Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Mentalpause has the full details as it was he who took the ill-fated ride. It was a new boat. Mental was shoping at the time looking for an upgrade from his 270 Laser. He took out the 34 PQ, a 33 AVH, 33 Outlaw, and the 32 Dominator. I can only guess that the X-diminsion was set high on the boat and it had a set of tall 3-blades on it. Hopefully Mental chimes in with the full details when he gets back from LOTO tomorrow. Obviously something was seriously wrong with the boat as it was so bad, everyone that took the ride agreed that they would never buy that particular boat the way it performed. We know others do not have this problem so it was something in the setup of this boat.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Just for reference...I know much of this thread is about newer step'd hull boats...my 95 34 with 454 mags, bone stock, planes easy without tabs, with tabs she'll plane at 2.1k rpm and I have hit 71, once 72 on the gps (1 person, low fuel, right conditions).

Happy New Year!

Jeff

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

That's why.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

3 blades don't work - the boat was designed and tested with bravo 4 blades. It should have come from the factory with 4 blades but the dealer may have put the wrong props on the boat when it was put in the water.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Glad to hear these comments. I really didn't want to have to take the vyper off the wish list.....

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

My boat is very tempermental as far as props are concerned. I've tried many different types of 4 blades.....stock Bravos, labbed Bravos, stock Hydros, labbed Hydros. Ended up going back to a new pair of stock Bravos which is what came on the boat. (Bad lab job on the originals.) They just are the best for my boat. She comes up great with no blow out whatsoever. And cruises at 50/3500 and 60/4000. Not bad for a boat with that much cabin eh?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

That would make since, I'm sure Jim Gibbs just through something on there and figured it would work :eek:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Don't believe any of it, find one you are interested in and test it yourself. Then if you like it - buy it. It would be a great boat for you.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

It wasn't Gibbs, Raymond's had PQ then. I'm sure it was just a bad set up. And it was really bad. I'm not sure what props were on it, but it was definitely not right.

Unfortunately it was a pretty uninformed sales person also that had no clue how to even answer the concern. He finally got it up on plane, and after about 2 minutes running at around 60 we ran out of gas. Not a pleasant experience. They probably would be better off doing the demos with their senior mechanic who knows what is going on.

But then again - Raymond's concentrates on Fountains.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Alrighty, who made the road trip?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

:confused: :confused: :confused:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

What road trip?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I said my guess was that it had 3 blades. I don't know that for sure.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

The type of trip one takes when they go to look at a boat.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

wasn't me. My road trip was to check on the progress of the lake house. Not sure when the next trip is to check on the boat. Probably not until mid February or later.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Now ya tell me,,,,four years to late,,,yeah, mine came with 28 pitch 3 blade Bravo's on it also..In fact I still have a pair of spare 28 3 blade bravo's if anyone needs some..

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Slick, are you sure those were not 3 blade Mirages? :D

At any rate, It is sad to hear that you ran your 340 all that time with 3 blades. Sorry dude! But I have to say it is good that we got this information as it explains a lot.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Hi,

I mentioned earlier that I have a 95 34 with 454mags/390 hp. I've had the factory 3 blades on this boat since new. Planes effortlessly, tops out at 71 and burns 12 gph. So I've been happy!. I assume it is working good, in contrast to the boat in reference with 3 blades, becasue the hull is non-step (V with a notch at the back). Is that correct?

Is there a benefit of moving to 4 blades on my boat?

Thanks.

Jeff

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Are you burning 12 gallons per hour at WOT (71mph)? If so you are getting 6 miles per gallon. :eek:

That would be sweet - I only got 1.1 MPG at wide open throttle with my 454 mags (385 hp) in a 32 Sunsation. Don't think I ever burned 12 gallons per hour, except maybe at idle. My most efficient crusing speed was about 2700 RPM, where I would cruise about 40. I never had a flow meter on it, but I figured then I was burning about 16-18 gallons per hour.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Sorry, 12 gph overall..... We drive mostly around 38-40.

Its been real effecient.

Jeff

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

That's real good overall. I always liked those 454 mags. I have had them in a couple boats.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Hey guys I'm currently looking at a 34' Viper. The past owner installed 1" spacers on the drives do you think this would solve any of the planing problems ?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Vypers don't have planing problems. If it does, then something else is wrong.

BTW: Just buy Macklins boat. No planing problems and likely the cleanest & sweetest condition boat out there.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I just sold my 34' and bought a 38 this time last year. I never had any planing problems with my 34' and as others said it would beat any Baja or formula out of the hole. I will admit that it was slower out of the hole than my 38, but I have more horsepower now.

Tim

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I agree. My 1999 34 with the HP 500's came out of the hole strong, did have a fair amount of bow rise for a few seconds but it came on strong.