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Baja196
08-21-2000, 04:12 PM
This summer I bought my first boat. It is a 1989 Baja 196 ESS. It has a 350 Magnum, and an Alpha One outdrive. It has thru hull exhaust, and I am turning a 23 pitch SS prop. According to the speedometer, and racing other boats, I am going somewhere between 65-67 mph at 4500 RPM. The boat is completely stock, and I am curious about what I should do and where I should start. I enjoy high speeds and racing, but I also like to pull skiiers, etc.
The thrill of speed is something that I cannot get over, and I need to increase the performance of my boat. However, I would like to maintain the reliability of the baot as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You
-Ted

Euroski
08-26-2000, 11:28 AM
Your number don't add up to 65mph. With 1.5 gears, 4500rpm, 23p, 12%slip, that comes to 60mph. I "been there done that" having a Scarab that would run 60 and considered adding more power. It takes 13-15hp for 1 mph increase. Waited... sold the boat and bought a STV which runs 100++
Anyway have fun

dvoffroad
01-07-2001, 03:36 PM
I currently have a 1988 196 Sport with a 350 mag pushing 270 hp stock. It has an alpha one drive with a nose cone, 4" thru hull exhaust with flappers. I'm running a 21 pitch stainless prop (no marking on it so I'm not sure of the brand). My Baja has run 71mph on the GPS with 2 people on board. I haven't run it with only 1 person aboard yet.
Feel free to email me if you have any other questions.
[This message has been edited by dvoffroad (edited January 07, 2001).]

B-rad502
01-07-2001, 07:13 PM
Not sure what your rpm range is with that motor, but at 4500 rpm I'm sure you have some room to work on the prop. The post above is the same kind of boat and runs a 21" pitch prop. If your wanting the best to get out of the water for pulling a skier then a 4 blade will work well for you but make sure that at full throttle you are right at your rpm limit. If your engine can go close to 5000 rpm, you'll see more speed with a smaller prop that gets you more rpm's.I would think a 21" pitch Mirage (3-blade)or 21" pitch Revolution (4-blade), both from Mercury would probably work well for you. Good luck!
Originally posted by Baja196:
This summer I bought my first boat. It is a 1989 Baja 196 ESS. It has a 350 Magnum, and an Alpha One outdrive. It has thru hull exhaust, and I am turning a 23 pitch SS prop. According to the speedometer, and racing other boats, I am going somewhere between 65-67 mph at 4500 RPM. The boat is completely stock, and I am curious about what I should do and where I should start. I enjoy high speeds and racing, but I also like to pull skiiers, etc.
The thrill of speed is something that I cannot get over, and I need to increase the performance of my boat. However, I would like to maintain the reliability of the baot as well. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You
-Ted

Baja196
01-08-2001, 05:33 AM
Dvoffroad....waht's your email address? I also have a nose cone, and thru hull exhaust. I am curious about the prop though. You said you had a 21 pitch. I thought that if you went higher in pitch, you would go faster. Thus, my 23 pitch. WHere do you run your boat? What color is it. If you would like to email me you can at ed.roethlisberger@gm.com

dvoffroad
01-09-2001, 04:25 AM
I thought the same thing about the prop pitch, but I put a mirage 23 pitch prop on the 196 and I found a decrease in speed (getting up on plane took forever) and it didn't get above 4500 rpm and 65mph. With the three blade 21 pitch that was on the boat, its a rocket out of the hole (even with 5 rather large adults on board) and pulls a skier without a problem (at least with 2 on board at the time) The guy I bought it from had played around with props and had 3 other props that he offered to me for an additional price but I couldn't swing it at the time. Two were a cleaver type prop (21 and 23) and a mirage 23. He said the 23's just didn't do a good job (performance wise)on the boat and the 21 cleaver just didn't make any difference on top speed and was a little better out of the hole. I have kids and didn't want something that radical on the outdrive.
I live in Western Michigan and usually spend my weekends on Spring Lake in Hanky Panky bayou and sometimes on Muskegon Lake, Bear Lake, White Lake, Mona Lake, Silver Lake, Lake Michigan and the Grand River at Grand Haven.
My Boat is white with red and blue.
My Email address is DVOffroad@hotmail.com and you can check out the pictures of my boat at http://dvo.homestead.com/baja.html
Originally posted by Baja196:
Dvoffroad....waht's your email address? I also have a nose cone, and thru hull exhaust. I am curious about the prop though. You said you had a 21 pitch. I thought that if you went higher in pitch, you would go faster. Thus, my 23 pitch. WHere do you run your boat? What color is it. If you would like to email me you can at ed.roethlisberger@gm.com

formula96
01-21-2001, 08:16 PM
Prop Pitch Question !!!!
If the prop pitch is increased you will go faster....provided your engine creates enough torque to turn it. If a boat is over-propped you will slow down and will "take forever" to get on plane. A possible solution for you in this situation would be a variable pitch prop such as that sold by Land & Sea....this would allow a low pitch for take off to get on plane and a higher pitch for speed (this is a compromise as are most performance mods)....good Luck !!!
I replaced a stock 330hp 454 with a procharged HP450/454 (full roller) and went from 52mph to 75 mph and still working the bugs out (BUT its been Great !!!). I have been thru at least 8 props and am now using a Mirage plus 26"-modified 4 blade. it holds really good.
BEST OF LUCK !!!

