2005 260da with 300 hp and we had done a lot of sking and tubing one time we had 3 skiers up no trouble had to work the trim
 
Sergtech, first, welcome. Secondly, as stated above it will be slow. I think if you start on 2 and drop a ski you'll be ok. Wakeboarding you should be ok too, but in either scenario it's not the most ideal ski boat. Like Jeff, I have the 5.7L and think if I(215lbs) had to get out with one ski it'd take me a bit.
 
Thank you all for the info. We are poised to buy a dancer this week. We won't be using it much at all for skiing. Just wanted to know if it would be possible from time to time. If I can find one, i may need to go with a 5.7/300hp config.
 
You can never have too much power. I think 260 hp is the minimum for the boat....if you can find the larger engine, definitely go for it, assuming everything else is equal.
 
sergtech said:
Thank you all for the info. We are poised to buy a dancer this week. We won't be using it much at all for skiing. Just wanted to know if it would be possible from time to time. If I can find one, i may need to go with a 5.7/300hp config.
Click to expand...

Where are you?
 
We had a 97 250 with the 7.4 V-8. It was OK for skiing, but I wouldn't have gotten up with a smaller engine, and I got up on two skis, and then dropped one.
 
Im in Fort Worth, TX. But looking all over the US. I found a few good ones. just trying to pick the best of the best.
 
sergtech said:
Thank you all for the info. We are poised to buy a dancer this week. We won't be using it much at all for skiing. Just wanted to know if it would be possible from time to time. If I can find one, i may need to go with a 5.7/300hp config.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the board and ignore all the negativity. If you wanted a ski boat you would get a mastercraft.

Sometimes we just need a more positive mental attitude in life. :thumbsup:
 
Don't take a chance with any small block on the 26'
Find a boat with a big block.
At cruise speeds your MPG will be the same.
You will have lots more power for towing.
And more top end speed for playing if you wish.

My 5.7 does ok.
I cant wait to repower with a 496ci Bravo 3 and have a bitchin boat
 
sergtech said:
Thank you all for the info. We are poised to buy a dancer this week. We won't be using it much at all for skiing. Just wanted to know if it would be possible from time to time. If I can find one, i may need to go with a 5.7/300hp config.
Click to expand...


Sergtech
I had the same question regarding a 2009 240 with a 5.0L. But as I always said.... you could ski behind my 34' sailboat .... sure it takes a while to get up but once there, you could ski forever without refueling.
[oh... that's right, I am coming over to the dark side and should loose references to sailing]
Have fun with it!
 
What ever you choose.
Do not get the 5.0 engine.
It is more of a car engine, Lacking torque. 50 ft/lbs less then a 5.7 engine
The 5.7 is a good strong engine.
But there is a fairly high percentage of 26' Sundancer owners with a 5.7 engine that feel there boats are underpowered.
 
I've owned a 1987 23' OV (5.0 2V - 200 hp), a 2003 240 DA (5.0 MPI - 260 hp) and now a 2006 240 (5.7 MPI - 300 hp). I've been in numerous 260s with various engines as well... so I have some experience to share.
First off, everyone's different in what they want and/or need for power. Personally, I like power and performance and the additional fuel I've found is not much unless you're idling or at WOT. The cost to have your (350) 5.7 260 go 30 mph is nearly identical to the (496) 8.1 at 30. The bigger engine isn't revving as high.
I wouldn't go with the 5.0 in a 260. It's way underpowered... you get a load of people in there with gear for the day... a full tank of fuel and some water. It'll barely get on the step and you'll have to tab it and trim it all the way down. Add in some watersports and... not good. The 5.7 is borderline in a 260 IMO. Even my 240 would be happier with a 6.2 or more in it. I think a beautiful boat with the styling these have needs to cruise at 30+ and you'll need a 7.4 or bigger for that.
This is just my opinion, I'm not trying to offend anyone!
 
Last edited:
dprvashon said:
Sergtech
I had the same question regarding a 2009 240 with a 5.0L. But as I always said.... you could ski behind my 34' sailboat .... sure it takes a while to get up but once there, you could ski forever without refueling.
[oh... that's right, I am coming over to the dark side and should loose references to sailing]
Have fun with it!
Click to expand...

How do you ski at 7 knots? Use 4x8 sheets of plywood for skis?
 
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