1988 230 5.7 250 hp Prop

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frosh coach

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anyone have this boat? Mine has a 2001 250hp, 350cid 5.7 FWc merc in it. I purchased the boat with our a prop (old one was spun). I am now running a 14-1/4 x 19. I need more rpm's. What prop do are running?
 
I've got an '87 230 Weekender, with 260hp 5.7 OMC. WOT spec'd at 4200-4600 RPM. At 2000' altitude, I run a 15x15 and get 4350 RPM. At sea level I run 15x17 and get about the same. I think your 19 is pitched a little too steep, but not sure what your boat is (1988 23' what?)

Hope this helps.
 
Tom
Sorry I forgot to metion the boat is a 1988 230 cuddy.

i was out today with the previous owner ( a friend of mine)
When messing with the trim on the outdrive and trim tabs i ended up getting 4400 and was running around 38 mph. Not to bad. im not loking for a speed boat, just figured it would run a bit faster.

Also I had to cruise at 3300 rpm to a nice ride.
 
Sounds like you're right where you should be. Loaded (27gal H20, 70gal Fuel, Me, Wife, 100lb Dog and all the "stuff") our top end is about 36mph. Like you said, I'm not looking for a speed boat either. We cruise around 3200, 26mph and only burn about 7gph. Surprisingly economical.
 
I've got an '88 230 weekender and am spec'ing a new prop. I currently have a Turning Point Hustler prop, not sure the size or pitch (it isn't stamped on the prop). I checked on their site and they recommend a 14 1/4 x 17 for "watersports" (I'm guessing for better hole shot) and a 14 1/4 x 19 for better top end.

I normally cruise with just 2 on board, plus minimal gear, but occasionally run with 4-5 adults on board. In those cases, she really dogs it, and can barely get over 22 knots. I try to keep in the 3500 rpm range, and have never brought her up to WOT because I'm worried that she's too old to do so. I'm probably just paranoid though!

I'm also not looking for a speed demon, but I would be happy to cruise at 35-40 mph, so I'm thinking I should go with the 19 pitch. I see that FTSC is running a 15x prop, so I may look at moving up a notch to see how that runs.

Thoughts?
Kevin
 
Kevin
I have the same props. I got mine from basic power. I thnk the 35mph is a bit fast. You might get it at WOT, but not 3500. Once I learned how to trim the outdrive and use the trim tabs i now get 4400, and 35 - 38 mph.
 
"I'm also not looking for a speed demon, but I would be happy to cruise at 35-40 mph, so I'm thinking I should go with the 19 pitch."

I think you guys are expecting an awful lot out of a single i/o in a 23ft. I had a 230 weekender myself before the current boat and that had a 305 with an OMC Cobra drive. I don"t remember what prop I had on it but I will say that it seems to me that WOT was around 4600 rpm"s and speed by GPS was about 38-39 mph. You wanna "Cruise" at 35-40? Get a bigger boat with more engines.
 
Thanks guys. I didn't know if my expectations (wishes?) were realistic or not, so it's good to hear from more experience.

Frosh- I hear you on the trim settings, I was playing around with it this weekend and it does make a huge difference. I was able to trim it out and get 30mph at 3500RPM, so I was pretty pleased. You are turning the 14.25 x 19, right?

Tanq- My WOT range according to the engine placard is 4200-4600. If you were able to get 38 with a much smaller engine than mine (5.7 260HP), it seems like I "should" be able to get 40 at WOT, and 35 wouldn't be too much of a stretch at the 3500-4000 RPM range. I hear ya on the bigger boat comment though, I need to work on the CFO / Admiral for that. [}}:-|>>]

Kevin
 
The 305 and the 350 are really NOT all that much different. In fact...If I"m not mistaken ( and I COULD be ) I think they"re even the same block. Differences are internal and heads etc. So it"s really not that realistic to expect alot more speed out of a 350 than a 305. The 230 Sea Ray Weekender I had had a 305 4bbl. and was rated at 230hp. 350"s of that vintage ( 1980"s ) are only rated at 260hp. How much more speed can be realistically expected?
 
"Frosh- I hear you on the trim settings, I was playing around with it this weekend and it does make a huge difference. I was able to trim it out and get 30mph at 3500RPM, so I was pretty pleased. You are turning the 14.25 x 19, right?"

Your correct i'm running the 14-1/4 x 19.
 
To: Tom, Shonda and friends,

I'm a new member and was going through old postings. I've got an `89 23' Weekender with a 5.7 Merc, 260 hp/350 ci. I'm turning a 14 1/4X 19 prop. When I got the boat I'd have to turn at least 3200 RPM to maintain a decent trim. I was getting about 25 MPH, but burning too much gas and working the engine too hard. I use my boat for long distance cruising, so fuel economy and reducing stress on the engine are more important than higher speed.

I replaced the OEM trim tabs that were 12' wide (and 12' cord) with 24' wide tabs. Used same pump and cylinders, just relocated the cylinders to center on the new tabs.

I can now cruise at 2850 RPM at 22 MPH with an average load and full water and fuel. The engine is just loping along and I'm burning a little less than 6 GPH. And, when I have a load of people, those larger tabs pushes the stern right up out of the water.

But, I haven't changed the prop, and can get 35 plus at about 4400 RPM. Increasing the trim tab size effects performance by allowing you to maintain an efficient planeing angle, but at a much lower RPM, rather than changing the top RPM or speed. Depending on your use, maybe looking at increasing the width of the trim tabs rather than changing the prop size, will do more for your performance.

Just some thoughts.
 
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