Planing Time For A 353
 

I have a new, (to me), 2005 353 Fastec with 525's. Anybody with this set up that can tell me their average time to plane off. I know it will depend on the actual boat load/weight, but I am just looking for some general numbers. I had a trial run last weekend and I was a little surprised at the time to plane off. I had a full tank of gas and just myself on the run and it was taking about 8-10 seconds. It also felt like after struggling a bit, once it reached a certain point, the props would catch and shoot the boat up on plane the rest of the way quickly. May be perfectly normal, I just don't have any experience with the 525 set up in this boat. I am running 5 blade 15.25 X 29 pitch Hydramotive props as set up from the factory and I was not using the trim tabs. They were in a neutral position.

Any input would be appreciated.

Sounds pretty common. I have a friend that had HOs in his and it planed the same way. That's just how Formula has them set up.

I have 502's, with Bravo One 26 pitch props. With three people and a thousand pounds of fuel and cargo, we get right up on plane. We boat on Lake Cumberland, there about every weekend, May thru September.:evilb:

The HOs had 30 pitch 4 blade B1s. We were going to try my labbed 28P B1s but never got around to it. Probably would have planed much better.

I don't think the props are factory, check me, but I thought they (Formula) ONLY used Mercury Maximus 5 blades. You shouldn't have any trouble getting on plane. PM me your numbe so we can talk. I've been running my 353 for 5 years now...

Dave

I only assumed the 5 blade Hydramotives were factory because nothing else had been altered on the boat. You bring up an interesting question. Do you know what the Mercury 5 blade specs are? I think I will check with the factory.

I got your PM. Will call you tomorrow when I get a chance.

Dave

trim-in limit block
 

Not sure about your 353, but my 292 arrived from the factory with the trim-in limit block positioned aft. I changed it to allow the drives to tuck in further and it helped the boat plane out a bit quicker. Just don't run at speed with the drives tucked all the way in and turn her hard.

Ken,

How are you making out?

Dave

Dave,

Just got off the lake a couple of hours ago. I tried planing off as you suggested and it took about the same time. It felt smoother than "mashing" the throttles but took as long. I'm guessing just the nature of the beast.

Had another issue today. I think I have a drive trim solenoid sticking. The drives wouldn't move equally and the boat would start listing to the port side.

I also started having some issues with the shifters; they are jumping/vibrating when you get close to the neutral position. I'm guessing a cable adjustment will take care of this. I'm getting a little frustrated but I know it's all just part of working the bugs out of a new boat.

Also, the soot today on the transom was extremely bad.... worse on the starboard engine.

Any thoughts?

Ken

Can't help a lot with how to set up a 353, but I have run Hydros a lot over the years and your description sounds typical. Are your Hydros the P5's or the P5X's?

On the shifting issue, Bravos are a cone clutch drive and as such need to be in gear or in neutral. Anything in between will cause the gear chatter you describe. Try to be a little more intentional in your shifting, simply put just shift it in or out. Going too slow will make it chatter.

The 525's are a tad rich from Merc as are most of their motors. One thing that I have started doing with mine is to simply start them up, no throttle advance at all, and let them warm up at idle. I let them sit and run until the temp is up to normal and the oil temp gauge begins to come up. When I first got this boat I did the same thing I had always done on my carb motors, start them up, then jack them up to 1500 or so to warm up. The 525's just don't seem to like this, seems that if you mess with the throttle position before they are warmed up it throws off the computer program and they load up, and it shows on the transom more so. You will always see some soot there, but I did notice it seems to be less since I started letting them just fully warm themselves up on their own. I guess the computer is smarter than I am.

Soot is generally caused by premium gas. On 525's use regular only. They run better and no soot..really no bs!. When getting on plane use some down tab. Sometimes you need to rock the wheel back & forth to break loose the props. You can also trim the drives out a bit until the props break loose then trim in to bite. Or put in 700 NXT's..she launches out

I just made my first run of the year last Sat, and I also had a lot of soot from my 500's. The cold early spring water causes it in mine and later in the year it go's away. Pain in the ash to clean though, no pun intended.

Washes right off with a little Zing on a cotton toilet bowl brush. Takes just a couple minutes then a quick rinse with water. Hardest thing to find is the old style cotton toilet bowl brushes. Only place I ever find them is at the Ozark Barbecue store down at LOTO. Exhaust tips come out looking brand new too.

Any of you guys know history of 2007 Formula 353 Mahopac Marine has for sale

Don't know the boat, but the Guys there are real friendly! Looks like a pretty good deal. With 300 hours, I'd see what the computer says how those 525's were run! A survey should be on the list too.

Dave

you should check with a mercruiser dealer about the soot on the transom it should not be bad at all the engines may fall under a re-cal according to the serial #'s a good dealer will be able to tell you that or p.m. me your serial#'s and i will call mercruiser for you. a service rep can reflash the ecm's on the engine at your dealers shop. just had one done for a friend of mine last summer cleaned his transom right up.

Thanks for the info Past Due, I will check that out when I get to the Ozarks this month.