What to expect?

[Heavyhauler]

After a lot of heartache and a lot of dollars, my 94 Fountain 38 Fever is finally all back together with 2 - 565 cubic inch n/a motors by Mark Rinda at MER Performance Marine in Little River, SC that dyno'd out at 690 hp each at 5600 rpm. I took it out last Sunday, just to put a little break in time on it and to make sure everything was sound, and while I never ran it hard, it sure sounded good and seemed to have plenty of steam the time or 2 I gave it some throttle, but it was still pretty cold out and I don't want to hold it wide open for any extended period of time until it gets some break in time on the engines. Question is "What kind of realistic top end speed should I expect to see with this combination. It has 1.5 to 1 Bravo drives with 26 pitch 4 blade hydromotive props on it. I know some of you technical people have both experience and equations to know what a particular combination ought to do. It's my first go round with a twin engine setup, and the paperwork that came with the boat from the original test at the Fountain factory when it had stock bulldogs said it did 76 @ 5300 wide open. I have no illusions or expectations, just curious.

 

[MarylandMark]

10-12MPH but that's a total guess

 

[customryder]

the props seem small for that hp.. i would guess at the least a 30-32 pitch..

btw its broke in...

 

[Heavyhauler]

10-12MPH but that's a total guess

Guess I'll know the real answer soon enough. When you coming down again?

 

[Heavyhauler]

the props seem small for that hp.. i would guess a a the least a 30-32 pitch..

btw its broke in...

With the problems I had from the time I bought it until I got up with MER, I'm not taking any chances. I too, wonder if the props (that were on the original combination) would be enough for the new setup. We just haven't had enough fair weather to do any testing so far. Hoping that all improves in the next week or so.

 

[MarylandMark]

3/3-3/8

Just decided last night and when I saw your post I meant to PM you that info but pizza delivery guy showed up before I did and then forgot (hungover- out of it today..)

I might be able to bring down some 30 Bravo's if you wanted to try them out

http://www.seriousoffshore.com/forums/showthread.php?p=109446

 

[Heavyhauler]

3/3-3/8

Just decided last night and when I saw your post I meant to PM you that info but pizza delivery guy showed up before I did and then forgot (hungover- out of it today..)

I might be able to bring down some 30 Bravo's if you wanted to try them out

Hoping for better weather by or before then so should know more. This weekend was pretty lousy overall (rainy yesterday and 55 for high today). We'll definitely hook up for a beer or 6 your next time down. Maybe I'll know if I need to try different props before you come.

 

[MarylandMark]

We'll definitely hook up for a beer or 6 your next time down.

Without a doubt!

If you stick with 25-26 pitch I have a few sets in my garage

26 B1
26 QIV-X Hydros
25 QIV-X Hydros
25 Rev 4
24 B1

Think I may have some 28 B1's as well but can't remember

 

[Heavyhauler]

Without a doubt!

If you stick with 25-26 pitch I have a few sets in my garage

26 B1
26 QIV-X Hydros
25 QIV-X Hydros
25 Rev 4
24 B1

Think I may have some 28 B1's as well but can't remember

I need a 24 B1 for the Advantage and I'm wanting to try a 26 on it also. It has a 24 now but one of the blades was bent and straightened and I need another to replace that and was wanting to experiment with a 26 for it, so if you have props you'll sell, I'll buy. For the Fountain, I'd probably want to try 28's before going further. Let me know what you have that you'll sell.

 

[MarylandMark]

Sounds good. I'll check to see where you are when it is closer to me coming down. They are all for sale; just too lazy to try to sell them. Would be good to run whatever on the same day so you can see how they compare to each other.

 

[Griff]

I agree, props are gonna be way too small. I think something in the 30-32 pitch range and speeds close to 90.

 

[bobkatz]

Ask Mark Rinda he had a customers 38 fever with a pair of thousands that ran very well he could help with the setup. He is pretty particular about his work you should have a NICE set of motors for sure.

I think it should turn a 29/30 for starters.

What kind of slip numbers are you seeing?

 

[Heavyhauler]

Ask Mark Rinda he had a customers 38 fever with a pair of thousands that ran very well he could help with the setup. He is pretty particular about his work you should have a NICE set of motors for sure.

I think it should turn a 29/30 for starters.

What kind of slip numbers are you seeing?

Yes Mark is very particular with his work. Mark seemed to think the 26's would be all right for starters. He water tested briefly after he finished the motors but it was so cold then, he just basically made sure everything was running right with no leaks, proper water, oil, fuel pressures, and told me to call him when it got warm enough to go out and fine tune the carburetors and run it some more to see what we really had or would need. Since then, I've ran it the one time as mentioned, but not in open water and still too cold to either enjoy or to encourage making any kind of adjustments. Hopefully another week or so will bring favorable temps to test and tune. I've been boating a long time, but never had a boat that the performance mattered to the point of calculating slip, or even understanding the terminology for that matter, so I'm in the dark on the slip numbers. Thanks for the advice.

 

[MarylandMark]

PM sent- you need some props?