Thinking of trading up to a 23 MXZ. Any feedback appreciated. How is the wave, stereo, storage, build quality etc.? Coming from a 2017 21 vlx so expecting a significant upgrade. Am I way off base? 

19 hours ago, MudDuckLA said:

One rider/no gear/flat lake/full throttle =59.8-60.5 mph. I have no reason to lie… I have since changed prop for hole shot and it went down to 49-50 mph prior to storage. Now running 35-42 rpm, engine hunting up/down at lower speeds/rpms. If I get this thing solved I’ll swap my props, run same scenario and post you a video…. lol  ;-)

13 hours ago, Woodski said:

@MudDuckLA - leaky injectors and/or regulator are prime candidates.  
You have a great performer if 60 mph is accurate.  What prop was on it then and what RPM was is spinning?  Sounds like a fabulous barefoot setup.

I am interested in knowing which prop you have as well.  Not just diameter and pitch but also what cup is on the blades.  I'm running an ACME 425 (13x13 with .80 cup) and I top out at 49 mph @ 4,900 RPM.  My engine is a custom small block dyno'd at 388hp, so pretty similar to yours.  I am interested in more top end to pull multiple footers (4 at a time to be exact).

14 minutes ago, RyanB said:

A bit of an update. We headed to the lake last night - same one I had the high temps driving to last time. 
 

Not much wind but air temps were about 10* warmer (low 90*s). Towed the boat with my Grand Cherokee L. It did much better than I anticipated. Road manners weren’t any different than the Ex. I never saw about 187* transmission temp. I was actually impressed with that. 
 

Got a call from the dealer the Ex is at this am. They are working super fast, just buttoning everything up now. 
 

Replaced the cam phasers (said they were shot). I’m amazed the last dealer saw/heard no problems with them. 
 

New timing chains installed as well. New valve covers and water pump. New transmission and new transmission cooler. New front diff. 
 

Around $20k worth of work a month away from end of warranty. 
 

I am super impressed with the new tech and dealership. Disappointed in the last dealership and surprised ford would put out a product like this. 

That bearing pitting is crazy.  I've pulled better looking ones out of jeep axles from the 40's

Hey guys, this is my first post after reading many troubleshooting guides on here so hopefully this works out for me. I have a 2003 Malibu setter 23 LSV with a 383 hammerhead and it’s been running great for the last year since I bought it, when I went to winterize it, it wouldn’t start up. It would just crank and crank and crank, but not fire up. I pulled the little silver pin and gave it a little bit of throttle and it fired up right away. Before I take it to the Malibu dealer is there any suggestions on what I should try and look at? I’ve read maybe it’s the throttle body that needs to be cleaned?

ANy marine store anywhere should sell a plastic plug wrench with a spot at the other end to keep a spare plug.  This one

https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Dog-520045-1-Plugmate-Garboard/dp/B002IVE9XS/ref=asc_df_B002IVE9XS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693769127408&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6851547098780427487&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019644&hvtargid=pla-493377336661&psc=1&mcid=e74dcf924a94355fa976322b3c9831e5&gad_source=1