Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

[Albacore Fever]

I have a 1995 Wellcraft Coastal 218 with a new V-6 Vortec engine, I have had allot of trouble getting this boat up on plane and I'm beginning to think they under powered this boat, its a real dog and when its loaded its been impossible for me to get it up on plane, I've tried three propellers even went to a 4 blade and it just doesn't want to level out, when I get the fuel down to below 1/2 I can get up by using the planing boards, I'm just wondering if anybody else has had this problem with there Wellcraft Coastal 218 with the IO ? the motor seems to be running ok, running a holley 4 barrel but I've never seen the RPMS go over 3800 and that with the low pitch 4 blade 14.75 x 15 that's the lowest pitch I've put on it just to see it that would help me get up better. it did help but still not doing the job. I'm about ready to pull my hair out on this boat. any help would be appreciated. Don

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

Wellcraft does not show a 218 Coastal with an I/O for 95.



That said, it looks like the OB version's minimum HP available was 150 and its max 280; so I can see it potentially struggling with a carbed 4.3L.

3800 RPM @ WOT is way low for that engine.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

What was WOT on the last motor? You should be getting over 3800.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

yeah, needs more rpm to develop full power. im kinda leaning towards a motor probelm though. do a compression check on the motor to see if its healthy and go from there.

 

[Momohead]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

I have had this problem with multiple boats my Elite 220 after much tinkering I found low fuel pressure under wide open throttle. A boat mechanic told me there is a check ball inside the hose barb on the fuel tank that clogs up (You wouldn't know its their by looking at it) . Sure enough it had become partially clogged flowing just enough fuel for idling and cruzing but it wouldn't get on plane. After cleaning it several times (kept clogging up from junk in the tank) I wound up drilling it out and removing the thing altogether. My other boat (Bayliner) that I had given up on (that's why I bought the Wellcraft) turned out to have the same problem! Throw on a fuel pressure gauge and you'll see or just remove the hose barb and drill out the check ball and remove it and the spring then go have fun!!

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

I have had this problem with multiple boats my Elite 220 after much tinkering I found low fuel pressure under wide open throttle. A boat mechanic told me there is a check ball inside the hose barb on the fuel tank that clogs up (You wouldn't know its their by looking at it) . Sure enough it had become partially clogged flowing just enough fuel for idling and cruzing but it wouldn't get on plane. After cleaning it several times (kept clogging up from junk in the tank) I wound up drilling it out and removing the thing altogether. My other boat (Bayliner) that I had given up on (that's why I bought the Wellcraft) turned out to have the same problem! Throw on a fuel pressure gauge and you'll see or just remove the hose barb and drill out the check ball and remove it and the spring then go have fun!!

Removing ANY safety feature (especially USCG required ones) is a VERY bad idea and should never be recommended. If you suspect your fuel tank check valve is bad replace it with a new one. Mine only cost $10.00.

I think you have a motor issue either fuel or timing. Check it over real good and you will find your issue.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

There was another thread a couple of weeks ago where someone had the same problem getting on plane. The final recommendation was to try a 15 dia x 19p 4 blade and see if it works. No report on how that worked out though.

Wellcraft does not show a 218 Coastal with an I/O for 95.

<snip pic>

That said, it looks like the OB version's minimum HP available was 150 and its max 280; so I can see it potentially struggling with a carbed 4.3L.

3800 RPM @ WOT is way low for that engine.

spoilsofwar, I pointed out the same thing in the previous thread. It turned out that in 1994 Wellcraft had a 4.3l I/O available for the 218 but they didn't list it for 1995. I've seen where Wellcraft will put an option on a boat before it shows up in the brochure and apparently they also carried over options that they had dropped from the brochure. I had a 1991 Eclipse 216XL with a 7.4l. The brochures say that wasn't an option until 1992.

Here is the 1994 218 Coastal brochure with Merc & Volvo 4.3l engines as options.
View attachment 198160

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

your boat could be heavy from all kinds of things, including wet floatation foam. weigh it. you might have to go down in pitch to. You said "new" engine. Try a 13 or even an 11 pitch to get your RPM's into the proper engine range for WOT. And PLEASE put in a new anti-syphon valve for your family's safety.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Wellcraft Coastal 218 V-6 hard to get up on plane

spoilsofwar, I pointed out the same thing in the previous thread. It turned out that in 1994 Wellcraft had a 4.3l I/O available for the 218 but they didn't list it for 1995. I've seen where Wellcraft will put an option on a boat before it shows up in the brochure and apparently they also carried over options that they had dropped from the brochure. I had a 1991 Eclipse 216XL with a 7.4l. The brochures say that wasn't an option until 1992.

Ah, good catch.

For what its worth, Wellcraft has a history of offering boats with engines too small for their task at hand. Does anyone remember the 21 foot (or was it longer?) Wellcraft excel cuddy the guy posted about picking up for a song with a 3.0L in it?! Wait, lemme do a search for the thread....

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topic...t-21-cuddy-cabin-mercruiser-3-0-a-577663.html

There we go. So, it would not surprise me to see they put these 4.3's in a hull that was maybe a bit too much for them. And I'm not hating on Wellcraft here, because they're hardly the only manufacturer to do it.

That said, we can't rule out engine or prop issues as the actual cause of the problem. 3800 RPM at WOT is not right.