06 Ranger Z21 250 Merc XS Set Up?

Test drove this boat Friday. It topped out at 55 mph (gps) and 5500 RPM. Has a 25 tempest. The water pressure at wot was 10 psi, should be 12 to 15 psi? Rooster tail about 1 foot over cowling. Im guessing the jack plate is to high? Boat planned out within 3 seconds. Ran very nose down. Didn't have much bow lift. To much boat still in the water with trim all the way up. This is first time I have driven a ranger or rode in one. Have plenty experience in bass boats, just not ranger. Motor running great. Does this just sound like a set up issue? Dealer says just set up issue and they are looking in to it. Looking for opinions?

Not sure of the compression or all the other engine stats,but that does seem a little slow on top end. Hole shot sounds pretty good. I would try a different prop and adjust the jack plate. My brother-n-law has the 521 with the 250 pro xs and we can get 73 with a tournament load and half tank of fuel with water temp.in the upper 70's.

Compression is good. This is empty boat with half tank of fuel. Just the salesman and myself. Filled up live wells and it went down to 5250 rpm and slowed down a couple mph.

That year XS motor should have a 6300 RPM rev limiter. I couldn't locate H2o spec. for that motor, but cannot imagine that 12-15 psi @ WOT is accurate.

What ballpark psi should I look for at wot?

PM sent.

Way low on speed. That motor SHOULD push that boat to 65 easily. There IS an issue somewhere, whether its power delivery OR setup, there IS an issue. May be more than one. Could be both power delivery AND setup.

Do not buy it! Take the sign and run away, I promise you will be sorry if you don’t.

Dealer told me they got max speed up to 62 and that is normal. I backed out of sale.

I think you did yourself a favor.

The sad thing is if I named the dealer this thread would be deleted.

Yeah but could or could have not been their fault.Too many unknowns, did they try to rig new motor or upgrade what was there or simply take trade and just check motor and detail boat.

How is them telling me 62 mph is normal not their fault?

heres one review I found http://www.boattest.com/engine-review/Mercury/14000056_250-OptiMax-Pro-XS_2013rel2498

just a comparison

They're salesman. Did you expect the truth?

Don't understand what your telling me? Do you agree 62 mph mak speed is normal on a 06 z21 is normal?

No I do not agree.

I appologize. Just passed they pulled this.

I looked at several boats before I bought my old antique boat. If your first gut instinct says walk. Then you walk and don't look back.

Back on their website for sale. Some poor guy is going to get it.

2008 225 Pro XS.. Wide open at around 6200RPM, and usually around 17-18PSI wide open.

There's gotta be something wrong with that set up

I did not mention that they used 4 different props and all different motor heights with each. Best they ever got was 62 mph GPS at 6000 rpm with water pressure at 18 psi. They continued to tell me this is the normal for that boat. This is also with one person half fuel and zero gear. Only a life jacket and throwable. Can't believe they think people are that dumb. Told me all the people on bass boat central are wrong and all the people on the internet are wrong. Have not had one person tell me 62 mph is normal for that boat except that dealer. I even contacted the owner of one of the biggest ranger dealers in Texas and he said that that is defiantly wrong. I feel pretty bad someone that doesn't know any better is going to get stuck with that boat. What is even worse is they are supposed to be a very reputable dealership.

It is a good looking boat tho.

Yes it is. A little yellow, but not to much.

I kinda liked the older ranger myself.