33 Lightning prop question
 

I just picked up a 2009 33 Lightning last week, I love the boat handles great.

However before I paid for the boat I hooked up a computer and could not help but notice with 270 hours approx on each engine the boat had never been above 4500 RPM, I thought that was odd then I got it home and ran it hard and I cannot get above 4300-4400 RPM and approx.73ish or so.
Boat currently has 32 Bravo one props, pretty big wheels.
What props are you other 33 owners running and speeds ect.

Thank you

Here is some info on your boat. You can find out what props it was delivered with by calling Fountain HQ and asking for the performance report, have your HIN ready. https://www.boatingmag.com/boats/fountain-33-lightning/

Thank you I will reach out to Fountain tomorrow.

I assume it is a 496 ho boat. I believe Fountain put 32 Bravo's on x drives on those models. Instead of running a standard 1.5 gear ratio they went with a 1.65 ratio which would explain why the boat would run 80 with 32's. Did someone rebuild or put new drivers on your boat? If so, did they put 1.5 gears in them?

Yes 496's that is great info. I am going to check into the drives and find out. Thank you

Propellers
 

Hi there, I have the same boat and set up exactly, you should be seeing 80+ mph, with drives around 5-5.5
make sure your engines are get 100% throttle by check the throttle bodies and also check them on scan tool

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...48d98a9e9.jpeg
here is a 2009 performance report, I have a 2008 and they used a different setup

this is my 2008 performance report

Sorry, I just saw your performance report. It answers my question

forward bilge question
 

can either of you tell me of the stringer below the cabin step has a passage or hole allowing water to get from the starboard side to the port side where the bilge pump is? Post a picture? My boat had a bad stringer there and when repaired i think they forgot to make a passage.
Thanks

did you buy the the boat from south jersey?

Please post some pictures of your 33
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0086b522f3.jpg

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5588f0c8bc.jpg

Checkmate ZT 280,,,do you see 85 like the fountain report states?

No just 82 ,That number must be with one person, low fuel ,going with current in river,and a tail wind.

Checkmate, what maxi’ props are they size wise? I do have some but maybe to bigger diameter to yours? If I run it on 5 blades it’s great everywhere except wot

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...dce81b61dd.png

mine are 15 5/8 x 32 5 blade maximus

delete

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...bae11b2970.jpg

15 5/8 x 32

Checkmate ZT 280 what is your max RPM, i only turn 4650 max

about 5000 rpm 4650 way to low.

any of you 33 lightning owners ever notice what your oil temp gauge reads. I have one reading 190 and the other 220.

After quite a bit of research, I have found out my issue with RPM and speed . If you have a Maximus prop made between 2006 and 2008, mercury had changed the way they shaped the props during these years causing the belly of the lobes to be too large. This change wound up costing a few hundred RPM and 3-4 mph, I found this out Thanks to Brett @ B Blades and confirmed by Nick at Mercury Racing. Mercury realized their new process was a screw up and returned to the prior method of shaping the props in 2009. The letters inside the hub of the prop can tell you what year your prop was manufactured.