'88 Sea Ray Seville 18', 130hp 4cyl: Prop?

[gixxerjim]

I recently purchased a very nice condition Sea Ray bowrider with less motor than I really wanted (wanted 4.3L) but fine for our first family boat, especially with gas prices over $3/gallon.

I topped out on the speedo at a little over 30mph on our test drive with three adults. Starts/runs perfectly. Plugs are all nice chocolate brown. Jumps on plane. The prop was a little dinged up but not too bad. It is a 19pitch prop.

I would like more top end. I am need a new prop before I hit the water (I won't feel too comfortable on the water without a spare and would like to make the old prop my spare with a faster new prop on the outdrive).

Where should I start? I don't know if I can trust the 20 year old speedo or do I really need to get the GPS out and hit the lake without a spare prop and see what the true RPM and speed are with the old, little damaged old prop?

19 seems kinda big for only 30mph....please offer any experience or advice you may have for this. Is the motor maybe tired to only pull 30 with 3 adults and a 19p prop? I hope not, runs/starts great, plugs and fluids all looked good when I winterized it etc...

20P, 21P?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: '88 Sea Ray Seville 18', 130hp 4cyl: Prop?

You really need to see what top RPM it will turn with a good 19" pitch prop, and then adjust up or down. I had a 21" Rapture SS prop on my '88 SeaRay Sorrento (Similar to Seville, but 19' with swim platform) with a 205HP 4.3LX Alpha. That prop was a pretty good match for the boat and power.

if you can get your RPMs to 4600 with that 19" Pitch prop, you might try a 21" pitch, if not, stay with the 19. If the top RPM is <4100, you might be overpropped.

 

[gixxerjim]

Re: '88 Sea Ray Seville 18', 130hp 4cyl: Prop?

Thank you, I will have to do the GPS/tach test right away this spring with the current 19p and go from there.