211 Liberator prop question

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

Hmm,

Didn't see the fact that it's a closed cooled engine!

That would make it "better" but it's still a salt-water drive. I would want to inspect the drive closely for corrosion and a lot would depend on if it was moored in the water or on a trailer.

That combination would have been my choice if it was available back when I was looking.

With 2400 hours on it I would be looking at rebuilding the engine AND drive so I would be offering based on that.

2400 hours doesn't mean the engine is "shot" by any means..........but if it's not been properly taken care of, then all bets are off.....

I don't know what it means when a Bravo III has 2400 hours on it. He doesn't say what year model (or SER #) it is. but that's out of a boat that got a LOT of use!!

If the engine has good oil pressure and compression, it was probably well taken care of.....

Wow, if that 383/bravo3 was closer I would be dealing on it right now! For a stock bolt in mercruiser setup that should be capable of 60 mph in my boat, with a huge gain in out of the hole I would think.

That drive is probably a 2.00:1 ratio.

That 383 will do 5000 RPM I think and is rated at 320 Prop HP, so from: Prop Slip Calculator

Using 28p props, 2.00:1 ratio, 5000 RPM, 10% slip you would do 59mph

You also would probably get out of the hole a tad quicker than mine because that engine and drive combo is a little lighter.

( I think an ideal 211 LIB engine would be an all aluminum 383, with aluminum heads, manifolds and risers.)
You would shave nearly 300 lbs off the back of that boat! BIG BUX

 

[onebadbowtie86]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

What would it take to hook a bravo to my current 350? bell housing,coupler,transom assembly, and the drive its self? I just got done building a roller cammed 383 with AFR heads for my car, really wouldn't be a big deal to build my current motor, I'm just going to need something behind it that wont explode.

Another thing My boat doesnt have that it should: Trim tabs! Why would four winns leave them off some 211's?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

What would it take to hook a bravo to my current 350? bell housing,coupler,transom assembly, and the drive its self? I just got done building a roller cammed 383 with AFR heads for my car, really wouldn't be a big deal to build my current motor, I'm just going to need something behind it that wont explode.

Another thing My boat doesn't have that it should: Trim tabs! Why would four winns leave them off some 211's?

Yes, you absolutely could get yourself a Bravo III as long as you get everything needed (transom assy, flywheel housing, Y-pipe[unless you're thru-hull exhaust] trim pump and cyls etc)

Yes you could build a 383 for your boat. (just be careful with compression ratio and cam duration etc......This had been beat to death here and on other sites)

ALSO, Four Winns did a TERRIBLE job with fiberglass in the back of the boat! I had to grind a few layers of fiberglass off the floor of the bilge and the transom and re-glass everything. I also had to use a hole saw to cut a 2 inch larger hole (NOT ALL THE WAY THOUGH) where the rear bilge drain is located. Seems they didn't seal it very good and the transom drain was leaking water in to the transom

I was lucky, there was NO rot but when I drilled it out, from the inside to remove the drain, a fair amount of water poured out of the transom.

It took me about 3 full months to dry it out. I filled the lower part of the transom (between the outer fiberglas/gel coat and the inner fiberglass layers with marine epoxy mixed with powdered fiberglass. When it was all cured, I drilled a new hole and installed a new transom drain fitting.

If your transom (wood) is rotten, then you have to "remove" it and replace it. (it's not a trivial job)

Mine didn't come with Tabs either. My brother had them (Bennett Sport Tabs) installed when he rebuilt the 460 (after the block cracked) Other than when you need to level the boat with too much weight on one side of the other, I don't seem to need to use them for cruising. The drive trim does the job.

(By the way, Bennett has OUTSTANDING Cust support! I called them because I wanted to rebuild my hydraulic tab pump. They said they didn't sell pump parts individually and the pump could NOT be rebuilt. So they sent me a new one! [NO CHARGE!] I was floored!)

I do use them for wake-boarding though. All the way DOWN. Then, with experimentation, you can find the sweet spot with drive trim ........The Bravo III Contra-Rotating prop REALLY helps here with precise thrust control.

Don't waste your time or money on spring loaded tabs.......there's NO adjustment there and they just cause drag at high speeds (where you don't need tabs)

 

[dellsboater]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

I have the 201 with the 350 run a 21 prop SS and added Nauticus Trim Tabs (fixed). My hole shot with the tabs s awesome, top end 55mph.

 

[JerryRigged]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

87 211 with a 514 stroker, 625 HP, King cobra outdrive, 21 pitch 3 blade prop.....68 gps.... around 5200 rpm (I was going too fast to check, lol) .

 

[JerryRigged]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

87 211 with a 514 stroker, 625 HP, King cobra outdrive, 21 pitch 3 blade prop.....68 gps.... around 5200 rpm (I was going too fast to check, lol) .

Correction: tried it again this weekend.

67 on gps at 6000 rpm

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

Correction: tried it again this weekend.

67 on gps at 6000 rpm

That's one fast LIB! (I'm not that fast [about 10mph slower] but I'll bet I can beat you out of the hole!!)

Cheers,

Rick

 

[dazk14]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

What would it take to hook a bravo to my current 350? bell housing,coupler,transom assembly, and the drive its self? I just got done building a roller cammed 383 with AFR heads for my car, really wouldn't be a big deal to build my current motor, I'm just going to need something behind it that wont explode.

Another thing My boat doesnt have that it should: Trim tabs! Why would four winns leave them off some 211's?

Not to be a kill-joy...but we're talking about a boat with a book value of about $4K. We've cut up a few of those. Non-running 80's boats have become scrap...Don't "create" one.
Sure, yours may be worth somewhat more.
Find a nice prop for your rig and enjoy it.
Put the "MOD" money and the TON of time you'll save into an account and put it toward a different boat, if you're set on going 60mph.
You'll thank me in a few years. I'll accept the "F.U." for the moment. LOL

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: 211 Liberator prop question

Not to be a kill-joy...but we're talking about a boat with a book value of about $4K. We've cut up a few of those. Non-running 80's boats have become scrap...Don't "create" one.
Sure, yours may be worth somewhat more.
Find a nice prop for your rig and enjoy it.
Put the "MOD" money and the TON of time you'll save into an account and put it toward a different boat, if you're set on going 60mph.
You'll thank me in a few years. I'll accept the "F.U." for the moment. LOL

Well, you're right for the most part......

I have not talked to anyone that has"cut one up" though, but I have a talked to a fair number of people that have good condition and good running Libs. It's worth doing a repower if the boat is in good condx and you do it yourself.

It wouldn't be worth it to re-power (engine/drive) a 2000's boat either if you had to pay someone else to do it.

A huge advantage of an older boat is the very LOW licensing fees (mine is $25/year) and the MUCH cheaper insurance. These Libs will easily do 60 with the right power.