What speed should I expect?

[jafo9]

I've been lurking here and on the other forum and I haven't found the answer to my question. I currently have a new to me '05 SunTracker 22ft Regency with No lifting strakes and only 2 logs. It has the 3.0L Merc I/O. I don't know what the prop is, but it is whatever came stock. The boat is 70 miles away in my dock so I can't look at it. Heck, I'm not sure how to tell the size/pitch even if it was in front of me.

On our last outing max GPS was about 18-19MPH with 2 adults, 3 kids, dog and cooler at 4200 RPM. Trimmed all the way in seemed to provide the fasted speed at any RPM. Alone I once got it to 4400 RPM at about 22MPH. It had enough power to pull me out of the water on 2 skis and pull me (basically required WOT the whole time {6'2" 210lbs}).

I know this is difficult without exact prop specs, but I really would like to hear from owners of similar boats if i'm in the ballpark or if I should be looking for a prop change.

I'm not a speed freak, but it would be nicer to get to get places on the water a little faster. If I really need to go fast, that's what the STXR is for.

Thanks.

[HandymanHerb]

Wecome glad to have you on board, the guys will you sized engine will jump in after while and let you know what speed and props there using .

If you look on the prop it will tell what size and pitch it is, unless someone had it repitched

[WaltF]

Same toon as I have cept for the year (2007).
I'd guess your prop pitch/size is too high by what you have said.
You want to be able to reach WOT (Wide Open Throttle) which is 4400-4800 on the merc 3.0 I/O.

I have a 16x13 aluminum 3 blade prop and can hit 4400 with 3-4 of us on board. Once i get like 12-13 on board, i cant get above 3800ish.

I'd like to be able to reach 4800 with 3-4 on board, so i am going to try another prop this summer...
Something like a 15x12.

Unfort, the only way to figure it out is to start trying out different props as each boat will vary abit.
Most places will let you swap em out without a charge as long as you havent CruNCHEd IT.

Im thinking you should be able to reach 25-30 with < 4 on board once its propped correctly....

Have fun!

[badmoonrising]

Well my PC is 32 ft., 5500 dry weight and I usually have a ton of people on it. I max out at 19 mph @ 4400 RPM. The Starcraft's a v-hull, 1100 lbs. dry weight, same engine and it tops out at about 40 mph @ 4600 RPM with 3-4 people aboard.

[jafo9]

wow, sounds like something is definitely wrong. i would think that they would come from the factor with an optimized prop.

is it possible i've got water in my logs slowing me down? the boat seems to sit lower on the port side.

thanks for the replies.

[badmoonrising]

Listing can be caused by a couple of things. Does it sit even when at dock ? If it's on a trailer have some one back up and go forward a few times and listen for sloshing.

I doubt there's water in the logs though, probably just a prop issue.

[jafo9]

i appears to sit lower on the port when docked. its been too cold to get in the water to measure, but just on appearance, it appears the water line stain is higher on the port side. unfortunately, i don't have a trailer to test for slosh.

[rockymax]

Unless you have a weight issue on the port side, which I would think is doubtful, I would certainly have the toon checked out. Are you at a marina with a lift? If so, have the boat pulled and checked.

[badmoonrising]

Yeah it's a good idea to have it checked out. All that water is heavy and if it is leaking, it will only get worse.

[cwag911]

Which side is the fuel tank on? Ours is on the port side and when it's 1/2 full to full, the toon sits a little low on that side.

[jafo9]

my tank is on the port side as well. i've thought about that too. also as the console is on the starboard and the large rear sofa is port side, that my have some effect as well. right now, i'm not sure how to get the boat out of the water. it came with our lake house and just stays at the dock. i called the closest marina and they don't do much maintenance, they are more into storage and food. its on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama and we are on the Sipsey fork of the Warrior River. Our closest marina is Duncan Bridge. Anyone know of a good repair shop capable of testing and fixing my logs (if necessary) in the area?

i figure i need to know for sure if i'm carrying extra water in the logs before i try and nail down the perfect prop.

[FloterBoter]

find someone nearby with a deathtrap scissors trailer and give him 20 bucks and some beers
to pull your boat, set it on blocks on your property and later put it back in. it's no effort.
just look underneath to be sure the trailer isn't squashing any cable or wires.

you can check for water in the toons yourself. if you have a friend who can weld aluminum,
have him come over and weld the hole(s) for a fat steak. a tig welder would be best but
you can repair leaks in toons with an aluminum wire welder, just grind the welds smooth.

one other thing--a lot of times the cracking is on top of the rear part of the logs, where the
rear brackets meet the toons. this would be from towing tubes or skiers hooked to the backs
of the logs. if your toons have access plugs on top, you can check for water in the logs while
the boat is still in the water (open a plug and coil an absorbant rope down into the log, check
if it's wet when you pull it out; yes, tie a fat knot on one end so you don't drop the whole
thing in......). after you pump the water out, you can pressurize the toon to 2 or 3 psi and
run soapy water over it to find the leaks. i suppose somebody might weld it in the water (not
my friends, though). i prefer draining the toons through little holes i drilled in the bottoms at the
aft of each sealed section, per lakerunner's suggestion, and plugged with ss metal screws with
rubber washers. btw, don't try to repair toon leaks with jb weld, you'll just make a mess and really
piss off the welder some day.

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