Re: Boating the Upper Chesapeake
I was running a 14.5 x 19 pitch, but I was only hitting 4100 rpms at wot and topping out at 42mph. I talked to the head mechanic at Tomes and he told me I need a 15x17 pitch. That only gives me a top speed of 35 and 4900 rpms at wot. A lot of people online are suggesting I go with a 14.25 x 19p. The smaller diameter should allow me to get higher rpms, but being a 19p I should hit 45mph.. All I'm looking for is 45mph and 4600 rpms.. The other possibility is that my 14.5x19p prop was fouled up, it appeared fine, but maybe something is wrong with it.. The mechanic at Tomes told me its probably time to get a valve job on my engine which would cost at least 2k and for that price I could buy a rebuild long block. If this new prop doesn't solve the problem I will have my compression checked and if it isn't good I'm going to buy a different boat.. I would rather trade my boat in, and put the 2-3k that I would be spending on a valve job down on a newer boat.
It's frustrating though because last year it ran 45mph all day long and rpms were right where they should be.. So I'm really hoping the 14.25x19p prop works...
We will be at Llyod's Sunday and probably camping out Sunday night and heading home Monday.. Can't wait to hang out! Hopefully a fight doesn't almost break out with other boaters.. haha..
