Justenough1986
Recruit
- Joined
- May 24, 2026
- Messages
- 1
Hi all
i have a 1986 2850 contessa command bridge. Had it about 12 years andcso far managed to get it to plane about 5 times.
A llittle history. I got it cheap due to fact previou owner back it up on trailer caught leg damaging bottom of leg and snapping the yoke. There was no damage to shield. I got another yoke and brought a fully recon 280 leg ( apparently i dont think it was) after fitting and 1st run up river so about 6 knotts i checked oil and found it to be milky. Turned out to be the seal, not sure what its called but the square plate that the gear selector is, fixed that and oil was fine allthrough later had to change u-joints and top bearings..
i had taken itvon a quite a few slow trips but 1st time i opened it up, it blew a head gasket and made a mess out of engine. I replaced with a reconditioned engine from mercrusier. Std 260Hp
at wot about 4400-4600 she would do about 15/16 knots but make a big hole she sat in. I pulled engine put a comp cam extreme cam. Msd ign. New holley carb and although felt like she had more power. She still prefor same about 15/16 knots and a big hole.
tabs work when at dock but dont know if the work under load. I tried all sorts removed weight. Moved weight around . Replaced big heavy lead batteries with lifepo4 moved them under floor to reduce back eng weight, this done at different times over years. To no joy. about 5 times so far when she seams to get over that hump she make when she digs in. She has planed and done about 20/22 knotts. But very rarely
i thought she needed more power/torque so i built a chevy 400 engine. Bored 30 over full scat forged rotating assembl. Com cams roller cam that for 1200-5000 rpm range roller rockers 1.5 ratio. Afr 195 heads. Air gap intake and a sniper 2 efi fuel system with hyperspark ign.
shes running about 12.5 to 1 and 34 total advance. Pulls like a train but boats slower about 12 knots but a deeper hole. The leg on 2nd of the 4 holes closest to boat. I have tried 1st hole but not with new engine.
on last attempt she stuck in gear. Managed to get her out but bent a gear cable which snapped when trying to straighten it. Snapped. She will go in one gear fine but unless doing over 1500rpm jumps in and out of gear and doesnt change no matter how much i adj. cable
when i built engine i got a 16x17 prop and on last attempt she would do about 12 knotts ar 3200 rpm. So i swapped out for 16x13 i gad and she still do about 12knotts at 4400 rpm
now i can buy a fully recon 280 leg from a know good dealer and put new bigger trim tabs on her at about the cost of £5000 but will it fix issue and plane or am i just throwing away good money
shes had hull cleaned and antifouling not made any difference
sorry for long post but wanted to give as much info as possible
anyone have any ideas ?
thanks
andrew
i have a 1986 2850 contessa command bridge. Had it about 12 years andcso far managed to get it to plane about 5 times.
A llittle history. I got it cheap due to fact previou owner back it up on trailer caught leg damaging bottom of leg and snapping the yoke. There was no damage to shield. I got another yoke and brought a fully recon 280 leg ( apparently i dont think it was) after fitting and 1st run up river so about 6 knotts i checked oil and found it to be milky. Turned out to be the seal, not sure what its called but the square plate that the gear selector is, fixed that and oil was fine allthrough later had to change u-joints and top bearings..
i had taken itvon a quite a few slow trips but 1st time i opened it up, it blew a head gasket and made a mess out of engine. I replaced with a reconditioned engine from mercrusier. Std 260Hp
at wot about 4400-4600 she would do about 15/16 knots but make a big hole she sat in. I pulled engine put a comp cam extreme cam. Msd ign. New holley carb and although felt like she had more power. She still prefor same about 15/16 knots and a big hole.
tabs work when at dock but dont know if the work under load. I tried all sorts removed weight. Moved weight around . Replaced big heavy lead batteries with lifepo4 moved them under floor to reduce back eng weight, this done at different times over years. To no joy. about 5 times so far when she seams to get over that hump she make when she digs in. She has planed and done about 20/22 knotts. But very rarely
i thought she needed more power/torque so i built a chevy 400 engine. Bored 30 over full scat forged rotating assembl. Com cams roller cam that for 1200-5000 rpm range roller rockers 1.5 ratio. Afr 195 heads. Air gap intake and a sniper 2 efi fuel system with hyperspark ign.
shes running about 12.5 to 1 and 34 total advance. Pulls like a train but boats slower about 12 knots but a deeper hole. The leg on 2nd of the 4 holes closest to boat. I have tried 1st hole but not with new engine.
on last attempt she stuck in gear. Managed to get her out but bent a gear cable which snapped when trying to straighten it. Snapped. She will go in one gear fine but unless doing over 1500rpm jumps in and out of gear and doesnt change no matter how much i adj. cable
when i built engine i got a 16x17 prop and on last attempt she would do about 12 knotts ar 3200 rpm. So i swapped out for 16x13 i gad and she still do about 12knotts at 4400 rpm
now i can buy a fully recon 280 leg from a know good dealer and put new bigger trim tabs on her at about the cost of £5000 but will it fix issue and plane or am i just throwing away good money
shes had hull cleaned and antifouling not made any difference
sorry for long post but wanted to give as much info as possible
anyone have any ideas ?
thanks
andrew