Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

[tryagn5]

I have a 268 stratos, 17 ft bass boat, with a freshly rebuilt 130 hp 2 stroke evinrude outboard. When I gps the boat I could only hit 40-42 mph. Seems it should be faster. This was at 5500 rpm...My question what prop/pitch should I have. There is a SS prop on there now, I cant remember the pitch, but im sure this boat should be in the 55-60 mph range. I blew the motor last year when a rod bolt failed so Im a little nervous about over revving the engine. My rebuilder said to keep the big v4 under 5500 rpm! This boat has an awesome hole shot, but I want more top end.
Thanks for the help!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Keeping that motor under 5500 will do more harm than good. In fact I'd bet there's more to the failure than a broken rod bolt. There is no such thing as over revving that motor as long as there's a load on the prop. The rev limiter is at 6200, maybe 6700 depending on which pack you have. We've turned over 8000 with that design in stock form and over 9000 modified. All with stock OMC rod bolts.

A Stratos likes props with a lot of bow lift lke a Raker or a Turbo Lightning Jr (if you can find one). A little set back will help. Are you running a jackplate now?

See if you can get the prop to a prop shop to see if they can identify & measure it. Generally speaking if the holeshot is OK but the top end isn't, we can play with the set up and maybe use a bigger prop. In the end the top rpm & speed comes up and the holeshot remains good.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Dhadley knows his stuff. I couldn't find the 130 in my limited library but I'll bet the horsepower is rated at 5,500 of course you should go a little easy intil after breakin.As D says let it rev.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

They went to a 130 rating about 94 or so when it was apparent there wasn't much difference between, or need for, a 120 and a 140 looper. Great motors and they make a lot of torque.

 

[tryagn5]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Actually the rod bolt was either mistorqued or there was a defect in the rod. One of the bolts must have come loose from the rod, as I found the bolt in the intake perfectly intact, and the rod was destroyed, rod broke and destroyed the case. But the threads on the one side of the rod was perfect.
The saddest part of this whole deal was this motor had less than 50 hours on it when it failed. I bought the boat from the orginal owner son, his father bought the boat used it one season then it sat in the garage unused for the next 10 years.
When I took the motor apart bearing were perfect, the crosshatching in the cylinder were not even hinted at being worn, Im a Diesel Mechanic by trade so I done my fair share of motors...I only wish that the motor had been run a tad longer before I bought it, because it would have blown up on him and been under warranty!!
Anyhow Its completely rebuilt and I want more speed, I do not have a jackplate on the boat, I have thought about it. Im hoping a prop change will give the speed I need.
Thanks
Kevin

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

See if the prop shop can identify the prop. At least they can measure it to see where you're at. Now - if you're even thinking about a jackplate, do it now. Don't buy a prop and then find out you need something else after the jackplate is installed. One change at a time.

While we have time, count the splines on the propshaft or in the prop. That will give us a clue as to which gearcase you have. That will help when looking for a prop.

 

[tryagn5]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

I do know it is the V6 gear case.. I might pull the boat out next weekend because I want to check the prop, and install my swingable tonque

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Is it a true V6 case or the V6 style / size that comes on some V4s?

 

[tryagn5]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Ok, final got my boat yesterday, cut off the tonque and made the tonque removable, was going to make it swingable, but I park my boat unhooked a lot when fishing out of town. So I figure this way they cant steal the boat, easily at least! If anyone is curious to how I did it I can snap some pics, my tonque was not the standard square tubing, so I did if differently.
Anyhow the prop that is on it is a 3 blade stainless steel Viper. Pitch on the prop is 14 3/4 x19, any suggestions if this is a good pitch or not.

Thanks Kevin

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

OK, that means you have the V6 style case with the 2.25:1 ratio. The downside is that with that large case you'll have a lot of gearcase drag. The up-side is that you can swing the larger diameter props.

From your first post you said you only get 5500 rpm so we'll be looking for more. The first and most obvious thing to look at is engine height. Try going up to see how the hull reacts. If you don't have a jackplate, are you considering one?

There are props better suited for your hull but let's work with what you have for now.

 

[tryagn5]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

I would like to not use a jackplate, my boat just barely fits in the garage, and I think the jackplate would be to much additonal length on the boat.
Thanks
Kevin

 

[evin268fs]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

You have a lot left to gain, I have a 268 fish and ski, heavier and slower, with a smaller motor, the 115 60 degree, block
Was running a 17 Viper to 44 GPS, 6000 rpms, and 19 P to 47 GPS, 5600 rpms, 5.5 under the pad, on a 5.5 setback plate, had prop worked to 18P and getting 6000 with two people, but gained water pressure back, seems I had my prop worked too soon. The speedo pickup was distrubing waterflow, moved it up out of the way and pressure moved up from 22 to 30 at WOT so seems I can come up a little more if I would like. Just bought a well used Raker 20P off ebay to try, and will eventually have worked. I out run a lot of bassboats with 90s and 115 even though my fish and ski should be slower. Great holeshot as it gets me up on slalom as well, not sure I could do it with a 20 P raker, just want to break the 50 Mph barrier, even if I still with my worked 18P most of the time as it is a great all around prop

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

If setback is an issue you could use a Bob's convertible and set it at 2 1/2" setback. On the other hand the additional setback could increase performance anyway.

 

[tryagn5]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Ok so heres my prop pitch 14 3/4 x19 3 blade viper, Is that the correct pitch for my boat. I really just would like to change props to pitch up speed. So what pitch should I run. I was thinking of trying a few different one in aluminum, then switching to another SS when I found the right one.

Kevin

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Question Stratos 268 with 130 Hp Evinrude

Are you still only at 5500? Have you tried raising the motor yet?