1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

[tlgreen22]

Hello everyone, I recently purchased a 93' Sea Ray 180BR with the 4.3 Mercruiser/Alpha One outdrive. This is my FIRST boat so Im new to all of this.

Question is, my boat at WOT, with me and one other person aboard and a full tank of gas, tops out at 38-40mph at between 4500-4800rpms depending on water conditions.

Okay, to me, this seems a lil slow but on there other hand, this is my first boat and actually the fiirst ski boat I've ever ridden in.

I searched the prop over looking for the size on it but the numbers are kinda worn off but I did get a few. It starts with an "M20" then the rest I cant see, and ends with a "19P". Therefore, Im assuming its a 19" pitch.

The boat whole shots pretty good, but I wanna get a lil more mph out of it. The prop on it now is aluminum and looks as if the previous owner beached it a few times lol.

Any suggestions on props or sizes?

Thanks for you help!

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

It does seem it would be closer to 50.Is it a 155 or 175? The dinged up prop might be slipping a bit.You might have it repaired and get fresh numbers.If a prop change
is in order you can use it as a spare.A gps for speed is more accurate.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

It does seem it would be closer to 50.Is it a 155 or 175? The dinged up prop might be slipping a bit.You might have it repaired and get fresh numbers.If a prop change
is in order you can use it as a spare.A gps for speed is more accurate.

As in 155 or 175 are you referring to the boat length, HP or what?

It's an 18' with a 190hp 4.3 according to the original sales sheet and owners manual if this helps

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

I was refering to hp.I only find 155 and 175.No matter at 190 your just more likely to make 50.It also seems to me that a 19" prop would likely over rev.Does the boat respond to up trim or does it seem to lay down like its glued to the water?
As a further complication NADA lists a 180BR at 115. in 92,93,94.
The 19ft SkiRay is 175.I suppose the 4.3 may have been an option but I still don't see a 190.Except a 180 in a 5.0.Your motor is a 6 cylinder?
Is the motor in excellent tune?Does the throttle open all the way at the carb?
Is the bottom clean and smooth?Did you look under the prop nut for prop numbers?

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

That's seems slow to me you should be able to spin that 19 to over 5000rpm.

My Monterey 180 with a 3.0 will run 5000rpm @ 43mph with a similar 19p prop. But the tune is so important I was only getting 38mph @ 4600 before I verified that the timing was correct, sure enough it was off by about 3-4 degrees fixed it and gained 5 mph.

Keep us posted what you find.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

I was refering to hp.I only find 155 and 175.No matter at 190 your just more likely to make 50.It also seems to me that a 19" prop would likely over rev.Does the boat respond to up trim or does it seem to lay down like its glued to the water?
As a further complication NADA lists a 180BR at 115. in 92,93,94.
The 19ft SkiRay is 175.I suppose the 4.3 may have been an option but I still don't see a 190.Except a 180 in a 5.0.Your motor is a 6 cylinder?
Is the motor in excellent tune?Does the throttle open all the way at the carb?
Is the bottom clean and smooth?Did you look under the prop nut for prop numbers?

Its a 6cyl. Boat is clean as a whistle, only some lake water stains on the hull that I havent been able to remove yet. It responds great to up trim. I trim it all the way down until it planes out then I trim it up and gain about 3mph. It runs great, has new spark plugs and such. Although, sometimes when I kill the motor after running it for a bit, it sometimes diesels for a bit before it dies leading me to believe that the timing may be off some. I can check that since its an easy fix, what do you recommend the timing be set at?

That's seems slow to me you should be able to spin that 19 to over 5000rpm.

My Monterey 180 with a 3.0 will run 5000rpm @ 43mph with a similar 19p prop. But the tune is so important I was only getting 38mph @ 4600 before I verified that the timing was correct, sure enough it was off by about 3-4 degrees fixed it and gained 5 mph.

Keep us posted what you find.

I'll check the timing today for sure, Im gonna take it out later and I'll let ya'll know how she does!

Thanks for ya'lls help!!

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Here is a tip for lake water stains try the magic eraser I use it and it takes them off with ease. Don't get it on the stickers though as it seemed to dull mine.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Here is a tip for lake water stains try the magic eraser I use it and it takes them off with ease. Don't get it on the stickers though as it seemed to dull mine.

Awesome I'll give it a try. The stains are only on the V of the hull. Who makes the magic eraser and where can I get it?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Is that speed taken with gps..and can you verify your tach is reading correctly...Boat speedos are not the most accurate things ...tachs to.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Thats not with a gps, I'll have to check that out!

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Magic Erasure is made by Mr.Clean Walmart has them just get it damp and go to it.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Magic Erasure is made by Mr.Clean Walmart has them just get it damp and go to it.

Thanks alot Steve!

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Well, I scored a good deal on a used prop today at the local marine repair shop. According to my research it's a Quicksilver Mirage 21" pitch. Part #48-73982-21. Only payed $100 for it, seems decent for what I've seen other used ones going for.

I didnt have a chance to check the timing and take it to the lake last weekend so Im gonna put the prop on it try to Friday. Hopefully all goes well and my speed picks up!

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Here's the aluminum 19"p im pulling off to replace with the 21"p. Looks like it's hit the boat ramp one too many times.

 

[nitrosteve]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

I think you'll find either your speedo is off or your tach. If your turning 4800 you should be somewhere around 43-45 mph unless the prop is very inefficient. Or the boat is full of wet wood. Lets hope its just the speedo.

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

The only gps I have is a TomTom thats in my truck so Im gonna put it in the boat tomorrow and try it out, hopefully it'll pick up signal on the lake.

I'll let ya'll know what happens lol

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Okay so I tried out the 21p today. Didn't notice much difference in whole shot. Water was really smooth today and the speedo read 43mph at 4500rpm versus 40mph at 4800rpm. I forgot the gps at home so I couldn't get true reading but the new prop definitely helped and I'm happy with it!

 

[tlgreen22]

Re: 1993 Sea Ray 180BR prop Q

Okay so I tried out the 21p today. Didn't notice much difference in whole shot. Water was really smooth today and the speedo read 43mph at 4500rpm versus 40mph at 4800rpm. I forgot the gps at home so I couldn't get true reading but the new prop definitely helped and I'm happy with it!