help,big time,first timer

lar(bayliner)

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2004
Messages
3
Hey folks,<br />I have been reading your posts recently trying to pluck up courage to send my own regarding some issues i am having with my first boat,coming from a jet-skiing background i am relatively new to all this,so your help is greatly appreciated,also coming from ireland there is not a whole lot of help close by.....well..here we go,firstly im not terribly sure what year my boat is although i do know that it is a bayliner 185 capri with a 3.0l omc I/O ,I have been told by so called experts that it is 175hp/130hp/135hp and finally 140hp according to the serial numbers on the engine it seems to be 175hp,can this be right(remenber i have owned a few jetski's where 1200cc would give me 155hp.how can a 3000cc give me so little,also looking at previous posts you say 4600rpm-4800rpm is about tops for such an engine ,at these revs my engine is screaming and it is just barely scraping 31mph on flat sea water no matter what i do with the trim,will a larger prop do the trick ,my current one is a 14/17 or 17/14 if that makes any sense.i dont want huge acceleration(then again i dont want some guy passing me out in a canoe while im waiting to get on the plane)i just want a high top speed/low rev boat so i can get a decent distance on a full tank(90miles or so it says on the odd site)as you might know petrols not that cheap over here.and finally folks and thanks for staying with me so far,where can i find schematics or a breakdown of the engine and leg(also omc)or do i have to order a manual from some where.<br />Regards and thanks<br />Lar.<br /> :confused:
 

outboardguy

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jan 16, 2004
Messages
262
Re: help,big time,first timer

You can generally find the year of your boat by looking at the hull ID #.Look at the stb rear corner and you may see a hull # stamped into the transom,The last two nubers usually represent the year.<br />Your jetskis are two stroke whereas the bayliner is four stroke therefore it takes twice the size engine to make equal power.
 

Boatin Bob

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 24, 2001
Messages
1,858
Re: help,big time,first timer

Lar...welcome to the wonderful world of boating! Best investment you can make is a manual for your engine/outdrive. I'm not 100% sure but I think the 3.0 ltr is 135-140 hp, I know for sure the 4.3 ltr V6 is 175hp. You need to find out the yr of the boat and motor. Normally on the outside of the transom on the right side you should see the boat SN and the last 2 digits are the year, the engine may or may not be the same year, could be a year older if the dealer had stock laying around, try to get the engine serial and post it so we can see what year and type of drive you have. As far as the prop goes you have a 14x17 which means 14 inch diameter and 17 inch pitch. The most important thing is to stay within the recommended top speed range for that engine, when going full speed (WOT) what are your RPM's?
 

TwoBallScrewBall

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 14, 2003
Messages
1,695
Re: help,big time,first timer

Lar,<br /><br />I've got a 1950 Capri. The 3.0 is 130-140hp depending on what year. Generally, you will need a 14/19 or 14/21 prop. At least for me, a 14/17 overrevved the engine (it sounds like for you too) and top speed was about 32-34. I'm running a 14/19 on my 3.0 now and it's good, but I could also run a 14/21 and still be in the target WOT range.
 

Bayrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
113
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hi Lar, Welcome aboard. Your engine is 135hp and as the gays said you will find the year on the starboard side.Look between the rub rail and boarding ladder,the last two digits are the year.For good all round performance you need a 14/21 pitch prop.As for the screaming,try not to over trim the drive.To get good mpg don,t run at WOH all the time,as well as supping the fuel it,s not good for the engine.BTW the the 21 pitch should get you nearer to 36mph. Regards Raymond. PS Might meet up some day.I Live north of the border. ;)
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,306
Re: help,big time,first timer

and as the gays said
Boy,<br />Am I Glad,<br />I Didn't Reply to This Post.............. :D
 

TwoBallScrewBall

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 14, 2003
Messages
1,695
Re: help,big time,first timer

Bayrider, I see 37-39 mph wide open with my 14/19 on my 19 footer. He should be up in the low to mid 40's at least, with a 14/21 on an 18 footer. <br /><br />..... and let me just add I said nothing about where to find the year on that boat! :D
 

Bayrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
113
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hi Guys. Bondo, sorry for the typing error.Steve,I had ment to type 46mph.Everything was typed in a hurry.I know you did,nt say anything about the year of the boat but Boatin Bob did.When I try??? to answer a post with more then one reply I don,t single out anyone in particular to agree or disagree with,I just say"as the guys said".So Steve you don,t need to go into Bold case to correct me.I,m willing to learn from you guys without being shouted at.
 

lar(bayliner)

