First trip out after all is done!!

[Bushwacker]

Dixon, just curious as to what your min planing speed is? Would think it'd be quite a bit lower than 18 mph with the motor hanging on the transom!

Mine went from 11-12 mph with the 300 lb V-4 on the transom up to about 20 with the 418 lb motor on a 30" setback bracket. Was able to get it back down to 12 mph with a good sternlifting 4B prop, which made a HUGE improvement in how the boat handled! With a 15.5x17 Mirage 3+ 3B prop it was very sensitive to the throttle; I could basically only plow along at about 5 mph or run 30+! It did not like to run below about 25 mph, would fall off plane very easily, and need a lot of throttle to get back on plane. With the 15x15 4B I can run virtually any speed/throttle I want, and easily get on plane with about only 40% throttle. Difference with the 4B was like night and day! Gave up about 3 mph top end but I rarely run WOT and would trade that for the improved handling any day. Denny

[WildBill]

Hugo she's sitting real nice in the water at my old boat ramp. Her attitude look's perfect. You did a real nice job and picked a perfect day to skim across the bay.

Bill

[hugo]

Bushwacker, what brand 4 blade prop are you running? before i did all the work i tried a trouphy pluss prop but it was horrible. would ventilate badly at the hole shot then run ok but much slower than before. it was a small hub prop with the plastic ring on front to close up the gap on the lower unit(between the prop hub and gear case) and i hade all solid plugs in it.

[hugo]

Thanks Bill, im real happy with how it all turned out. im going to raise the motor to the last hole up and thats all she wrote.

[Blue_Heron]

Looking good, Hugo. As has been said, the balance looks right. Once you dial in engine height, you'll be topping out over 50mph.

I noticed something in a couple of your pics you might want to check, though. The telltale isn't pissing as it should. If it isn't clogged, it's probably time for a water pump impeller.

Dave

[hugo]

thank blue heron, not realy sure what it might be with the tell tale, befor my repairs i had an issue running hot any where from above idle to 3800 rpm. at idle or above 3800 i was fine. before trying it out this time i replaced both thermostats, poppet, and complete pump. this trip perfect no issues with temp, ran colder than ever acording to the gauge at all speeds and rpm's than it ever has befor. but still a weak pisser.

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by hugo

thank blue heron, not realy sure what it might be with the tell tale, befor my repairs i had an issue running hot any where from above idle to 3800 rpm. at idle or above 3800 i was fine. before trying it out this time i replaced both thermostats, poppet, and complete pump. this trip perfect no issues with temp, ran colder than ever acording to the gauge at all speeds and rpm's than it ever has befor. but still a weak pisser.

Pull the tell out. Push a soft paperclip through it. Over 160 salt comes out of emulsion and attacks metalurgy...also in the crankcase...

I run about 147. If you ever overheat, you need to pull the heads and glass em. May have to shave the block as well.
Nice lines,
GFS

[Bushwacker]

[QUOTE=hugo;211864]Bushwacker, what brand 4 blade prop are you running? . . . QUOTE]

I'm running a PowerTech ELE4 15x15 4 blade prop, which supposedly uses the old OMC SST blade profile. It's made in the USA and beautifully finished. I previously ran an SST prop on my old 115 and it was a good prop with a fair amount of cupping. I was able to raise the motor 1 hole and I picked up 3 mph over the same size cupped aluminum prop I had been using. PowerTech uses the Michigan 2-piece hub system with a precision machined metal insert/adapter; the plastic part seems substantially more robust than the Merc 2-piece hub system (Flo-Torque?) which uses a crude cast insert and a relatively thin plastic part with some sharp corners which look like significant stress risers. I carry a spare plastic insert but have not needed it, with about 425 hrs on the motor.

I've also tried a Michigan Apollo 14.125x20 4B prop which also planes at a similar low speed. It's actually advertised as a bow lifting prop, but that extra blade will still produce more stern lift than a 3B prop. It gave me 49+ mph with a light load, but I normally run heavily loaded on long trips and it only turns about 5000 or even less with a heavy load. The optimum rpm for my motor is 5400-5500, and I turn about 5450 with the PowerTech, pretty much regardless of load; it has a much better hole shot than the Apollo. I also have a 4B aluminum 14x20 Michigan Vortex (aluminum version of the Apollo) that I had repitched to an 18 that I use for a spare. It will turn about 5500 but is about 3 mph slower than the Apollo.

The 4B BRP Cyclone and Merc Enertia are also supposed to be good offshore props that will allow you to hang on plane at low speed, but I haven't tried them. The 3B BRP Rebel is also supposed to be a very efficient prop with a large blade area and good stern lift similar to the Merc Mirage, but my dealer says they're normally used on the 3.3-3.4L big block V-6 and the 2.7L small block V-6 generally won't spin them up to optimum rpm on a boat like mine. I probably should contact Ken at Prop Gods to see if he has anything that would beat the PowerTech, but I'm already pretty close to optimum and not sure if I can justify spending another $400 to get just a small bit more speed or mpg! If you come to the Long Point gathering, you're welcome to try any of my props! That Apollo might work for you on that 200 hp motor and I could make you a good deal on it! Denny

[Blue_Heron]

Originally Posted by hugo

...but still a weak pisser.

Sounds like you've got the cooling system covered. Sometimes a little sea grass can get sucked in and clog the telltale. Try sticking a piece of wire in there while the engine is running and maybe it will dislodge something.

[WildBill]

or maybe a little sand has hardened in the tube. Like Dave said a little wire and maybe some compressed air. I havent missed many of the sand bars around there heading towards Elliot Key and Boca Chita. I used to call that pass between the two Key's "Disaster Pass" bent prop shaft, broken fly wheel key way, loss of steering and a blown cylinder exploded out of the side of the powerhead at different times over the years; right there.

I do miss that place.

sorry for the rant.

anotherweakpisserbill