17ft fibreglass boat - wrong prop or underpowered?

[FordGT]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if you'd all be able point me in the right direction here....

Recently bought a 17ft Pride Cavalier which has an 85HP Suzuki on the back. I think its from around 1982.

The guy I bought it from said it hadn't been started in a year, so I did the usual and cleaned the carbys and fuel lines, new plugs, disconnected the oil injection to now run premix and checked the compressions which are all perfectly on 150psi. Seems to be running a treat.

Anyway got it registered and took it out on the water, and it can't even get on the plane. The prop on it is a 13.5 x 15" four blade, which seems odd for a reasonably small boat; I would have thought it'd just be a three blade? the engine sounds like its labouring real bad. It started to pickup a bit when it was just me in the boat, (had 4 before) but still didn't feel anything like I expected.

I'll post a vid of it later and I've got some pics of it in my gallery, but I was just wondering if it could just be the prop or I should really have a 115 - 140 on the back?

Cheers guys, any comments appreciated

Matthew

[Micadogs]

Hey mate, obviously start with the prop as this is teh cheapest option if $$ are tough.

I had a 16 foot seafarer VC and it planned easily with a 70HP on the back. I now have an 18 footer with a 115 on the back.

The 85 will be underpowered, but it should get on the plane.

Cheers Adam

[Vitamin Sea]

Hi mate

whilst an 85 on the back would be far from a rocket ship, it should be able to easily get it on the plane, it will be the prop.

Get some advice from solas or similar for a 3 blade.

Regards

VS

[FordGT]

Thanks for the advice guys; much appreciated.

I'll give them a call when time permits...

I know where I can get a Mercury 200 pretty cheap

[bf90]

Any idea what rev you are getting wot? I have a 90 honda on a 18 ft half cab tinne with a 13/14 x 15 x 4 blade solas and that bitch pulls like a 14 year old, I some how dont think you are getting full revs and or the donk is not running on all cylinders ?? Just my 2 bobs worth. As for the 200 on a 17 footer.... yeah baby missile material there mate!!!! Bring it on!!

[FishHunter]

1st step is to make sure that full throttle on the lever opens the butterflies all the way

[FordGT]

Definately not getting full revs when underway, revs out to goodness knows what in idle though.

When we were in the water I took the cover off and checked and the butterflies were open all the way.

Not sure what revs at WOT is as the tacho isn't working at the moment.

Video at

[Horse]

I don't think your prop is the first thing to look at. I have found 4 blade will give you more thrust but less top speed. You are not even getting out of the hole from the sounds of it. I wouild be looking elsewhere before investing $600 or $700 with Solas. You are underpowered for great performance but I would have thought it would run OK

[FordGT]

Here's another vid of when there's only one person in the boat. Its going slightly faster, which is why I was leaning towards the prop. I still got overtaken by the tinny on the left though...

I do apologise for not putting them up earlier, as they say a picture tells 1000 words.

[WalrusLike]

.......Anyway got it registered and took it out on the water, and it can't even get on the plane.....

That vid shows it definitely on the plane.... I am guessing around 20 knots.

I think get the tacho working before anything else.... Also a gps of some sort, or speedo to get the basic facts you need first. The trim is next thing maybe?

I am just suggesting the least cost method first.... Then examine options.

[ericcs]

try and contact the old owner and find out how long he's had that prop on for. maybe he put that one on to sell it. can't believe the boat has live like that for 30 years

[FishHunter]

I know from my schooldays that carbon in a 2strokes exhaust and ports cause a dramatic loss of power, maybe you should have a look there before you start spending loads of money. Maybe ring Solas and have a chat to them anyway to see if the prop is way out of line as well.

[chris69]

Ha GT now you have taken it for a run have a look at the plugs now and see what they tell you you may have a blocked jet or a fuel bowl is not filling i no you said you cleaned the carbys,if you were under load with a bigger prop yo would think it would be a little smokey?,but getting tacho going is the best thing for now.

[Noelm]

OK, lets look at some possibles before spening any money or time, an old 85 will be OK at best on that boat, but it will go, the boat is new to the owner, so, we have no idea how it went before, as mentioned, the prop MAY have been just thrown on to sell the boat, we also have no idea whether the engine is actually running well, the prop may be fine, but the engine is just not going as it should, there is nothing to compare it to! DO NOT rev it up in neutral, ever, that proves nothing, and can result in a rather unpleasant "runaway" there is just so many unknowns involved here to make any sort of informed advice, "best guesses" are about all that can be offered. My "best guess" would be to contact the original owner and get as much info from him as you can, and only believe half of what he/they tell you.

[FordGT]

Awesome guys, thanks again for the feedback. I'll see if I can get the tacho working, and contact the old owner and see what he says.

I'll try checking the exhaust as well; it didn't seem overly smokey when we had it on the water.

cheers,
matthew