Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Maybe, but I've read differently on this Forum. I also believe turning the props in negatively impacts the "docking ability" of the boat. I think Troutly experimented with this a couple years back.

Basic math would tell you a four blade would have hipothetically 25% more bite than a three blade all things being equal, at least in theory.

But I'm NO prop expert.

I know the new Mirage Plus props are a big step up from the older basic Mirage units.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

My buddys 311 has no problem docking,he looked at 4 blades a while back and was told the top end would not be any more than what he had,his boat had no problem planing with 3 blade labbed 25's. I am amazed that you could gain the speeds you did.I have never heard anyone get that kind of mph for the mods done.is that on gps?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I went from 3-bladed Mirages (23P) to 4-bladed Bravos (24P). The difference is awesome! I picked up the same 6 MPH cruise speed, great holeshot, too. I don't know what top-end is... :( :rolleyes: :eek: I always seem to have the kids and/or wife and I just don't run WFO with them in the boat. :rolleyes:

I almost went with Hydros, but I found an awesome deal on the 24P Bravo's and that sealed the deal for me!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I'm juppin in late; but I agree with Cuda. I'm running Kaama's and they have been trouble free, very simple to work on, and all bearings and seals are over the counter items.
And you gotta love those tails!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Yep....when you think about it, it's pretty easy to see how it's accomplished. I just eliminated an enormous amount of drag in the water which gave me the faster speeds. It is EXACTLY what Hydromotive told me what would happen and why. They nailed it.

You can add more hp, but if you have the same amount of drag, it takes so much more hp to overcome that same amount of drag. Less drag will gain higher speeds using the same amount of hp. Which is EXACTLY what happens when we trim our drives out at speed. Run your boat up to 4,000 rpms, then trim out the drives, and look how much faster the boat is. By getting my azz end higher in the water, I just basically got a head start.....

Kinda like raising the "X" demension, except my "X" demension stayed the same, the whole rear end of the boat is just higher out of the water.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

the 311 I am referring to at the time had aluminum heads and intakes,that is a ton of weight off the back of the boat also,big block iron heads are HEAVY!!!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Sure tough to debate that....:drink: :drink:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

83 lbs. per motor was the difference on mine. Plus losing the silent thunder box (older style) was another 200 plus pounds. Then you've got the Quad IV's kicking the stern up as well. There's the difference.

And that's not including any "water weight" trapped in the silent thunder box.....

One other thing, were/are you running in fresh or salt water??? Boats are faster in salt water, more boyancy.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I realize that, I have a little pee pee small block and trim is everything!!
we hit 80 on gps with the aluminum heads and 525 cams on my friends 311,he talked to a ton of people about propping and was told by everyone that the 4 blade would not help top end,the boat had no problem planing at all,even with 6 people and lots of fuel.
My friend is very good with research and tried alot of different things also,he just figured he would buy a fast-tech with blowers instead!!! :drink:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

fresh water,so your engines are not stock mags? you have aluminum too?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Great to see another Kaama owner! What model and year is the boat. (Yeah, thread hijack in progress :( )

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Hell, Russ ought to just give you the props. A trailer queen doesn't require props. Keep in mind that Fred has been in the water since Russ has! :eek: :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Owwww, that left a mark.......:D Don't you have some tile to lay or something????? :D

All set for the races on Sunday......:eek: :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

There isn't any way I can, or even try, to disagree with you. Different boats act differently I guess. I can only tell you what the end result with mine was.

80 is very impressive in a 311, takes some serious power to get there, hats off....:drink: :drink:

I think I remember reading in here somewhere that the difference between salt and fresh water can be up to 3 mph but trusting my memory is a questionable issue...:eek: :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

It took alot to see 80 in a 311!! lots of trial and error,people here in Ohio respected my friends boat because it did not look or sound like an 80 mph boat!! :D are your heads stock cast or aluminum?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Actually, I was outside playing Russ. I'm shining up the hardware on the back of the 302. I'm nowhere near done, but I am impressed with how well PB Blaster and a Scotch Brite pad will remove surface rust off stainless nuts. I'm going to try to get a Russ shine on all of it, and touch up the paint on the drives. :drink:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I guess maybe....lol :evilb:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Hijackers!

