Axis Wakeboard Boat Forum

I don't know if I am happy with it or not. At times I wish I got the 450. I certainly never regret getting the 409 over the 350. But the whole ratio thing seems a nonissue to me. If you want more torque, just get a torquier prop. What you lose with the gearing, you can get back with the prop, no?

At 3600 feet, I get pretty good performance in my 2015 T23 with the 409 and the "high altitude" prop (1235 I believe). Empty top speed is 43.8 at about 5500 rpm. If weight is balanced properly, I can get my 3350 in ballast + wedge + 8 adults or so up to surf speed (11.8) no problem. The key is getting at least 2 people in the bow. As I recall, surfing rpms are around 3300. With 2 or 3 people in the boat and all ballast full but the wedge up, I can get on step for wakeboarding, but I have to get those people in the bow. If I have a full load, I usually have to let some of that ballast out to get up on step.

At 7600 feet, my performance is much worse. I've even had to let some ballast out if I have more than a few people in the boat in order to get up to surf speed. At my usual local operating altitudes, (5400-6200) performance has been adequate to do what I want to do. But I think I could really boost my weighted performance by putting a torquier prop on if I really wanted to. I just don't want to give up any top end speed or fuel efficiency because when I'm at 3600 feet, I go a long way. If I want to cruise at 37 or 38 I think I'm at 4500 rpm. Although the throttle lever really isn't that far down, it does get pretty thirsty running 30 or 40 miles like that.

Hope some of that rambling helps.

I had the 400 which was an indmar. I don’t have direct experience with PCM 409. But yes the 400 pulls about the same as the 350 with a fairly aggressive prop. If the 330 and old ratio was the stock option still, I'd go with the 400 again.

I am thinking the 400 used less gas because when driving from point A to point B the RPM’s were lower.

350 w/ the 2313... 3000 RPM = about 19MPH.

The 350 sips gas folks.... its unreal.

Test rode a new 16 a20 today equipped with a 2315 (15x12) prop.
Have to say it didn't seem any better than my old '11 a20 as far as planing out.
Was deffinently dissapointed, guess I was hoping for too much I guess.
We had 2 people in boat, full factory, integrated bow sac full, 750 on top of bow cushions full, 800 sacs in rear lockers that had to drained to atleast 1/2, with wedge down.

Low 40s at 5100