Just purchsed 1989 20ft Stingray 260/Alpha. It has a 23p prop and I am having problems with 4 barrel opening at WOT. I know the boat originally had a 21p prop. and I think the 23 is to much. Maybe, I need fresh gas, tuneup, carb kit? Boat was not used much in the last two years, mostly stored. Any ideas? I can hear the 4 barrel trying to open at WOT @4K.

Thanks,

Patrick

how many rpms are you turning a wot?

I can hear the 4 barrel trying to open and all I can get is about 4K at WOT.

Thanks

A friend of mine has a bout about the same size and power of yours. The largest prop he could run was a 21. He ended up running a 19 for skiing.

I know two people that have little 350 merc's and they turn 23's three bladers.........but one is a 350 magnum....and the other is running a labbed prop at about 4400rpm.....both in the 21 foot range....

As far as turning a 23 at 4K and the four barrels opening.....they are struggling at that point.......but it should be partially opened

Grab a 21 and see what the carb does then......Oh and did it come with the 23 or did someone just say it spun that one for bragging rights........

before you try a prop, check your linkage, make sure it moves freely and that it cn travel to the full throttle position. Another thing to do after two years stroage is check your fuel, and change all the filters, fuel filter's, fuel/water separator, and check the lines for sediment, and make sure the carb is not totally gummed up with old fuel sediments. two years of sitting can wreak havoc on a fuel system if not properly fogged, and fuel stabilizer added, ect. How does it rev while not in gear? it may clear up after some use if it's gummed up, but if it is a gummed up fuel system cleaning the whole thing is the only real soloution. I dont know how good fuel additives work for thing's like yours, and I hear cleaning a gummed up carb is a real pain, but these a few things to check first.