by toolcrib » Mar 21, 2016 9:10 am
I did a fair bit of thumping with a deadblow on the bottom of the boat looking for any difference in the sound or visually. I also put a jackstand under the back of the trailer and bounced my 190 lbs on the anti-ventilation plate looking for deflections. I could not see anything from my position on the engine, so figured it was solid enough for the 90hp it currently has on it. I will be keeping an eye on it looking for any changes in condition that indicate an internal problem. If I decide to keep this boat long term, or put a bigger engine on it I will dig into it deeper and see what is actually going on structurally.
I took the boat out on Lake Winnebago this last Friday and confirmed that the propeller has way to low of a pitch (15"). The engine went to the rev limiter at 5,900 RPM and a GPS indicated speed of 39 MPH, This works out to a prop slip of 7% so I am definitely not overloading the propeller. I will be looking to try a 19" or 21" to narrow in on the correct range for this engine/boat combo. 39 MPH is way to slow. I did wear a good life jacket, and stayed relatively close to shore, that water is cold. The boat performed fine and there was no sign of water in the bilge after my first trip.
I did learn that the winch on the trailer was failing, and it was positioned to low to pull the boat fully onto the trailer. I made an adaptor to raise the winch and move it forward, and replaced the winch with a new model so I will be able to load the boat more quickly and correctly. I want those bunks to support the transom, not just the bottom of the boat. I also need to replace the decoration only safety turnbuckle on the front of the trailer, as it fell loose with the boat moving back less than a 1/2".
I did a fair bit of thumping with a deadblow on the bottom of the boat looking for any difference in the sound or visually. I also put a jackstand under the back of the trailer and bounced my 190 lbs on the anti-ventilation plate looking for deflections. I could not see anything from my position on the engine, so figured it was solid enough for the 90hp it currently has on it. I will be keeping an eye on it looking for any changes in condition that indicate an internal problem. If I decide to keep this boat long term, or put a bigger engine on it I will dig into it deeper and see what is actually going on structurally.
I took the boat out on Lake Winnebago this last Friday and confirmed that the propeller has way to low of a pitch (15"). The engine went to the rev limiter at 5,900 RPM and a GPS indicated speed of 39 MPH, This works out to a prop slip of 7% so I am definitely not overloading the propeller. I will be looking to try a 19" or 21" to narrow in on the correct range for this engine/boat combo. 39 MPH is way to slow. I did wear a good life jacket, and stayed relatively close to shore, that water is cold. The boat performed fine and there was no sign of water in the bilge after my first trip.
I did learn that the winch on the trailer was failing, and it was positioned to low to pull the boat fully onto the trailer. I made an adaptor to raise the winch and move it forward, and replaced the winch with a new model so I will be able to load the boat more quickly and correctly. I want those bunks to support the transom, not just the bottom of the boat. I also need to replace the decoration only safety turnbuckle on the front of the trailer, as it fell loose with the boat moving back less than a 1/2".