First outing
 

Had the boat out today for the first time and have a few questions for those of you running 380's or have 500efi's. First of all I would to say that the boat is very user friendly and handled great with no rattles, even in six foot swells today.

My first question regards the operating temperature of the engines. The owners manuel says it should run 160 -180 degrees. The port engine ran at 160 and the starboard at 180. What could make the difference in temperature between the engines?

Second question is in regards to speed. At 3,000 rpm we were running roughly 40mph. The boat was full of fuel, three passengers, XR drives with IT'S system(7" stand off) running 4 blade Bravo 1 30 pitch. The engines have only been run a few times so I only took it up to 4700 rpm on relatively flat water and got 72 mph on gps. It felt like the props were having a tough time catching (cavitation problem I think). Do these speeds sound about right. seems a bit slow to me if everyone else is hitting 80 plus at WOT.

I know it will take some dialing in and some seat time, but, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Oh, and I just got a new digital video camera that will take stills so I will post some pics when I figure out how to use it.

Congrats on the new boat!!!

With regard to water temps, my 34 with 454mags and gaffrigs run about 10 degrees different since the boat was new.

Iwill be interested in learning about others input on your speed concerns. From what I have learned you have more speed to get out of your setup...which is good!

Take care.

Jeff - which I could be boating in December!!!

It may be the hot water tank cooling the engine a little more than the other.(if you have one) 10 degrees sounds like a lot for that though.

The props will ventilate out of the hole but should not at higher speeds unless you are trimmed too high. "Blow out" usually occurs at higher speeds. But it is a significant change in speed not just a little slipping. Blow out is caused by the bullet of the drive deverting the water too far out arround the prop creating a pocket of air that the props cannot hook to hence they slip and loose propulsion.

For high speed make sure you are not dragging your tabs and trim both drives up equally. Check where the drives are parallel to the running surface and mark them on the indicators. At speed start them level and put the hammer down and the tap them higher and higher untill you reach top speed. If it gets too loose back down. DO NOT TURN at high speed untill you know how the boat handles. You may allready know this but I do want to see some pictures of the boat not the bottom of the lake ;)

Thanks for the replies. I do have a hot water heater and that may be part of the temp difference. I will keep an eye on it and see if anything changes.

The cavitation problem was not at speed. It was more in the low to mid range rpm's. It seemed as though it took a long time for the props to bite, even with the drives tucked in. It may have something to do with the size of the swell today and taking longer to get on plane.

The boat is handling very well. A little bit of bow steer with higher speed corners but I'm sure that will dissapear as I learn where the drives like to set (I was likely a little too far tucked in).

Does it sound like I will be able to hit 80 plus? Do the 2001 models have a problem with a hook in the hull?

I figure I can get lots of help from you poor guys unable to use your boats this time of year, as talking shop is the next best thing to being able to go out.

On getting out of the hole mine ventilate for about 6-8 seconds. I bring the RPM up to 3000 then up to 3500 Then they seem to bite after the boat gets going a little. At first I was worried now it's normal. I think you'll hit 80, I would think you can hit 77-78 all day long but you will have to eek out the last few MPH.

BMAC, congrats on your new ride AND being able to boat this time of year!

Although I have a 340 with 496HO's I have the exact same temperature variation you have. I do have a hot water heater so it is interesting to see Ray's reply about that being a potential cause. Ray can you ellaborate?

The 340 props ventilate a bit coming out of the hole same as the 380's. let's face it, we have a lot of horsepower trying to get a lot of boat on plane. It took lots of seat time to figure out correct throttle, trim and tab timing. It is all about timing, and learning how to work them all with one hand. The difference/improvement I experienced over the course of the summer was huge!

Have fun!!

Some of the cooling water is piped through the water heater, that way you dont need electric power to heat the water. I can see a small difference but I would not expect 10 degrees. If you want to test just pinch off one of the lines and see what happens to the temp.

You could switch the thermostats to see if one is off too.

Ray, I believe PQ stopped doing that in 2000. Merc. got wind of it and said they wouldnt waranty the motor if it was connected.

I'll have to check to see if the hot water tank is connected for sure and go from there. My first thought was thermostat, the engines are new but sometimes you just get a bad thermostat. As long as they're not running over 180 degrees I won't worry but may change the thermostats anyway. I will get the boat out again next weekend (golfing on the 1st) and see how it goes.

There is a 2002 380 advertised for sale with the same engines and drives as I'm running saying they got 85.6mph on GPS. This is what I'm shooting for but don't know if it's possible. Are the 380's sensitive to weight? Any other recommendations to maximize performance?

Pls point me to the 2002 38 you reference for sale.

