Port side leaner
 

My 280 Silencer starts leaning pretty good port side at higher speeds. Seems like anything over 4200 rpm or so boat leans unless i use the tabs. It is pretty annoying. Just trying to fiqure out if this is normal for a single engine boat. My last boat was a 290 enticer with 502s and you never had to use the k planes. The other concern I am trying to get used to is the prop blowing out when getting on plane. Never really seems to grab good again even when cruising. I am running 496ho with procharger 28 pitch bravo 4 blade. This might be all normal especially having the step. I was used to the 290 with twins that seemed a bit more responsive. Both boats will do 75 mph just a lot different getting to that speed.

Do you have a drive shower on the boat? If you do , you might try plugging it up once and run it to see how it reacts. If you do have a shower that is drilled through the cavitation plate it should be on the right side of the plate( I believe).?

Try switching to a 3 blade and see if it goes away. My 26 had the lean with a 4 blade but not much. None with a 3 blade. Otherwise thats what the tabs are there for.

Put a straight edge on back portion of hull. See if one side has more of a hook than the other.

It's pretty typical for the 280 - I think most of the guys that have them can attest to this.

Higher horsepower, v hull, right hand rotation on the outdrive, equals leaning left.

If you put a left hand rotation drive and prop on the boat it will lean to the right and that is pretty uncomfortable for the driver.

A 3 blade will be much worse on planing that the 4 blade and you won't get the speed.

You can put a drive spacer in to improve your hole shot and minimize prop slip on take off but it will usually cost you some top speed and it may make the leaning worse.

The boat was developed to perform with a stock Bravo 4 blade prop. There are many guys that have switched out props on their 280 with success but I'm just telling what we did at the factory when we developed the boat.

Marc

My 280 had a 1" spacer when I bought it and it leaned at any speed past 45mph. I took the spacer out and now it starts to lean around 65mph.The wind direction also plays with it.It came with a HP500efi which,I believe,has a different x-dimention than any other engine.It came with a B-1 24 and now I run a B-1 28 pitch.I just drop the tab which is cheaper than buying a twin engine boat!

Mine also leans out.....a little bit of tab is all thats needed....and the lean shouldnt be all that bad....
I run a labbed 26 Bravo 1 and my boat has the Raylar kit that pushes it to 74 mph.
The blowout is bue to a higher drive height (my guess)...
Just as the boat rolls over let off the throttle for one second then get back into it.....seems to like it this way..
Bob, how fast does your 280 run with the 500 hp?

My 2002 280 has the lean a little too. in running HP500 efi with bravo XR and a hydomotive 24P P5X five blade prop. I have tried many props and that one is by far the best for my boat good out of the hole and good top end.

Thanks for all the info. I fiqured it would be a normal condition but wanted to make sure there was not something out of the norm with my boat or a simple fix that i needed to address. It is a condition that I got used to real quick and is easy enougth to adjust the tabs.

280Powerquest, your boat must come on plane hard with a 5 blade!! What rpm do you run and what speeds do you get?
I'm currious to hear what the 500 HP's do......gotta love those blue motors!!
Thanks,

it comes on plane pretty fast. never been in a 28 with less power so not to sure how the boat with a 496 would do. 5 blade prop is awesome on it. i use to run a 28p bravo 4 blade boat came on plane slower and top end was less 68 @4900 on gps. with the 5 blade comes on plane quicker and really lifts the whole boat out of the water more for a better ride and speeds. runs 73 @5100 on gps. thinking about doing the whipple kit on it this winter but questioning reliably if i do it.......

I am impressed with the speed diff from 4 to 5 blade you stated. I keep hearing a 5 blade will cut down on top end. I am at 74 gps with 496 ho with procharger. I am running 28 bravo 1. I tried a bunch of props but I could not get my hands on a 5 blade to try out. Feels like I get a lot of slippage at cruising speeds. Acts like motor is never under a load and you can rev the motor up while cruising without feeling a speed increase. I would love to see upper 70s but I may be kidding myself.

