Plane question

[ROBDOG1]

I got my 1993 20ft Stringray (bowrider)with a 4.3L Merc back on the water and everything is running good except it takes so long to get up on plane.

If I load the bow with weight it does great but 1-2 people it takes for ever to get on plane.

Any tips out there?

Thanks again for your help.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Plane question

When you get up on plane what RPM is it capable of.Wot should be 4400=4600 .Check the plugs.Check the compression.How many people? Is the foam floation waterlogged? Do you start with the drive all the way down?Trim tabs ,up or down? Post your answers.J

 

[ROBDOG1]

Re: Plane question

4000-4500 RPM'S is no problem
Plugs good
Compression- not sure but engine sounds great
2 adults
Foam Floation- ???
Drive all the way down
Trim down

I never mess with the trim except loading and shallow water

Any bolt-on after market gadgets??

 

[Bondo]

Re: Plane question

Ayuh,... Is th hull Straight,..??

 

[ROBDOG1]

Re: Plane question

wow............are u kidding me?

 

[RL Gman]

Re: Plane question

Is there more bow rise when pulling out of the hole than your used to??

If the engine is sounding good and is hitting the RPM's your mentioning, it sounds more like a boat problem.

Seems simple, but are you sure there is no water in the bildge? And jerry is talking about having the foam in the hull filled with water making the boat extreamly heavy.

 

[alien4fish]

Re: Plane question

post

check your bilge for water,
are "feeling heavier" in the water compared to last season? is the boat the sitting lower in water than you last remembered? how did you store your boat?
You could have rain water/snow that may have intrusion

 

[ROBDOG1]

Re: Plane question

No water in the bilge area....always store on a lift with the drain plug out and in the winter with the cover and bow is higher for drainage.

The boat has always been a dog untill it gets on plane, i think it is the hull design (Stingray Boat).

Would a fin bolted on the lower unit help?

 

[krisnowicki]

Re: Plane question

smaller pitched prop will help. Also, make sure the trim is all the way down.

 

[alien4fish]

Re: Plane question

yeah the fin i think you are talking about mounts on the out drive, and yes it should help with the porpoising and will help keep you up on plane. It will also help with cavition

 

[rjwoodrome]

Re: Plane question

Just my opinion. But leave the prop alone. But do make sure the trim is really all the way down. that thing should pop is seconds, or less than 100ft.
My old 23' 1985 with a 470. from hole shot to up on plane. is suprisingly quick with the stock propeller..

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Plane question

Not related to you post topic, but I wouldn't recommend leaving the plug out of the boat while it's on the lift. If the lift gets a leak and lowers the boat into the water, you're going to have a soggy boat and most likely a ruined engine/electronics. Unless you store the boat on land, I would keep that plug in. My .02.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Plane question

Forget the fin on the outdrive. If you want, do a search here for smart tabs. Just a little more expensive than a fin but much better results.

What is the condition of the prop? Have you checked to see if the prop hub is starting to spin?

 

[starsnstripers]

Re: Plane question

I put an angled up dont remember the brand, fin on my 21' 4.3 last season and it had a noticable difference getting up on plane quicker, I'd try one. Hope fully boats not water saturated? Did the searays have the foam cored in the hull? Hows your water line in the water, look lined up? Maybe find a scale and geet it weighed.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Plane question

The boat has always been a dog untill it gets on plane, i think it is the hull design (Stingray Boat)

that could be the crux of it. don't know about the older stingrays, but from what i get, the hull design is designed for speed, not getting out of the hole. got me a buddy that's on his second stingray, an '07 195 and now a '10 205. the '07 had smart tabs and he says the '10 is gonna get them. both were/are slow out of the hole, both had/have porpoising issues. smart tabs cured his 195 and he assumes it's gonna take care of the 205.. the 195 had a 21p ss on it and his objective was speed, maybe ya can play with props and get a little lift at the back with a 4 blade too. at least check it out what the pros (prop fourm) might say about a change from whatever ya got.. or certainly look into smart tabs.

hope ya aint totein around waterlogged foam... that's a deal breaker there..

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Plane question

Once you get going what is the max RPM? J

 

[achris]

Re: Plane question

If you are only getting 4000-4500, then you need to change to a smaller prop (pitch) and be getting up to 4800 (a tad higher is ok too)... I had that engine in the 20 Bertram (very heavy boat) and with a prop that had her spinning at close to 5000 at full noise she was 'light on her feet'...

Running a prop that only allows the engine to run up to 4000-4500 is asking for engine damage.

Chris......

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Plane question

Howdy,

I never mess with the trim except loading and shallow water

You should be "messing" with the trim. The trim setting for best top speed will not necessarily be the best setting for hole-shot.

4000-4500 RPM'S is no problem

Which is it (at WOT)?


If it's 4500, then you might be in the "ball-park" for WOT, but slightly over propped.


If it's 4000, you are SEVERELY over-propped if the engine is otherwise running correctly and the boat is not overloaded/waterlogged/dragging an anchor..............


Ensure that your speedometer and tach is accurate or you're wasting your time....