Prop Problem..........I hope!

[Wile E Coyote]

Another forum.......Yipee Was recommended to come here by Alan on the RIBnet Forum. Bought a Driver 440 with a 70HP Evinrude a couple of seasons ago. Have a aluminum prop (bought it like that) no-name, no brand with 13x14 on it. Vent holes drilled in prop. My problem is that I feel I should get a bit more out of this boat. Hangs in the water for a little too long, I think, especially when pulling a skier and with this prop at WOT revs are way too high, creeping to 7000 in no time at all. I have tried an adjustable ProPulse 13" x 16 to 20" 4 blade prop on 16" pitch, no good for skiing. Could this 13x14 prop be a "baddy"? Looked new when I got the boat, but like I say, no names etc. on it. Motor seems fine, took it in for a major service soon after I bought it and had all hoses, gaskets and filters, spark plugs changed, gear oil changed and I fitted a new water pump impeller. Compression on all three cylinders fine. Any advice would be welcome. If this bad pic works, just to give an idea of size of boat etc. Semi-V.

 

[FrenchPhil]

Welcome onboard Will.

What's your top speed ? Weight of boat ?
13x14 is good for ski & 11x18 for speed.
What was the rpm on the 13x16-20 ?

Phil

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Top speed at the moment with 13x14 prop, about 30 to 32 at 5000 - 5200 RPM. Boat is 15' according to some "boats for sale" I've just looked at a couple of minutes ago. Not a ton, I'm sure of that. Never weighed it though. When I took it out for a good spin with the adjustable prop, very choppy water in bay opening into the sea. Other time just put it on and tried pulling a skier, failure, so I put the 13x14 straight back on. All these other Driver 440's I've just looked at for sale, most have 70HP Evinrudes except 1 with a 60HP Johnson. One seller claiming "best handling boat around, great fun" What am I doing wrong?

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Here is a pic of one of the 440's for sale. The hull is more visible.

 

[karl]

try a stainless prop about 20pitch should make a big difference.If u want then raise the engine up so that the top of the water intake is level with the bottem of the hull .(then hang on for dear life)

 

[Burty]

try a stainless prop about 20pitch should make a big difference.If u want then raise the engine up so that the top of the water intake is level with the bottem of the hull .(then hang on for dear life)

So who told you that then dude???

 

[karl]

who do you think ? but its the thing to do i had a driver with a old 200 many moons ago the ass sat so low in the water you had to put the bulg pump on

 

[Thunderbird Racing]

think a 17" is a better bet, a 70 will never turn a 20" to the top of the powerband unless its almost out the water

 

[Jon]

Wow, thats Spooky!

Ive just looked at this thread again and noticed someone sitting in the drivers seat in the picture of the boat out of the water. Im certain that no one was in their when i first saw that picture.

Tell me you changed the picture please.

Weird stuff going on here.

 

[Thunderbird Racing]

I'll have a pint of that too please !!

 

[FrenchPhil]

Make that 2

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Smart Tabs???????????

Heard about these on another forum. Is such an animal available here in the UK? Sounds like this could solve a load of my problems.

 

[Jon Fuller]

Bennett make em, they have a Giro or summat to give a datum (no Manos, not that type of Giro!)

But I can't imagine they'd be any good for a lively oul sports boat

 

[Wile E Coyote]

Seems to me maybe the prop situation is not all of my problems. Looking around, prop problems will not cause porpoising which I experience as well. Seems I might as well try this and then get the correct prop. Thanks anyhow. Thinking maybe another boat combination is my only way out if this does,nt work.

 

[roofer]

wile pm me your phone number.

 

[Thunderbird Racing]

Wile sent you a pm

 

[Jon Fuller]

Wile,
does your motor have Power Trim?

If not, could you post a pic of it with the motor down, so we can see what trim angle your running.

The Driver 440 is a great little boat, I've had many hours of fun in them, with as little as 55hp (Yam) so I'm surprised you're not getting any joy.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Wilie.......I had a streaker 15 (sorta 440 copy)........ok, it was definatley lighter than a driver (or a fagbox for that matter)......but it went like a train with my 'rude 70.

I had no PT&T, we just stuck it on the middle trim hole and away we went. Prop was an original OMC alli.....dont know what pitch though sorry!

 

[Wile E Coyote]

jonny.......yes, does have power trim. I have tried weight in the nose, helps a bit but then I have to mess around with the trim at higher speeds. Had fun with the boat, I just feel I should get a bit more out of it. I see old 16' boats with old 50 Merc's doing better than I am set up like it is. Hangs in the water for ages and the over-revving thing.

 

[Jon Fuller]

If it seems particularly heavy (at the arse end), maybe you have some water trapped in it somewhere, maybe in a hidden or closed off compartment, or in some foam filled area (as in water logged foam), if it has any.

summat don't seem right.