92 Sea Ray 180 Sport Prop Change?

[ovwaterlover]

Help me please with a decision for a prop change. I have a new to me 1992 Sea Ray 180BR /w 4.3L 190HP? 1.83 gear Previous owner purchased two new OE Quicksilver Alum. 14.25 x 21P props with one as a spare. I need to know if the issues I am having can be corrected with a new prop or if I need to just accept the current performance and move on. My background prior to this boat was a 85 Sea Ray Seville 185 BR w/ 2.5L 120HP I/O w I believe a 17P Quicksilver SS prop. The issues I am having are what I believe to be excess ventilation and cavitation. The river I run on is never smooth always choppy. I ran the boat two weeks ago with what I consider to be a full load 3 adults 2 kids full cooler full fuel and all ski gear. I didnt notice so much the cavitation or excess lift on hole shot but the 2 kids were in the bow. We ran 42-43 top speed on speedo trimmed out at 4600-4800 RPM WOT. Ski towing fine with this boat loading. This weekend we went out on river same water conditions. It was just myself and two kids full fuel and ski equipment. the prop wanted to break loose and spinup on hole shot or acceleration unless fully trimmed down. Very easy to ventilate. top end performance was basically the same. Speedo read 42-44 GPS verified. 4600-4800 rpm WOT. at 4800 started to ventilate and would try to break loose. Now to my goal. I would like to make the hole shot quicker to plane which I think will help with the need to mess with the trim so much. I think I should be going faster at top end. Boat has always been serviced as should be except it has the common needle and seat problem that causes it to flood after sitting and now I think is causing it to run rich all the time. I am planning on performing a complete tune up (has original plug wires and possibly cap and rotor).and possibly changing over to the edelbrock 4BBL carb and intake this winter. My first thought is to goto a 4 blade SS 23P prop which should provide more cup since I am experiencing excess slip thru the entire power band.
Any advice would be appreciated and sorry for the long winded story want to get all the info out there.
Thanks

 

[emoney]

Re: 92 Sea Ray 180 Sport Prop Change?

At least you know it was long-winded, lol. I'm not sure I'd start experimenting with the prop until I got the motor back to factory spec. Having carb issues of any sort proffers the opportunity for a lacking in performance. I, for one, would never trust 20 year old anything, especially concerning the ignition on my boat and anticipate anything but eventual failure. An ounce of prevention, as they say, is worth more than a pound of cure in the boating realm.

Knowing your boat is at the age it is, water intrusion/logging can also affect overall performance. Seems like 44mph at the RPMs you're turning would be reasonable. What makes you think there should be more top-end?

 

[ovwaterlover]

Re: 92 Sea Ray 180 Sport Prop Change?

More top end is not my desired result. I think there is probably a bit more to be had by updating the fuel system. My hope is to get a more driver friendly boat in the midrange that i don't have to have the nose buried in the water to keep it from porposing and eventually breaking loose and overreving the motor. I'm looking for a perfect compromise of fuel economy and performance. If I can reduce the slip without bogging the motor that should also allow me to sit higher on plane. Less boat in the water less drag better economy. I doubt water intrusion is an issue. I was told the boat has not only never been in the water overnight. It has only been out of the garage overnight a couple times. When I bought it a month ago I was given all of the original 20 yo covers. That look to be maybe 2 years old. The interior is all original with only a couple pulled threads in the bench in front of the sundeck from stepping in the seat.

 

[bunker108]

Re: 92 Sea Ray 180 Sport Prop Change?

I have a 4.3gl and a 21p alum. prop. I can spin it to max revs and am running about 48. It is also quick to blow out and i have to be careful with the trim. I got a 19p SS that I am hoping will be the compromise that you speak of. I want a better holeshot for towing and hopping not to lose too much on the top end mph. So in theory the drop in pitch should give me a better hole shot and the SS should have better performance at max revs...or so I hope.

Going to a four blade might be an option for you as well.