Recruit
Joined
May 7, 2004
Messages
3
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hi Guys ,<br />Thanks so much for all your replies,the year according to the serial numbers on the rear is 87',i'm still having a nightmare trying to find a company to supply me with a manual for the engine,i have all the serial numbers bet no one down here(south of ireland)seems to be able to come up with the goods (any ideas bayrider)i have ordered a new prop that will be here in a week or so 14/21,also i went and bent the skeg off a rock launching at low tide the other day(these are the lessons we learn eh!)apart from a small hole in the hull which scared the crap out of me the other day but is patched now,everything is good,apart from the engine stuttering a bit ,but i think its just dirty fuel,i must clean the tank out,also she is still sticking in forward gear so an adjustment or two will have to be made,but apart from that all's well in the land of guinness,a mate of mine just bought a rinker 181 with a 130hp mercruiser in perfect nick apart from a small carb problem but we will sort that,so roll on the summer <br />Regards<br />Lar,<br />P.s thanks again for everything lads. :cool:
 

Boatin Bob

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 24, 2001
Messages
1,858
Re: help,big time,first timer

Lar....you can order a manual from this site but you still need to let us know the engine sn so we can look up the year of the engine ( don't assume it's a 1987 just because the boat is)
 

Bayrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
113
Re: help,big time,first timer

Lar.I got my workshop manual on Amazon.co.uk It took 5 weeks to arrive(very slow)they order it through their agents in the US .You could do as Boatin Bob said and order it on iboats.There,s one other place you could try and thats Carrick Craft in Malahide Marina Dublin.They are the main agents for Bayliner in Ireland.Cheers for now. PS. let us know how the new prop performs. Regards Raymond.PPS.Here,s a good site for boats and parts in Ireland. www.apolloduck.ie
 

cmyers_uk

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 4, 2004
Messages
760
Re: help,big time,first timer

Lar, Ive found volspec in the UK excellent. They can certainly get any Volvo Penta parts (I know yours is Volvo Penta). They also offer free advice and seem very helpful. Try www.volspec.co.uk to get details.
 

Boatin Bob

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 24, 2001
Messages
1,858
Re: help,big time,first timer

Chris....he seemed to indicate that he had an OMC in his first post, that's why I waiting for his SN to see the year and possibly whether it was a Cobra or Stringer drive because he is close to the time when the models changed. But if you know he has a Volvo that changes things.
 

lar(bayliner)

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May 7, 2004
Messages
3
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hi agin Guys, sorry its been a while since my last post,that sounds like confession,sorry father its been 3 months since my last post...Anyway gents,everything is going well,we got the carb fixed on my mates rinker 181,its running sweet,he bought one of these new four bladed props that everybody seems to be talking about but what with going down a pitch he lost some of his speed even though his acceleration was serious(sorry again men,his boat is a rinker 181 with a 135 mercruiser /alpha 1 leg (1991)it had a 14/19 and made 35mph with the 19,but know he has opted for a 21 like myself,although mine still hasnt arrived. The only thing i have to do now is sort out this damn gear problem i am having,when the engine is not running it comes in and goes out of gear fine,when the motor is turning over,you have to wrestle it back and forward to get it out,also reverse doesnt operate at all once its running just a sound of gears grinding whenever i attempt it,so as you can imagine parking or docking is real fun and games material,finally i am looking to put one of those wake boarding type towers on her,what do you think,<br />Regard<br />Lar :rolleyes:
 

TwoBallScrewBall

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 14, 2003
Messages
1,695
Re: help,big time,first timer

Bayrider, just came across this post again and wanted to clear the air. I wasn't taking an attitude with you at all, my bold type above was in reference to bondo's previous post, regarding your other previous post and it's typo, it was a joke.
 

Bayrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 4, 2004
Messages
113
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hi Lar. Just want to clear something.What is your engine,OMC or VOLVO. <br /> Steve. No harm done.Thanks for the reply ;)
 

Mercathode

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
210
Re: help,big time,first timer

lar <br />Your 3.0 OMC is a 4 Cyl OHV engine originally designed for the Chevy 2. It now works as a commercial/marine engine. It liter/horsepower ratio is well below that of jet skis and outboard. I would guess that your boat is a pre 87 because Brunswick Corp who owns mercury bought out US MArine in I think 87 and dropped their OMC contract and startd using Mercrusier. I wouldnt expect much over 40 out od this rig!
 

cuzner

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Feb 14, 2004
Messages
771
Re: help,big time,first timer

Hey Lar,I had an 3l mercruiser in a bayliner,good engine,but don't expect alot of speed.I ran a 19 inch prop,found I got best overall performance, a 17 is best if your carying alot of people or skiing.Also had a 21p,top end speed was just over 40mph,but took a while to plane.If your concerned about burning fuel,keep engine at about 3100 rpm,should be just under 30mph makes a huge difference in fuel consumption.<br /><br /><br /> :cool: Jim
 
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