252 with 454 mpi
 

I recently sold my 20ft searay with a 5.0 to go bigger. Found a 1999 baja 252 with a 454 mpi (non-mag) with almost 400 hours. Is that enough engine for that size? What amount of fuel typically would you use in an afternoon mostly cruising with the odd WOT run for a couple minutes?

We have a 2000 226 Cobalt with a 454 MPI (non-mag) with a Bravo 3- Captains Call Exhaust- all fresh water. The boat (dry) is about 4200 lbs and with Cool weather, 25 gallons of fuel and 2 people at WOT we get 63 mph- GPS. The motor has been absolutely great - no oil usage, leaks etc. I did replace a starboard exhaust manifold last fall. Right above the access plug there was a very tiny crack. Rather than wait until it got bigger I just replaced it -- Very easy job. Right now we have about 350 hours on it.

Fuel usage at WOT can easily hit 30 gals/hour. We typically cruise at 3500 rpm's about 35mph and it goes thru a little over 10 gallons/hour. Again all of these are estimates because we don't have a flow meter on the boat - Also this year I have exclusively used Shell mid-range octane fuel and added a couple of cans of Sea Foam in the spring. I know there is a fuel usage application somewhere on the web - it really is pretty accurate. Also you may want to see what your prop slip is to make sure you got the boat propped correctly. Last time I ran the numbers I was around 2% slip - which is just perfect.

Where are you boating?

All the best - and be safe

3pointstar

232 islander with the same engine moved out at 60 with a light load. Normal load and speed was mid 50's at WOT.

That engine at 3000 rpms burns about 13 GPH. All afternoon (5 hrs) at 3000 should drain the tank ;)

http://www.boat-fuel-economy.com/mer...ion-us-gallons

Deleted, advice on wrong engine

He did say (non mag) 7.4 Rob.

3 point...2% slip? Say what?

I have a 28P and I've got it up to 63 mph at 4600 rpm's

Did I do something wrong using the prop slip calculator

If I did I really would like to know what the slip would calculate at?

thanks

3pointstar

Assuming that you have a 1.5 drive ratio it calcs out to 23%. 2% is considered practically impossible and not desired. Very broadly and generically speaking 15% is ideal to let the prop "spin" up. To calculate 2% you'd have to have a gear ratio of 1.9

I have a 252 7.4 MPI... 53-54 MPH is about what it does with a 19p 3 blade. Has 2 hours on rebuild if interested.

My drive is a 1:2 or 2:1 -- its a stock Bravo 3

Thanks for the advise. The boat sold on me before i could get to it. 14000 cad. I am in new brunswick canada so most u.s boats are out of my price range the way the dollar is...