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1988 223 SS planing issues
Hi We’re looking to purchase a1988 223 SS. This would be our first Formula....better late than never! When we took the test ride the boat took a considerable length of time to plane off with only four people on board! The boat has a 7.4 330 hp with a Bravo outdrive turning a 21 Mirage three blade. The boat does have trim tabs but I’m assuming they weren’t all the way down although the gauge read down. I couldn’t see the tab positions because of being under the platform. Any Formula owners out there with any info? I believe the boat should perform much better than we saw. Also the owner claims the boat weighs about 6500 lbs..The 88 brochure shows the boat as about 3100 lbs |
That boat came with a 23 pitch x 14.5prop. So a 21 pitch would help it plane out better.. unless its small in diameter? The motor could be tired.... what was the top speed?. Should do 55
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1988 223 planing issues
Thanks very much for the quick reply. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the top speed. Do you think the problem with the planing could be with the trim tabs not being all the way down. The motor sounded OK...the engine has about 750 hrs. according to the hour meter..any other info or comments would be appreciated Thanks, Tony S |
Long planning compared to what? It is a deep v hull with a big block all the way in the back, not really a hole shot machine, and 4 adults can be a fairly heavy load for that boat. 6500 is a real world weight for the boat on a trailer. I used to have a 223 ss, great boat.
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Many thanks for your quick reply....as for the planing time, it took at least 45 seconds to a minute to plane. I know it’s a fairly heavy boat for its size, maybe the motor is a little tired. Any comments on trim tabs not working properly. Thanks Tony S |
I think that the time to plane sounds reasonable considering the load. Fuel level can make a big difference as well, It think a 90 gallon tank? The trim indicator on that boat would be for the drive, most do not have an indicator for the tabs. Verify proper operation by testing while on the trailer. Tabs can help your time to plane, but too much can also hurt it. I would suggest a lower pitch prop if you want a better hole shot.
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1988 223 planing issues
Thanks again for the info. The owner tol me the 223has a 14x21 Mirarge I thought it had tab indicators. Would I be correct that if the tabs were not down below the bottom of the hill the boat would take longer to plane off? The boat is in excellent condition transom was replaced with composite material in 201also lower unit rebuilt same year Thanks again |
I would suggest a compression test and a timing check. You should reach plane in 15 seconds at most. If it takes 45 to 1 min. There is a problem. |
Thanks for the info on the compression & timing. The current owner doesn’t use the trim tabs when taking off. Any comments on trim tabs...I know they help during planing. Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks everyone, Tony S |
I dont use them when planing. But I also dont shove it to the dash and try to launch it. The factory tabs on these boats are rather slow. If you have a full load of folks I would put them all the way down when idling out of the no wake zone make sure the drive is fully down as well and then ease into the throttle till it the bow breaks over. Bring the tabs up depends on the water. I personally dont use tabs unless I'm in some serious side winds or the water is rough.
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Originally Posted by Tony S
(Post 4704091)
Thanks very much for the quick reply. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the top speed. Do you think the problem with the planing could be with the trim tabs not being all the way down. The motor sounded OK...the engine has about 750 hrs. according to the hour meter..any other info or comments would be appreciated Thanks, Tony S |
For comparison My 223 planed off in around 8 or 10 seconds Sunday with 5 aboard on a 21" prop. My engine is smaller and produces less torque than a 454. But it's lighter and it's a little built so it has horsepower. The 21 is my tallest prop and should not have been on there. Even that felt slow, so 45 seconds is unacceptable. I use full tab and tucked drive to launch. I don't stab the throttle, just roll on the power. I raise my tabs incrementally once the bow rolls over onto plane if the water is flat enough to not need the bow down in the chop.
I found documentation that claims my boat weighs 4000 lbs as built. Fuel tank holds 86 gallons so what's that around 650 lbs, plus gear and people. 5 something on the water, approaching to 6,000 with 5 people of various sizes. |
1988 213 ss
NH Guy, Thanks so much for your comments on the 223 SS. We passed on that recent deal. We have a test ride on another 223 hopefully this weekend. Thanks again, Tony S |
Maybe the boat does weigh 6800 lbs. . . but it shouldn't. 1988 boat, might have a bunch of water in the structure and foam. My 1991 242SS weighed in at about 4800 lbs. So the 223 should be under 4K lbs.
When a boat won't plane as it should the 2 primary reasons are weak motor or heavy boat. |
I had a 1989 223LS, slightly different layout running a 24P Bravo 1 prop. It would plane quickly fully loaded and was a 70+ MPH boat but was powered by a larger BBC. Planing can vary from operator to operator. Formula’s like slow and steady throttle input and are very temperamental to Trim adjustments. It could have possibly been too much of any of that. |
Thanks very much for all the comments and information, hopefully I’ll get a Formula yet! |
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