Doug-
I'm running 1.5 ratio and 17.5 x 35 4 blade props, which means your 5 blade would have too little pitch (because of my ratio). I have to run negative trim to keep the slip down, but have had it to only 94 @ 4600. I need to see what happens at full throttle.

Thanks for the help!
John

John,

The boat looks great. How is it running?

Mike

Hi Mike-
testing different props (need 5 blades), working on the thru-hull water intake"shape" to get water pressure where I want it, tweaking some other stuff before making any hard runs. Also hooking up the dash vents so we can get more air when idling thru the channel.

The boat is amazing in rough water and seems to handle great: defintely feels different than the Chris.

There is NO flex in this hull!

It's a great attention-getter too!

How's your Chris?
John

John,

The Chris is running good, still playing with props. Haven't had much time to run it though.

mike

Mike-
Well I got the water pressure correct and plumbed in the air vents. The vents are beneficial at low speeds: at least the fans help the sweat evaporate!

Now I'm looking for a pair of cupronickel inter-coolers in addition to the 5 blade props. Merc is supposed to have their new CAD props available this fall, so I'll probably wait for them.

I went to see the Estes boys Thursday. Man they never quit. Now they've put a pair of Merc 300's on their 28 Skater. And they're still tweaking their 1,000 hp engines. Their middle names must be persnickety, because the detail on their work is awesome. They have such a cool setup at the ranch!
Keep us posted
John

Dueclaws,You might ask the Blower Shop if they have done anything latest and greatest on their inter-cooler cores.
As I recall,they made some prototype cores for Nortech.The cores were to be 12 fin with larger water flow tubes.
Personally,if one is using an inter-cooler, the fins would be far enough apart that distribution WILL NOT be disrupted......not only when new,but used....Further,if a fin should get bent,far enough apart to where there is no problem.
Also,the water tubes would be over sized to compensate for restriction from debris and corrosion.
Eickert/Hardin has cooler housing end caps you might look at.
The typical thought for plumbing the inter-cooler is to shut the water off at at idle and on as speed and RPM increases.But,food for thought,without water flow the intake may heat soak.If so,as one fires up away from the docks and calls for power before water flows through the cooler long enough, the F/A ratio may cause problems.
We think we are being good to the motors, if they are idled before shut down.However,if the inter-cooler is not getting water are we adding to heat soak ? So then,if water flow is continuous,it loads up.....subject to ignition type,advance the distributor and lock it. It should start and idle at 12-1300,in gear.Then Huber says "OH NO",keep the pressure up and number of shifts down.

Just my little way of getting back at the man!
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Great info and you're right.... that's exactly how I was going to plumb the intercoolers and will look at how to change the plan. I really don't want to run them, but with the relatively poor fuel available they may give a little insurance against detonation.
The last time I asked TBS, he didn't have the cupro cores, but Eickert can supply the cupro cores to fit TBS housings. I need to check the fin count and wf tubes though.
RE: 12-1300 in gear. That's a pretty high idle... in the 5mph no wake zone we have (local police have great fun during weekends with their radar gun in the zone). At 800 in gear we idle at 5.9-6.2 mph depending on the current... so we're in and out of gear quite often.
I'll see you guys next week and we can talk more if you have time.

Thanks!!!

John,

If you are to fast in the 5 mph zone you can always drag a couple of 5 gallon buckets behind you. Just tell everybody you are fishing.

mike

Mike!
Great idea, I'll just tell them that were trolling...........
for bait!

Bought parts today from the CcD boys. I went over expecting to be gone in 30 minutes and was there for 1.5 hours discussing props, drive height, etc. It was fun
John

No such thing as a quick trip t see the CcD boys. They just have to many cool toys and a lot of knowledge.

mike