Thanks.

Jeff

Jeff, go to www.boattraderonline.com and do a search for powerquest. There are several nice boats for sale.

I had a 2002 380 with 496HO's-28p bravos spinning in and i hit 71 mph on gps. great boat and nice power. I think the boat is still for sale at Colony marine. Call Don Waldeck at the Algonac, MI location.
PS I have a bunch of stuff for the boat I kept. (I traded it in-they didn't care about extras) such as in the box new 28p bravos (2) and a dinged one (1). Some canvas (bow cover, bimini with aft and sides)--and some more stuff

Dave - you've got email

Jeff

I was at the Chicago boat show yesterday and looked at the 380 Poker Run Edition they have on display. The salesman told me the boat would do / had done 86 on GPS. The boat was well equipped....A/C etc. had 525's with standoff boxes and running 1.50 gears and a 32P Bravo that looked to be labbed.

Speed
 

Bmac 13. You should reach 82mph with the 500efi's. That is what I am getting out of mine.. Running 30 inch lab finish props. Still have some rpms left in the motors going to order 32's before spring. When running in rough water keep the drives in and the tads down, the boat will handle much better. Run it on the Lake of Ozards and you will find out. That salemen is throwing a line of bull S--t when he saids it will go 85. I was running along side of the poker run edition on Lake Cumberland and he could not pull away from me. They had the 575 in it at the time. Listen to Raypanic he is really up on his game. Blondes Preferred.

Thanks for the info Wildman. I don't know if you read my second post but I did get it up to 79 yesterday with rpm's to spare. I am going to have the props labbed at hill propellers and see what happens. I think you are right about useing a little tab, yesterday I used none at all and, although it did land pretty good, it was a little on the tail after getting airborne.

Does the 380 hit a wall around 85 ? It would appear there is when you compare the speeds people are talking about. 82 with 500's and RPM's left with 30's versus 525's with 32's (labbed) and doing 86. Add to that the fact that a 575 equipped boat could not pull away from Wildman1 with 500's.

Those of you that have 380's, what do you think ? Is it driver, set up, props, labbed versus stock ?

I could also be mistaken about the motors in the poker run edition at the boat show. They may have been 575's:rolleyes: Can anyone confirm that ?

H20

The boat has 525's and I think it's the boat that BOSSMAN just bought. I don't know about the wall. I see what your saying but look at the real speed not the I wish speeds:rolleyes: So if 500 gives you 80 and 525 gives you 85 that's a lot of speed for 50hp.

H20,
Check out this thread for some different setup's and what they get out of them. http://offshoreonly.com/forums/showt...threadid=36096

yes to the 525's :). See my 380 post

Speed
 

Guys: I didn't finish the whole story on pulling away from the poker run edition. At the time I had my 502's in the boat with pro-chargers on them. The boat would run 87mph. I still had throttles left if I wanted to go around him. At 87 mph I had trouble controlling the boat. It was ok in flat water but as soon as it got rough it was all over. The 500efi are the most reliable motor built. Turn the key and away you go. 82mph is fast enough for me now. Still can go around most boats especially the beak nose and most cigs. When it comes to cats you are in a different catagory. Remember we are running a 8500lb boat with stock 500's in it and can go 82mph. Running on 87octane gas. I rather boat all day and look at the women then wrenching on the motors. Blondes Preferred

Thanks for the posts guy's. I really like PQ's and like keeping up on the latest.

Scott, I had read Rod's (RPM) thread, but I also know he makes big power with his motors.

hp500efi, Yep there they are bigger than life......525's. Great looking motors aren't they:D

If BOSSMAN did buy the boat.....Congratulations, that is a fine ride.

This whole speed thing is very interesting. We are at 82 with the AT with labbed 30's and the motors are on the rev limiters. Its equipped with 500's and weighs about 9500 lbs (it's go a lot of options) With a set of 32's (labbed) we are looking for 84.....I hope.

So........when I hear about 500's going past 575 equipped boats and 525 equipped boats with extension boxes going 86.......it gets my attention.

I hope I get out on the Big M this Summer to mix it up with some of you PQ guys.:D :D Summer cannot come soon enough.

H20,

I just noticed where you are located. I'm sitting in the Champagne Baymont typing this. I am pressed for time this trip (half to run over to Indy and still make it home before 8 on friday night) or I'd suggest a cold one somewhere. :D isn't Peoria the next city up the road?

Peoria is about an hour / hour and 15 from Champagne. It's about 45 min from Bloomington. Let me know next time you're in the area:D I the winter there is not much else to do but sit around, drink beer and talk about boating :D :D My email address is on my profile:rolleyes: