2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

[Whiteys Glas]

I just purchased a 2008 Glastron GT185XL for myself and wife. I am somewhat dissppointed in the performance. I got the 3.0L Volvo Penta engine, which was told would be more than enough, however, it does not get out of the whole to pull anything except a tube. I know switching props will give me that whole shot im looking for. I am just curious if anyone has come up with any options that worked well. It currently has a 14.3x21 prop on it. I have been looking online and it shows poss a 14 1/4 x 19? Does this make sence?

It only has 2 hours on it, and I am a big guy (269 lbs) and I had to work hard to get up behind it on skis. HELP ME PLEASE lol.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

Not knowing what the wide open throttle rpm is with the current prop and average load means we can't offer much help but I suspect a 21P prop is a little much for that boat. Wide open throttle RPM is what YOU actually observe -- not what the manufacturer recommends as we know what that is. It's the difference between those numbers that determines which way pitch needs to change (up or down) and by how much.

 

[Whiteys Glas]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

I will post the RPM's next time I take it out. I know with some choppy waves I could do about 40 mph however I know that wont be a fair test of rpm.s

 

[codertimt]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

http://www.boattest.com/boats/1233/test_results.aspx

That test is pretty lightly loaded... So, as Silvertip said, the real question is how much weight is your "normal load" and what kind of rpms are you seeing at that load...

Regardless, for better pulling power, you're going to have to drop in pitch. I have the same boat with the 4.3 and was also disappointed... It seems these boats are propped for top speed with light load. Mine had a 23 and would run 53.4(gps) mph with just me, but throw a few adults and kids onboard and it struggled to pull me out on a slalom. I switch to a 21" 4 blade Solas Amita and the difference was massive. And rpms pretty much stayed the same. That surprised me a little, but it just goes to show when you switch blade design and number, you really can't predict how the rpms will react. I probably could have managed a 19 without overrevving too much...

Anyway, pull what information you want from that. I personally think a 19" four blade would be a good fit...depending on blade design you might could manage a 17 or 18 if you need more pull, but would have to start watching the rpms more when lightly loaded...

 

[erlindbl]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

The Glastron I/O's all come with a large pitch prop for speed. If your going to do a lot of skiing, I think your going to want to go down to a 17P prop. I would suggest you either demo a 17P and 19P before you buy, or buy from a place that allows you to change it out if your not happy. You already have the prop for speed on your boat, I would go with one for skiing. I think you will be happier with a 17P which will give you a much better whole shot and way more pulling power.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

I would only add if you go with a 17 you'll have to be careful to throttle back if necessary to stay within the max rpm rating.Max rpm is probably on a label on the motor or in your manual.

 

[wire2]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

......I got the 3.0L Volvo Penta engine, which was told would be more than enough, .....

Who told you? The salesman who just happened to have that engine in that boat on the floor?
Through the years, I've progressed from a 14 ft plywood/45 Merc, to a 15 ft glass/65 Merc, 16 ft glass/140 I/O and now have a 19ft glass/300+ I/O.

My feeling is, get enough power to easily do any task you may ask of it. A V8 will cruise at a much lower rpm than an I4 or V6, and so use no more fuel per distance.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

Actually you maybe in the winner's circle, while you will not be able to skip across glass like water at 55mph and burning 40 gallon's of gas in one day.........you very well might be able to run all day on 10 gallon's of gas with room to spare.

Now with that said budget for some trim tab's and a Merc enertia prop. The tabs will raise your stern up for a far better hole shot and the enertia will give you top speed and great bite...midrange planeing speed and top end.


That might cost you about 600 compared to 2000 for a 4.3 and a true gas guzzler. Before to many cry fowl i have them both....and yes it's exciting to blast a run above 55 for about 5 minutes.......but 95% of the time both boat's are run at about 30mph and the 3.0 gets twice the milage the 4.3 does.

So post your top speed and rpm @ WOT let's find you some tab's and a good prop.........

 

[codertimt]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

...
That might cost you about 600 compared to 2000 for a 4.3 and a true gas guzzler. Before to many cry fowl i have them both....and yes it's exciting to blast a run above 55 for about 5 minutes.......but 95% of the time both boat's are run at about 30mph and the 3.0 gets twice the milage the 4.3 does.
...

Not this again....are they in the same hull...have you actually put a flow meter on them...

