Stumped

[awdbare]

First off cool forum, been trolling it since we purchased the boat I am stumped on.

Now,

1990 Stingray 599 cuddy / crusier

Engine: Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec
Model # MCM 4.3
LH Rotation
Max RPM 4400-4800
Top speed 7-8 MPH so far

Outdrive: Alpha One Gen 2
I believe it has a 1.84 ratio? ( Checked by spinning crank and having wife watch the prop )
Outdrive was serviced 7 days ago, tech changed oil, gimball bearing, bellows, water pump/impellor, so the outdrive was deemed by him as good to go.

Propeller: Stainless "cleaver" style?
Numbers on it say A-4 21P
To me it looks like an e-bay knock off but whatever.


So, I bought the boat about 2 weeks ago. I got the engine going smoothly again and had the outdrive serviced and installed at a decent marine shop. Yesterday me and the wife took it out for the first trip, just a quicky to see how it goes. Didn't go so well, the boat will not accelerate. The bow just shoots up out of the water at a hard angle. It almost feels like I have a car on the stern and the boat cannot pull itself up to plane out. No matter how many times I tried I couldn't get anywhere. Trimmed all the way down btw. So I started thinking either the prop is the wrong size or the hull has a lot of water in it. ( Please no bashing on this one) I drilled some holes from the bilge compartment into the hull area adjacent to the bilge and I got some water out, but not the pressurized stream I was expecting to see judging on how it felt like it had so much weight on it when we took it out yesterday.

Am I missing a check on something? Is there a type of gearing system from the engine to the outdrive that is possibly not " changing gears" ? Could it have a really wrong prop? Does a little water equal 400 gallons in the hull even though the foam feels very solid when I jammed a wire clothes hanger in it? Also the steering felt very laggy like it had a 10 second delay.

Thoughts?

 

[Fishermark]

Welcome aboard! When you say you got the engine running smoothly again... what does that mean? What did you do to it, and what was it doing when you first bought it? A 21 pitch prop seems about right... I doubt that is your problem. Some basic checks of the engine and fuel system are in order. Check your compression and timing. Check your fuel - do you have a water separator? Let us know what you have done and perhaps help is close at hand!

 

[B F H]

Wow,if you are calling and or have 400 gallons of water in the bilge a little water I'll try not to bash you. At approx. 8.6 lbs per gallon, that's 3440 lbs. I,ll bet your car doesn't way that much. That much water is a huge problem. I've been called gullible before and don't know if I should take this post seriously. PS I hope you used the drill with the boat out of the water!

 

[awdbare]

BFH: T'was a sarcastic remark sir. I said I had a little water come out of the hole I drilled, but DOES or COULD that mean I may have 400 gallons in the hull. I guess what I am asking is, does a little water mean there is more likely a substantial amount of water in there?

Fishermark: I am understanding that the PO let the boat sit for a while. Less than a year. So I checked compression and the numbers on all cylinders are within specified ranged by manufacturer. They are not perfect, but ok. I have also, emptied the old fuel from tank, refilled with 89 octane and added some Star-Tron. Gapped new spark plugs that were previously in the motor when I bought it, changed out the in-line fuel filter, took apart, cleaned and re-installed the 2bbl quadrajet, new belts, checked all rubber pipes and hoses for any blockages. Engine seems to run as it should...

I don't know for sure what it was doing before for the PO but he also did not know a wrench from a screwdriver so no intel there.

 

[awdbare]

Did not see a fuel/water separator. And I have not checked the ignition timing nor the condition of the distributor and its components.

But it did seem as though the engine had enough power to push the boat, just something was not right. Best description is that it seemed like the lake was too shallow haha!

 

[Alumarine]

You might want to weigh the boat and compare it to what it should weigh. That will tell you if you have water or not.

 

[m_steiger]

What Marc C said is a good idea. Ive been meaning to do it for my boat. Go to a truck stop that has a "Cat Scale" and weigh your whole rig, truck with the boat and trailer. Then pull around and unhook your trailer/boat on the scale. Subtract the difference and that should give you an idea of the boats weight. Each weigh in should be around $8 if they haven't raised the price in a couple years.

 

[awdbare]

Wow, simple but fantastic idea. Wish I woulda thought of that.

 

[Bt Doctur]

can you post some pics of the outdrive fully down ,if not can you verify that the top cap of the drive is horizontal(flat) or atleast a bit lower in the rear

 

[awdbare]

I checked the trim earlier today and it appears the leg sits at a 90' degree angle from the stern. If that does not sound right, I will grab some pics tomorrow morning and post.

