Looking for better hole shot - Stingray 185 w/ 3.0l Volvo

[Donnyd21]

05' Stingray 185 LX (18.5 ft), 3.0 volvo penta with SX drive, Solas

aluminum ​

14.3x21 prop currently installed, runs at 4400 RPM WOT (half tank fuel, 2 adults and 2 small kids on board with equipment). Has great top end but is a turd getting up to speed, is there a prop to give a better hole shot without sacrificing too much top end? I know its a little 4 cyl but there has to be something to help. Smart Tabs will be installed this week.

 

[Starcraft5834]

is 4400 rpm the recommended WOT for that engine? I'm familiar with Mercruisers as I had one.. that was 4800.. if the Volvo is same.. you've got to much prop. moving to a 19 p should get you in recommended range.. if you went with a 4 blade your hole shot would improve greatly.. you'd lose 1-2 mph top end with a 4 blade typically... but hole shot and staying on plane at slower speeds will improve greatly with a 4 blade.

 

[alldodge]

^^Agree

14.3x21 prop currently installed, runs at 4400 RPM WOT

If (the big IF) your tach is accurate, change to a 19 pitch which will increase hole shot and get your WOT around 4800 rpm

Smart tabs will increase drag and reduce speed. It may help getting on plane :noidea: maybe not

 

[Donnyd21]

Thanks guys

 

[Donnyd21]

is 4400 rpm the recommended WOT for that engine? I'm familiar with Mercruisers as I had one.. that was 4800.. if the Volvo is same.. you've got to much prop. moving to a 19 p should get you in recommended range.. if you went with a 4 blade your hole shot would improve greatly.. you'd lose 1-2 mph top end with a 4 blade typically... but hole shot and staying on plane at slower speeds will improve greatly with a 4 blade.

What 4 blade would you recommend? RPM range is 4400-4800 I believe

 

[Starcraft5834]

When i had a cuddy with a 3.0.. was a Solas Amita 4 blade.. worked well for me

 

[jimmbo]

A 4 blade will definitely kill your Top End. Myself, I would put a 19 on it, your Top Speed will be about the same, but the Hole Shot will improve.

 

[QBhoy]

Be a terrible shame to put smart tabs on a fast sleek hull like a stingray...just my thoughts.

 

[JimS123]

Be a terrible shame to put smart tabs on a fast sleek hull like a stingray...just my thoughts.

Interesting comment.

My Stingray had a very slight issue not accepting full trim, so I put on a set of fixed but adjustable trim tabs. Dialed her in and gained a few mph in the process. The performance increase was awesome.

A year later we had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Stingray plant, plus sea trialed every boat in the lineup on Stingray's private lake. At Dinner that night with Mr Fink I brought up the subject and of course his answer was best hull, don't need it, yada, yada.

The following year fixed tabs were available as a factory option.

Back to the question.....I ran a 20" SS cupped prop on a 19' Stingray and hit 4800. Maybe your hull has some water in it, or you are carrying some extra weight somewhere.

 

[Scott06]

What 4 blade would you recommend? RPM range is 4400-4800 I believe

I had very good luck with a Michigan vortex 4 blade on a 3.0 (sea ray 170 ).had two of them 18” for general crusiing and pulling tubes, 16” for skiers

 

[QBhoy]

Interesting comment.

My Stingray had a very slight issue not accepting full trim, so I put on a set of fixed but adjustable trim tabs. Dialed her in and gained a few mph in the process. The performance increase was awesome.

A year later we had the opportunity to take a guided tour of the Stingray plant, plus sea trialed every boat in the lineup on Stingray's private lake. At Dinner that night with Mr Fink I brought up the subject and of course his answer was best hull, don't need it, yada, yada.

The following year fixed tabs were available as a factory option.

Back to the question.....I ran a 20" SS cupped prop on a 19' Stingray and hit 4800. Maybe your hull has some water in it, or you are carrying some extra weight somewhere.

Interesting read there Jim...what was the issue with it accepting trim ? Was it something that a bit of experimenting with props might sort out these days ?

 

[harringtondav]

I agree with the 19" pitch suggestions. Fairly accurate rule of thumb is +- 200 rpm for each +-1" change in prop pitch. That would put you close to 4800 rpm WOT. Normally considered OK, and would give you more oomph out of the hole.

My opinion is an 18' boat is near max size for the 3.0L. Gear it down a bit with the 19" prop.

 

[JimS123]

Interesting read there Jim...what was the issue with it accepting trim ? Was it something that a bit of experimenting with props might sort out these days ?

The boat would porpoise badly if I trimmed up far enough for the hull to make some serious speed.

The boat was factory ordered with a SS prop. At the time they supplied 21" Michigans and touted them to be the best. Soon after I had it repitched to 20" and that brought the rpms up to max with the normal load on the boat.

In the last 36 years there have been so many improvements in prop design that I wouldn't be surprised if a different prop would have cured the issue. But since the boat exceeded all of my expectations I saw no need to make any changes. A 19 footer that will hit the upper 40's with a little 4-banger ain't too shabby!

 

[Starcraft5834]

with a 4 blade on it, you wont need smart tabs.. my 2 c. a proper 4 blade will blow that boat out of the water on plane quickly, as to killing your top end.. nah....... only a few mph lost...

 

[JimS123]

with a 4 blade on it, you wont need smart tabs.. my 2 c. a proper 4 blade will blow that boat out of the water on plane quickly, as to killing your top end.. nah....... only a few mph lost...

And there's the rub!

You are right in all areas.

The problem is that "SPEED" is always the #1 consideration. Loose a couple mph and its the end of the world.

The real issue is our priorities. Do we want to have a fine time with the family, or go faster than the Jones down the street?

 

[jimbo_jwc]

I agree with the 19" pitch suggestions , I run a SS vented prop of that size on a 3.0L 196 Sea Rage and get good out of the hole shot and will top out around 5K with just me mid to upper 40's on the top MPH .Its my favorite for cruising Lake Erie,Cumberland its a little fast for trolling but when on Erie and loaded I put on my 4 Blade Alum 18" pitch.

 

[Starcraft5834]

And there's the rub!

You are right in all areas.

The problem is that "SPEED" is always the #1 consideration. Loose a couple mph and its the end of the world.

The real issue is our priorities. Do we want to have a fine time with the family, or go faster than the Jones down the street?

^^^^ truth.... when I had a heavy cuddy with a 3.0, it needed the 4 blade,, did the job very well for me. Speed kills on the water.. I'd rather live to boat....

 

[Donnyd21]

Updating this post. I had a 14.3x21 as stock, I switched to a 14.5x19p prop AND installed the smart tabs. NIGHT AND DAY difference, boat is on plain in less than 3 seconds and hole shot is greatly improved, its right where I want it. I did lose 1-2 MPH top speed (don't care) and my WOT RPM is at the upper limit so its perfect. Make pulling a tube a lot easier.