What to do with my Refund??

boaterntexas

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
254
What to do with my Refund??

it's been so long I can't believe I remembered my password.<br /> Well I have a decent refund comming and would like to put in into my 1990 17.5' v hull boat wich totes a mercruiser 3.0. attched to and alpha one out drive wich is proped with a 19 pitch ss 3 blade prop. I can currently turn about 5300 rpms and with me alone in the boat my spedo reads close to 50 mph. Don't think for a minute that I ever run it at that high rpms, I normally turn 4300 or less. at wich I move at about 40 mph. The boat pulls me well (145 lbs) however my bigger brother 250lbs it doesn't seem to want to pull him up on skis. I would like to get him more involved this summmer. I thought about repowering up to a 4.3 but the quote I got on that is about 6 to 9 grand ( I only paid 5 grand for the boat) Any one have any suggestion??<br /><br /> Thanks,<br /> lake hungry,<br /> Thomas
 

KM2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 15, 2003
Messages
556
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

I don't think you need a repower. That boats seems to run well if it gets 50mph. I would try a 17 or less pitch prop maybe a 4 blade. The new ski's are really wide, have you tried them???<br /><br />One other thing get as much weight out of your boat as possible when you go skiing. Big coolers, extra batteries, tool box etc ...
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,083
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

A Land & Sea Torque-Shift Prop.....<br />Use the Search button......<br />Here, I did it for you....<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi <br />I've posted Alot of Info on the performance of mine...... :)
 

boaterntexas

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
254
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

I thought about dropping pitches, but was afriad that since I was already outside my rpm range that I may have excessly high rpms at very low speeds.. going from 19 pitch to 17 pitch what can I expect. The land & sea prop seems great, except for the cost (I love my bro but not that much) <br /> If I was to drop pitches would a less expensive aluminum be a Bad idea?<br /> What abotu diffrent trim technics and stuff. any solution here?<br /><br /> Thanks,<br /> THomas
 

LubeDude

Admiral
Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
6,945
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

Its not unheard of to have a prop just for pulling skiers, and yes you could use an aluminum prop for this, Makes a good spare to carry around just in case!<br /><br />A four blade will help hole shot also!
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,083
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

You're able to pull 5300rpms Now......<br />If you were to go to a 17",<br />I can see someone not knowing which prop was on it,+ Blowing that little motor All Over the Bilge....<br />That little 3.0l will Never see the 6000rpm mark Twice....<br />With a 17" it;ll Rev till either the Valves Float,<br />Or it Comes Apart.....<br /><br />If you watch ebay for awhile, a T/S prop will come by...... <br />I've got three(3) that I found on ebay......<br />the Most I paid for any 1, was Less than $350.00........<br />I feel like I Stole the last two(2) I bought for Spares,+ Future Projects...... :D
 

WillyBWright

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 29, 2003
Messages
8,200
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

I like the 4-blade idea. There's an Alpha aluminum 4-blade in 16" and 18" pitches. High Fives are good too, but mucho dinero.<br /><br />I'll probably get some flack for this, but you might also try a CompProp. They are plastic. They flex badly, especially pulling skiers. But that flex lowers the pitch. It's like a torque shifting prop in that way. But it's plastic. They break easily and you can't fix them.
 

mkast

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 6, 2002
Messages
1,934
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

After all the yelling and screaming is over, the Torque-Shift prop will be your best investment in the boat. Paid $175 for mine, 23 footer jumps out of the hole, picked up 4 MPH top end at the same RPM. Try that spending $200-$400 used.
 

Doug Durako

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Nov 17, 2002
Messages
519
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

boatr------Is your brother just learning to ski? I am 6-3, 210 and I can ski behind a 50-horse outboard if nothing else is available. I've taught at least 50 people of all shapes and sizes how to ski.<br /><br />If he is a beginner, don't pull him from a dead stop. Get to trolling speed (trim all the way down/in) where he feels pressure on the skis and thinks he should stand up, then hit it all the way----and I mean hammer down, not half way or anything in between. Your observer should be in the bow, or as close as they can get if your boat is not a bow-rider. Don't carry extra passengers.<br /><br />You should have enough power, but if your future plans are to pull slalom skiiers, tubes, etc., start looking for your next boat.<br /><br />Also, the torque-shift is an excellent option for tubes and wakeboards----super hole shot, fast plane, ability to easily hold boat on top of the water at slower speeds.<br /><br />Invest in good props----I have three for various applications.
 

cobra 3.0

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 31, 2003
Messages
1,797
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

I use a 14" x 17" three blade for skiing with a Stingray hydrofoil. The boats jumps on plane and rips a skier out of the water! My boat is a 1986 16' bowrider with a OMC cobra 3.0. The hydrofoil keeps the boat nice and flat in sharp turns and stops all cavitation that usually happens in these tight turns...especially when we are tubing!
 

boaterntexas

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Feb 4, 2003
Messages
254
Re: What to do with my Refund??

Re: What to do with my Refund??

yes he is just learning, his form look good.. I think I'm going to try the 4 blade, that is unless I buy the wagoneer I'm looking at.
 
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