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View Full Version : It Runs!!! (and not too bad!)



Craig
09-28-2003, 10:05 PM
Finally ran the boat after a summer of frustration. Through "web site and e-mail coaching" and me' trusty ole' SELOC manual I have now ended up with a 280 Volvo (had a 250) and a new prop.

Thanks to MOP and several others for the long distance help.

I think I have less than $600.00 in the whole project (but that includes some new tools - a plus.)

Thought I'd post a few pics of running it today. It was sunny early, but by the time I launched, it was raining. Still, had to see what the new prop would do.

Found a nice 23" Michigan Wheel prop in Ocean City MD at a prop shop called "Propeller Fellers." Belonged to a guy there named Mark Fisher who had put a duoprop on his (I think) 1970 (+-) Donzi 16.

He said it would run his boat around 60. Maybe I should have left it alone, but I had him add some cup before I took it so it would take off nice.

End result on my boat was an occassional GPS reading of 55 mph (that's with a full tank of gas and at Deep Creek Lake MD -- 2462 above sea level (maybe that doesn't mean anything)).

Anyway, it's giving a good 54 mph, but only at 4200 rpm's. Tell's me maybe should have left it uncupped. I do ski a bit though so will probably appreciate the cup on take off.

Oh yeah -- MOP -- the most important thing, like you predicted, with the new prop, the slight vibration noticed (even after the new drive) is G-O-N-E !!! Finally! Thanks again.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/CZimmermann307.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/CZimmermann308.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/CZimmermann309.jpg

Also a couple close ups of the new drive and prop.

http://www.donzi.net/photos/CZimmermann310.jpg

http://www.donzi.net/photos/CZimmermann311.jpg

MOP
09-29-2003, 06:46 AM
Craig you need to get your revs up pitch is about 2 inches to much. Try to borrow a 21 with a cup it should put you at about 4600. Don't lose the cup it is good for all around preformance.

Craig
09-30-2003, 08:25 AM
MOP -- Thats exactly what I thought after my test run. A 21" cupped would be (probably) perfect. That'll be my next purchase I guess. Have to settle with what I got for now. Hey 54-55 range ain't too shabby. IT would be nice to get the engine up to its intended WOT RPM's to blow the squirrell's out once in a while.

One thing I did notice; this is a far better speed to rpm ratio than I had before.

It's more like my old way huge 27" pitch Michigan prop that would push the boat 40mph at 3000rpm's and 57mph at 4700rpm's. The new 23" prop showed 39mph at 3000rpm's (pretty close)

BUT -- with my "new in 1999" 351, I did realize a power loss -- so this engine is obviously needing the lower pitch to get max rpm's.

Old HM engine = 351 290 hp (and previous owner (20 years ago) had done some things to the engine. Said it was actuall probably around 300+ hp.

New PCM engine = 351 290 hp BUT after I had it a while and noticed it wasn't quite as powerful I noticed in some fine print with the engine's paperwork (it was a marine Crate motor) that it is rounded up to 290 from 285!

It's wierd; my OLD 23" cupped prop did spin 4800 rpm's but only ran about 52 mph. Just slippage I suppose. The guy that sold me the new prop said it was definitely more of a performance prop and the old one wasn't. Whatever that meant, I'm definitely getting better speed with this one. Probably more to do with the fact the old one was nicked up pretty good and out of balance.

DonziNUTS
10-01-2003, 08:39 AM
Craig,
Hey how is Mark? I bought his 1973 16 about 6 years ago! That boat flew!!! I think after a little work that I did it was running around 68 to 70 mph. I sold it to a guy named Dru from Brooklyn, NY. I should have never sold that boat. Mark is a excellent prop guy....he let's my Father and I try props out all the time!! Good guy...tell him Mike Baiocco said hello.

PS I run out of Indian River Inlet.

Craig
10-02-2003, 07:35 AM
DonziNUTS,
Mark was real helpful. Said to let him know if I had any problems.

It was fun talking with him. I found out about his Donzi (I think a 1970 16' -- I guess he got another one) by a small photo on a cork board of many photos there in the prop shop. Asked him whose that was. He said that's mine. Told him about my boat, etc. He looked at my prop and said hang on a minute, I got something that might work better than re-doing my old one. Brought out his old prop from his Donzi and sold it to me. It looked very nice so I just took it since my boat was 5 hours away.

He knew about this site. Said one of his friends is on here more than he is.