The numbers below are from the same basic hull(and it also happens to be the hull in question), the larson with the 4.3 is actually just a tad larger boat. There are your numbers from around 30mph... Yes the 3.0 get better mileage...obviously no where near twice as much...


http://www.boattest.com/boats/1233/test_results.aspx

Test Power: 1 x 135-hp Volvo Penta 3.0 GL
RPM MPH Knots GPH MPG NMPG Range NM Range dBa
3500 30.1 26.1 6.2 4.89 4.25 101 88 86
4000 36.5 31.7 7.9 4.65 4.04 96 84 92

http://www.boattest.com/boats/1199/test_results.aspx
Test Power: 1 x 190-hp Volvo 4.3 GL Sterndrive
RPM MPH Knots GPH MPG NMPG Range NM Range dBa
3000 32.3 28.0 7.0 4.61 4.01 95 83 83
3500 38.9 33.8 8.6 4.54 3.95 94 82 87

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

Indeed twice the milage is a over statement, i have never measured out the mpg, i guess it is time.......but i find it hard to believe a 4.3 200hp motor can be that close to a smaller 3.0 @130 hp (I had just burned up 40 gals in a 4.3 and was a bit burned)

But that does not negate the benefit of tabs for lifting the stern out of the water and a well designed and pitched prop...it will make a big diff.

Actually i find those number's somewhat abusred......most 3.0's can run a 17-18 foot boat to about a 42-45 mph average....i can run 56 mph with the 4.3 a ten mile perhour gain.... in a 19' boat now ask any person who has powered up a motor and how much hp it take's to do that...A hundered hp and it only cost's a .30 mpg........

 

[Bondo]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

It only has 2 hours on it, and I am a big guy (269 lbs) and I had to work hard to get up behind it on skis.

Ayuh,.....

You Really otta finish the Break-in procedure,+ have it serviced before you start beating the Snot out of it......
I believe 20hrs. is the accepted Break-in time....

 

[Whiteys Glas]

Re: 2008 Glastron GT185 XL prop problem.

Ok some more info. First the break in listed by Glastron is 2 hrs. But anyway I digress.

With the 21 pitch I was doing about 44 on the speedo and pulling about 4400 RPM. I was able to borrow a neighbors 15x17 prop and that definately got me out of the whole, but I had to watch the tach carefully. (35mph on the speedo put me at 4800 rpm). The 15x17 had a whole shot that almost killed me behind the boat. I am thinking a 14.3x19 4 blade aluminum? ANy thoughts on that?

 

[Camdelle]

[h=2]2008 glastron GT 185 New to Me! Over reving.[/h]

So I bought this boat on Friday and used it for the first time yesterday, This is our first boat But I have been driving boats for 35 years.

Here is the issue. On Sunday I went WOT a couple times for a minute or so. It reved up to 5100 rpm and that is to much for the volvo penta 4.3GL.

I would like to re-prop the boat.

Right now I am using a 14.3 x 19p 3 blade that owner put on.

I have a 14.5 x 21p that was original to the boat.

I also have a mercruiser vensura. 48-825900 19p 4 blade SS

As I can Hit 5100 rpm(by the dashboard gauge...(how accurate is that?) and I should be around 4200-4600..... what should I be doing to get these numbers in line?

It looks like original equipment should have been a 23p???

thank you.

 

[steelespike]

You should varify the tach. What was the speed at 5100 with the 19" prop?

 

[Camdelle]

45 mph by GPS on phone. Speedo is pooched and I have a new one on order

 

[walleyehed]

To the question of the original poster: I have an older Glastron of the same size yet the 120hp Mercruiser. It does well with a 17p 3bld at 3200ft elevation for general use but I prefer a 15P for hole-shot and good trolling speed at idle. Remember my altitude here when I say this... I would bet you'd be quite pleased with a good quality SS 4bld 17P (Good quality=better efficiency). I've had good luck with Rev 4's but a solas might be a real good choice and their pitch numbers are conservative. The Solas would be equivalent to say 17.5-18P of most others-especially Merc.

 

[Starcraft5834]

4 blade fan here.. 21p. Hmm. To much prop for 3.0. 4 blade in recommend rpm wot will make u grin...more fuel eff too..skipping on water quicker and will stay there at slower speed

 

[Starcraft5834]

Solas 4 blade fan too...

 

[walleyehed]

Solas has some good props...I've got 2 prototypes here that are extremely impressive. They're working more and more technology into the common cruising boaters world. The company is quite strong as well, some very smart folks behind the curtains there.