 

[awdbare]

If it is not down enough, would a couple of degrees in angle really change it that drastically ? Also, how would I adjust the final position of the outdrive when it is fully trimmed down?

 

[Bt Doctur]

Some people have used egg type zincs on the shafts and that prevents full down travel. Sometimes painting the shaft with anti-fouling does the same thing. You need the drive tucked in a bit to get on plane faster, then trim it up a bit.

 

[DaveG55]

Weighing the boat is a good idea. A little research shows your boat has a dry/empty weight of 1680 pounds. Now you can estimate the weights of the contents and the fuel without too nuch trouble. But, you may have some trouble accounting for the trailer weight. You really need to know how much the trailer weighs so you can isolate the boats current weight.
Water weight can collect in the foam pretty quickly. If you've gotten water out of test holes my guess is you have more than enough extra weight to cause your symptoms.

 

[midcarolina]

First thing I would do is make sure it is running on all six........ the thing can idle fine and sound fine on muffs but not have a lick of power under load if down one cylinder.........
Also you are describing the prop as a cleaver type prop....... can you post a pic of the prop.

 

[Bondo]

First off cool forum, been trolling it since we purchased the boat I am stumped on.

Now,

1990 Stingray 599 cuddy / crusier

Engine: Mercruiser 4.3 Vortec
Model # MCM 4.3
LH Rotation
Max RPM 4400-4800
Top speed 7-8 MPH so far

Outdrive: Alpha One Gen 2
I believe it has a 1.84 ratio? ( Checked by spinning crank and having wife watch the prop )
Outdrive was serviced 7 days ago, tech changed oil, gimball bearing, bellows, water pump/impellor, so the outdrive was deemed by him as good to go.

Propeller: Stainless "cleaver" style?
Numbers on it say A-4 21P
To me it looks like an e-bay knock off but whatever.


So, I bought the boat about 2 weeks ago. I got the engine going smoothly again and had the outdrive serviced and installed at a decent marine shop. Yesterday me and the wife took it out for the first trip, just a quicky to see how it goes. Didn't go so well, the boat will not accelerate. The bow just shoots up out of the water at a hard angle. It almost feels like I have a car on the stern and the boat cannot pull itself up to plane out. No matter how many times I tried I couldn't get anywhere. Trimmed all the way down btw. So I started thinking either the prop is the wrong size or the hull has a lot of water in it. ( Please no bashing on this one) I drilled some holes from the bilge compartment into the hull area adjacent to the bilge and I got some water out, but not the pressurized stream I was expecting to see judging on how it felt like it had so much weight on it when we took it out yesterday.

Am I missing a check on something? Is there a type of gearing system from the engine to the outdrive that is possibly not " changing gears" ? Could it have a really wrong prop? Does a little water equal 400 gallons in the hull even though the foam feels very solid when I jammed a wire clothes hanger in it? Also the steering felt very laggy like it had a 10 second delay.

Thoughts?

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... Bein' a '90, it's Vortec in name only,.... 2bbl. or 4bbl. carb,..??

I too, find the Prop suspect, got a picture,..??
Maybe buy a plain ole Merc aluminum prop for testin',.... you'll want a spare on-board anyways,...

A Compression, 'n leak-down test will reveal the over-all general health of the motor,...

 

[B F H]

I must apologize. I read your post too fast and did not fully understand your situation. I meant know disrespect, just trying to add a little humor to your frustrating problem. Sorry, just my nature. I wish you well in solving your dilemma :facepalm:.

 

[jackd1023]

I would connect to a " known good" fuel source (Gas can). to eliminate fuel. Water separator looks like another oil filter BTW. I would also pull cap and check for water intrusion and or condition of rotor. I would also invest in a in-line spark tester and install make sure you are not loosing spark at WOT. Video clip would be nice, Any pinging or knocking when WOT?, bogging? whats max RPM?

 

[awdbare]

No Title

 

[awdbare]

Im no expert but I am thinking the outdrive is sitting in the correct position? At least it looks like it to my untrained eye. And the prop is a little beat up, could that have major performance effects ?

 

[awdbare]

Jack1023: Im going to look around for a water separator today. No noticeable pinging or knock,

If I get the time today I will go back and check all of my work on the engine. That and get a test light for spark, check timing ect.

Great help, mucho gratis!