Bravo 3 Prop Help

[cwadams32337]

Good morning everyone. I have recently purchased a 2004 Chaparral 254 Sunesta with a Mercruiser 350 Mag with the Bravo 3. It currently has 26P prop set on it and I am not able to go over 4,000RPM. It seems sluggish out of the hole and will only top out at approximately 35 MPH. I was initially thinking that it was a fuel issue because it will rev to 5,000 when not under a load but now after talking with some people, I am thinking it could be a prop pitch issue. I don't know how much elevation effects the prop pitch but the boat was run at 750' above sea level and is now at 3,800'.

I am going to test fuel pressure under load to make sure it is getting the correct pressure but I wanted to get everyone's opinion on the prop pitch.

Thanks for any help.

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. I knew of a similar sized maxum with exactly that engine, drive and prop pitch. It would rocket out the hole and see around 5000 rpm at nearly 50 mph. So you Shouldn’t be too far off that I’d say.
First thing I’d try is to replace the distributor cap and rotor. Very well known issue on these particular engines. This forum is full of similar issues…all caused by the now infamous mpi crap cap.

 

[cwadams32337]

Thank you for your response. That is the performance that I was expecting.

I will research and look at the cap and rotor.

 

[alldodge]

I don't know how much elevation effects the prop pitch but the boat was run at 750' above sea level and is now at 3,800'.

I am going to test fuel pressure under load to make sure it is getting the correct pressure but I wanted to get everyone's opinion on the prop pitch.

Thanks for any help.

Yes you need to drop pitch. A motor looses HP at higher elevations. Might work with 24s but most likely 22s, but I just guessing based on 200 rpm per inch of pitch

 

[cwadams32337]

Yes you need to drop pitch. A motor looses HP at higher elevations. Might work with 24s but most likely 22s, but I just guessing based on 200 rpm per inch of pitch

Thank you for your response. Would you check fuel pressure and change the cap and rotor before ordering a new prop set?

 

[alldodge]

If it was running good before the change in elevation, then not so much.

That said its a new to you boat so checking pressure is a good thing.

If your motor has the flat dizzy cap, then changing or having a spare on the boat is a good thing. Those caps have been know to cause problems and look great