(Help) 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

[Tommyboy1835]

I am a new at boating, but know small gas engines well, that being said I have taken my new to me 1984 14" tidecraft with 70 hp Evinrude out this week. First time out it had a lean bog and I found the problem and fixed it. Now my question is this..... I have a gps top speed of 30 mph @5800 to 6000 rpm's does this sound about right? Is there anything I can do to get a little more speed out of it? Any help appriciated, Thanks

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

maybe change props. I can't remember the recommended top end but 6K sounds high. Was it screaming? 70 on a 14 is a lot of power; what is the hull design (flat, V, tri-hull, etc?)
I'm on my second mid-80's 70 and they are good motors.
Did you verify that you have all cylinders hitting?
Are you trimmed properly?

 

[Tommyboy1835]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Its a v hull and the motor is 1976 evinrude it has 125 to 130 comp on all cylinders it wasn't screaming to much and all cylinders are hitting with a strong spark. The rpm I gave was with just me in the boat it might be a little lower with the rest of the family loaded.

 

[pootnic]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

I don't know the boat but how heavy is it?
Sounds like it might be water logged,carrying alot of weight.
Does it get up on the water,plane well?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Sounds like wrong prop. I would think that setup would hit high 30s to low 40s, unless it flips over due to overpowering it.

Sorry to be flip (sic), but there are not many 14 footers with that much power. I recommend caution.

 

[Tommyboy1835]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

not a lot of weight very light boat, not sure how heavy it is though. I looked at the prop and it says 14X17 on it, I haven't learned much about props and pitch yet. It does plane well and out of the hole pretty fast. I carried it out again a little bit ago and played with the trim a little bit as I am a newbie and haven't driven a boat that much and I tinkered with the trim a little and it was on plane @ about 5400 to 5600 rpm's. Still runs gps speed of 30-31 I would like it to be a bit faster but this is fine.
Thanks everybody for all the Info.

 

[guy74]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

I test ran a 14X17 prop on my boat saturday, first time I ever used it. On my 16ft trihull, with a 1988 60hp Johnson, I got 33mph @ 5600rpm. My motor is very simular to yours, and in peak condition. I wonder if we are useing the same prop, the one I have is a factory prop. It has alot of rake to it, barely misses the torque tab. My factory 13 3/4X15 prop gives me 34mph @ 5700rpms. I was surprised by how the 14X17 prop preformed, I was hoping for lower rpms, and maybe just a bit more speed, it probably won't be put back on my 60hp.

 

[Tommyboy1835]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

I probably will not be doing a lot of prop testing, it seems pretty expensive... The boat is probably fast enough. I will use it more for fishing than pulling the kids anyway. May try a different prop when I can afford to spend more money on the project. I will learn more about boating in time this Iboats forum has been really helpful and I appriciate all of the comments

 

[guy74]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

If you were close by, I would loan you a couple to try, I seem to have a surplus of them, lol!! I seem to attract props, anytime one of my friends find one at a garage sale or auction, they seem to get it and give it to me, I have at least 6 props that fit your motor on the wall in the garage, and don't have $100 in the whole mess.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Sounds pretty slow for a 70 on a 14 to me.

I get 32.9 mph with my 50 hp 4 stroke on my 17' deep V, she is a tinny though.

 

[Tommyboy1835]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

It is pretty slow, It doesn't feel real safe at 31 mph, It doesn't handle real well as there is not much of the boat in the water. It feels fine on the straight away and a little squirrely if you turn it much,kinda feels like much faster and it would flip, but I am new to boating and have not spent much time on the water. Maybe it is something i have to get used to, but i do want it to be safe if my kids are gonna be in it with me.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Re: 14ft Tidecraft with 70 hp evinrude

Just because the throttle goes all the way forward doesn't mean you have to push it up that far when the kids are in the boat.