1988 candia 180 4.3

[bigbadchevy89]

Recently picked this boat up needs some cosmetic work. Currently has a 15x17 3 blade aluminum prop. Seems a little slow out the hole with 5 people and a full tank of fuel and i want to pull tubers so it will be worst. Once out of the water the boat runs great. Original owner always used it alone so I'm wondering if he added pitch to stay out of the red line area or is it just a lot under powered with the v6. Was wondering if anyone knows what prop came stock on this unit. Im turning about 3900-4000 rpm with people in the boat. I don't mind switching props but 15x15 or 15x13 doesn't seem like much prop.

 

[Chris1956]

Is that a MerCruiser? If so, a usual prop would be a 21P. However, sterndrive boats are usually butt heavy, and take some time and power to plane.

The real question is what is your max RPM with the motor trimmed? That RPM will tell you what your prop should be.

Boats like yours can benefit from hydraulic trim tabs.

 

[Lou C]

If it came with a 15x17 could be an OMC Cobra, that’s what mine came with with the 4.3-4bbl. If your max WOT rpm is low a general check up is in order, for the 4bbl models the rpm spec is 4600-4800.

 

[bigbadchevy89]

If it came with a 15x17 could be an OMC Cobra, that’s what mine came with with the 4.3-4bbl. If your max WOT rpm is low a general check up is in order, for the 4bbl models the rpm spec is 4600-4800.

It's the cobra and I need to test still with an actual light. that's just going off the gauge I'll try to verify further this week.

 

[bigbadchevy89]

Is that a MerCruiser? If so, a usual prop would be a 21P. However, sterndrive boats are usually butt heavy, and take some time and power to plane.

The real question is what is your max RPM with the motor trimmed? That RPM will tell you what your prop should be.

Boats like yours can benefit from hydraulic trim tabs.

Just seeing this. It's a a cobra. I'm about 400 or 500 low trimmed out. I want to be double check this though with a timing light as this is going off the dash tach. No way I'd put the investment of tabs into this. I was however wondering about a whales tail possibly

 

[Scott Danforth]

make sure the points have been serviced, the dwell set, and the timing adjusted (after the dwell being set). if the dwell is off, the timing and power will be off.

 

[Lou C]

On these the timing is set very conservative, 6* BTDC but with 89 octane fuel, with 87 you’re supposed to set it at 1* BTDC. Centrifugal advance on that Prestolite is only 12* @ 3200 as per my OMC shop manual. So even with 89 octane fuel you’re only getting 18* total.

 

[bigbadchevy89]

Thanks everyone. All great information. I wasn't able to bring it home this weekend from the lake so unfortunately I'm at a stand still until next weekend.