Kanookstr
02-10-2001, 02:30 PM
WOW! dvoffroad, what rpm are you spinning that prop. to get 70 mph out of a 21 pitch 3 blade. You would be spinning 6000+ rpm. You might want to get your GPS checked. At 5000rpm, with NO slip, you would be going 65 mph. And every prop has some slip, 3 blades have more that 4 blade. at least 8% and thats generous. You might of seen 61 MPH on your GPS. That would make more sense. Sorry to burst your bubble. But those numbers don't add up.

dvoffroad
02-19-2001, 07:42 PM
Well, first off, I haven't heard much about GPS's being 10mph off on speed before. My tach must be wrong too. 5300 rpm at 71 mph. Don't believe it? I would be happy to burst your bubble anyday on the water and feel free to bring a radar gun too. It's really sad that when people are using this forum to help each other, there are others like you that are just babbling idiots (with calculators) who don't know and act like they do. Just Terrible...

Kanookstr
02-20-2001, 02:23 PM
Didn't intend to offend you dvoffroad, Just thought there might of been some missinformation. Thats why I asked what rpm you were spinning. Also if it's a stock gear ratio. (1.5:1)?
If you are spinning 5300 rpm with a 1.36:1 ratio, Then I have no problem believing 71 mph. But with a 1.5:1 ratio and a 21 pitch prop.....NOT!
Also,I didn't accuse you of being an idiot, And I am not the one babbling,
If you are getting 71 with a 21 pitch and 1.5:1 gear ratio let the techs. at Hot boat Know. They will show up at your favorite boating spot with a radar gun and guiness,
Beacause you definately belong in the records books.
Regards Claude: C & B Marine.

baja19666
02-20-2001, 02:39 PM
Wow! I would have to take kanookstr's side on this one!! If it wern't for (CALCULATORS)
There would be lots of speed bragging babbling idiots out there. But thanks to the calculators It makes idiots out of the braggers. he!he!

42fountain
02-20-2001, 02:58 PM
I don't have a problem believing 71 MPH with a 21 pitch at 5300 RPM.
Just as long if its Down river with a 12 mph current..
You gotta realize, dvoffroad, These forums are used by HOt Boat readers!! There not Fools!!
You pretty muched proved who the idiot is.
Go to the Trailer boat Mag. Forum.
They are easier to fool!!

baja25outlaw
02-20-2001, 05:08 PM
71 MPH with a 196 stock 270 HP, 21 pitch prop!
Can you send me some of that stuff your smokin!!!
If I smoke that, Mine will prob. get into the triple digits.....
YAAAAAA HOOOOOOOOOOO.

Blowncrazy
02-20-2001, 07:24 PM
Do not take it to heart Kanookstr.
B.S. artists are usually defensive, and are the first to call others idiots!

thebone12
02-21-2001, 03:25 PM
Boy I have heard some whoppers in my time, but holy cow. I am sure you believed Clinton when he said he did not inhale. The only way that boat saw that speed is on the back of a trailor. Nice Try though!

FatCat
02-22-2001, 04:40 PM
Back in 1994 I had a 1988 196 sport,
It was a modified 350 mag 320 HP. thru transom exhaust. Land & Sea nose cone, and drive shower.
I was turning a 23" 3 blade for speed, and I was turning a 21" 3 blade for water skiing and tubing.
It was a stock 1.50:1 gear ratio, and on a good light choppy day, With my 23" prop.
I was lucky to get 68 MPH. @ 5050 rpm.
My 21" prop gave me about 63 MPH at 5400 RPM.
Thats with 320 HP.
I always loved that boat,it was good to me.
But as far as believing one can go 71 mph with a 21"prop at 5300 rpm. I have to smile and just shake my head.

RIVERTIME
02-22-2001, 07:20 PM
You don't even have to be a math matician to figure it out, just go here.
http://www.boatramp.com/prop_applet/PropAnalyzerAppletG.html

baja19666
03-16-2001, 09:03 PM
deleted
[This message has been edited by baja19666 (edited March 17, 2001).]

A1speedster
03-16-2001, 09:10 PM
hum!
[This message has been edited by A1speedster (edited March 18, 2001).]

FatCat
03-16-2001, 09:23 PM
error
[This message has been edited by FatCat (edited March 17, 2001).]

bubba
04-26-2001, 04:12 AM
hello i got a regal velocity 23 with a 496HO
and a tempest plus 25 pitch the boat runs on the klok 76 mph wot with 5000 rpm,
regards bubba ,from holland
71 mph with 21 p is fast dont know??