Summer is almost half over. I have no boat!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Pics coming later today or this evening...

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Good deal.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Summer is almost half over and I still have six boats. I'd like to drop two more post haste. :)

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Six boats? How many can you drive at once? :)

I know what you mean though, up until recently my wife and I had five cars on the road (Mercedes Diesel, 968, VW Cabrio, Land Rover and a 1971 Chevy Pickup). My insurance agent always returns my calls I must be his #1 customer. I found that keeping five cars rolling was just too much work and expense.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

stock....

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Sheesh, I guess.....:eek: :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Down from eight just a couple weeks ago.

Some people collect stamps, I collect boats. :)

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I collect skin cancer scars....:rolleyes:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Wow Cuda,

I love that 302 man, more info please. Any interior photos?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

This should answer most of your questions. Lemme know if you have any other.
http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-10284.html

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I looked a 1987 272 today. The price ($29K) seemed high to me for the year/model but since it was only about 10 miles from the house it was worth a look. Boat has twin 350 mags with 300+ hours and 630+ hours on the boat. The listing said "300hp mercruisers" so I didn't know if it had BBCs or small blocks before I got there.

http://www.islandyachtbrokers.com/us...No_Name/01.jpg

http://www.islandyachtbrokers.com/us...R-1_-_No_Name/

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Looking at the size of the facilities on these boats I don't think we'd use the head enclosed or not....so I think a 272 could work.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Everyone I know uses the head as a storage compartment,the fast-techs are a little bigger.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

On the way back from looking at this boat we stopped by another dealer as their website had a 271 Fastech listed for sale. I wanted to see on up close to see if I might like one of those...but really they are not much bigger than the 242 I just sold. The 271 wasn't onsite, but they did have a 2001 292 Fastech with 6.2s. The boat was amazing. Too bad I don't have $73K! Interestingly I think the 87 272 was about the same size.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I have a friend with a 271,it is the same as the old 242,the platform makes a world of difference,that is why older 272/292's are pretty big boats,the new 312 fast-techs are actully small looking,my friends 353 is only 11 inches longer than his 88 311 and the cabin is a few inches smaller.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Didn't they quit making the 312?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Yes,I think 02 was last year.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I have a 98 312 Fastech. They came out in 97 and made fewer and fewer until 03 (I think I heard they made 3 in 03 but can't verify that) The 292 came out with twin steps (mine has 1) and anyone going bigger than the 29 went to the 353.

Chuck. The Fastechs are "smaller" boats than the older SR-1's based on how everyone started measuring boats in the early 90's. A 292 SR-1 is pretty much the same size as my 312 Fastech but the older boat has a little taller deck making the cabin a little larger.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Yeah, I know. Seems like the industry changed the way they measure boats in the early 90s. The old Sea Ray 268 suddenly became a "290" with a bow pulpit and swim platform.

I think the Formula 271 is the newest Formula that I can afford (I don't care for the mid-90s "Falcon" Formulas). The 97+ Fastechs seem like they will do around 65mph with a single big block.

A 271 would make sense for me but I still like the earlier boats with twins.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

The older boats are wider in the front also, again giving a little more cabin space. It's been a few years, but I think that's a 353 I'm rafted off to. Mine has the black cockpit cover.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

You're probably right. I've been rafted off to a 353 twice and you can barely tell there's any difference.

However that was with the silent thunder box on, now I'm probably a little shorter....(story of my life...:D)

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

If I ever sell my 292SR1, I would only consider a used 311SR1, 357SR1 or a 382. It seems like all the other Fastech's just aren't as roomy. :rolleyes: Althougth, I haven't been on a 353 yet...It seems like a newer version of the 311SR1...