I like the speed increase you saw with the 5 blade too. Was the Bravo 1 labbed or none labbed? Is the 5 blade labbed?

Verbi69,
Haven't been here for a while,just read your post. When my 280 had the HP500 it ran 71-73 gps. I sold the HP and built a 548.Runs 80-81 now. Quite the handful after 78 if the water is not perfect

Hi Bob,
What is your 548 rated at for hp?
What rpm are you spinning your motor at?
Have you ever ran a 5 blade on your 280?
Sorry for all the questions....
I like your speeds

thats a great prop, I HAVE A px5 30 ITS A GOOD BOW LIFTING PROP. Now when this lean happens has anyone tried to chop the throttle and trim out a little. I have seen this on some hulls that are trimmed in all the way and once your on plane you have to trim out a lil and chop the throttle and the hull straightens out.

Hey Verbi, Have you ever kept track of any type of fuel economy on yours? I felt mine was a pig for a single engine boat. I talked to raylar and he stated I would be much better off pulling off my super charger and going with one of his kits. I doubt I would go that route unless something drastic happened, but really seems like they are the way to go.

By the way, The graphics on your boat kick azz.

specialk,
I think that the first time I ran the boat after the Raylar kit I thought "wow- this thing is hard on gas". After thinking about it, it probably seemed to be because I was running all over the lake buzzing the engine at near wide open throttle racing everything in sight like a fat kid in a candy store..... And it also was my first ride of the season with the new setup.
Putting everything in perspective it is no harder on fuel...I would have to say it is easier due to the extra power and torque on hand to propel the boat. It gets on plane quicker which is a big bonus....
I dont think the stock fuel guage is overly acurate either.....and I don't usually worry about fuel consumption too much as a general rule though. - Smiles per gallon is my theory...lol.
For comparison the boat is awesome on fuel compared to my buddies Baja 302 with 454 mags at all cruising speeds and at the higher rpm range....simply no comparison.
The other thing to remember with these 280's is they are a big boat for their length and definately not the lightest either...so it needs power to push them.
In a nutshell I love this Raylar kit.....I only wish I turned it into a 600hp kit as the hull responds well to the added power.
I am a believer!

And thanks for the compliment on the boat...the graphics is what caught my eye initially when I was looking to buy!!

I had a 290 PQ with 502s before this and it was better on fuel. I quess because motors never had to work hard with twins.
How does your 280 ride compared to your buddies 302?
Is the 525 kit all bolt on... or did you have to crack open the motor. I thought the 600 kit required pistons and some other internals but I might be wrong. I was not sure what kind of $$ it was.

The 525 HO kit requires a cam change out along with heads and intake but can run stock exhaust.
The 600 kit has a different rotating assembly and requires the use of headers...I never priced it out either.
The 302 definitely has what I would call a different ride...seems planted heavier in the ass end- due to the twins, its a good feeling.
Our 280's are in reality only 27'-7" long with a notched transom. I havent measured the notch yet, but we are loosing some running surface which gives us less boat in the water and makes it ride like a smaller boat.
I find that the harder I push the boat in 2-3 footers the smoother the ride....not saying stuff doesnt move around in the cuddy though!
I like the feel of his twins planted in the water.

And my buddy has hydraulic steering and I dont....there is a difference in that alone for sure.

verbi69,Once again,been a while since I've been here so sorry for not getting back to you. My 548 makes 640 hp @ 5400pulling ALL accessories(p/s'water pump,wet exhaust,circ. pump,alt)it makes 680 ft lbs tq at 3900. It was dyno at Percision Marine in New Orleans. I just bought a 38' Top Gun with 598s so the 280 is still for sale if you know anyone. Bob

Nice move up Bob. I'm looking at Baja 342's or the Vyper 340's to move up to hopefully soon.
I love my 280 though.