Another prop post + performance question. 2005 Seafarer 228 with F225

[bazzturd]

Long time reader, first time poster (I think).

Want to hear from owners of 2005 Seafarer 228 or same vintage models with F225 or same vintage F250. Not Ox66, HPDI or SWS, thanks.

Looking to see what props some of you might be running or have run and what kind of performance numbers you have. I run heavy loads. I have the auxiliary fuel tank, hard top and a 48 gallon bait tank along with too much fishing gear. I also have a good amount of ice up to 80lbs, 2-3 average size adults (145-165) or my wife and two kids which are about one average adult.

Background: I bought the boat March with only 250 original mostly freshwater hours. Engine runs smooth, sounds good, does not smell rich like an O2 sensor is faulty, no alarms, no engine light on gauge, accelerates smooth and powerfully to plane. Assume engine is all in good form.

This thing has to be at like 4800rpm to stay on plane and only goes 20mph, 18'ish knots. Even low in fuel, bait tank empty, no ice and my load down to a few rods, wife and kids it does 25mph same RPM. This is a far cry from any more recent data. I can't find any older data sheets.

The prop is not damaged on leading edges, no sign of repair and don't think it has a slip hub, but I need to remove to confirm. It is the stock prop 17-M. No bottom paint.

I'm in Huntington Beach, CA and I am not opposed to dealing with an out of state prop guru. My goal is not top speed. I want fuel efficiency only. Even in states not plagued with liberals and taxes, fuel prices are getting out of control. Even before fuel price increases, fuel economy was always my objective on my last boat. I really would like the boat to plane at 3800-4200 RPM and be in the low 20's MPH and I would be happy. That should net me close to 1 mpg better making a huge difference getting to our tuna grounds that can range from 10 miles off San Diego to 70 miles on the other side of San Clemente island.

Thanks in advance and I hope everyone is enjoying their boats and ready for a sick summer!

 

[ScottyCee]

"This thing has to be at like 4800rpm to stay on plane and only goes 20mph"

There's something majorly wrong. It should do 40 mph +/- and you need to be closer to 6000 rpm at WOT. 4800 signifies an issue, IMO. (reference, my 226 w/225 did 43-4 mph @ 58-6000).

How clean is the bottom of the boat?
Outboard mounting height - cav plate dry at high speed?
Pics?

 

[bazzturd]

Files were too large let me try again

 

[bazzturd]

"This thing has to be at like 4800rpm to stay on plane and only goes 20mph"

There's something majorly wrong. It should do 40 mph +/- and you need to be closer to 6000 rpm at WOT. 4800 signifies an issue, IMO. (reference, my 226 w/225 did 43-4 mph @ 58-6000).

How clean is the bottom of the boat?
Outboard mounting height - cav plate dry at high speed?
Pics?

 

[bazzturd]

"This thing has to be at like 4800rpm to stay on plane and only goes 20mph"

There's something majorly wrong. It should do 40 mph +/- and you need to be closer to 6000 rpm at WOT. 4800 signifies an issue, IMO. (reference, my 226 w/225 did 43-4 mph @ 58-6000).

How clean is the bottom of the boat?
Outboard mounting height - cav plate dry at high speed?
Pics?

Also, I hit 6000-6100 at wide open. I just don't stay on plane unless 4800. I do 38mph at 6K rpm

 

[DennisG01]

Tell us about how you are trimming the boat (engine and tabs) at the various speeds

 

[luckydude]

Tell us about how you are trimming the boat (engine and tabs) at the various speeds

So I have a different engine, 2020 250hp, and I'm the weirdo that likes to run with the engine trimmed all the way forward to push the bow down. 20mph (not nautical) is where I stay on plane, I lose about .1mpg with the engine trimmed all the way forward. Around 3500-3700 rpm. 4 blade prop, whatever Prop gods suggested. It's not a big difference from the stock prop. Full 114 gallon tank, 2 adult guys.

4800rpm and I think I'd be doing around 38mph so, while a different engine, OP's numbers seem pretty off. I dunno the 225, seems weird it would be that different.

 

[ScottyCee]

"Also, I hit 6000-6100 at wide open. I just don't stay on plane unless 4800. I do 38mph at 6K rpm"

Ah. I must have misunderstood your OP. That sort of makes it sound like you could be underpropped. Do you have a sense that you are hitting your ECU rev limiter? i.e. there is more throttle left but you are at max RPM (mine stop at 6100)? And have you tried higher pitch? That would likely help reduce your high RPM requirement to stay on plane.

 

[doug228]

my 225 witha 15 pitch yamaha 3 blade pushes my boat like so:
6100/39 mph
5000/ 30 mph
4800/ 28 mph
4600/ 26 mph
4400/ 24 mph
4200/22 mph (tabs to help stay on plane)
4000/20mph, struggles to stay on plane but will if conditions are okay and i trim the leg down, tabs down.

Plan is to try a 15 pitch 4 blade powertech OFS4. Could use the stern lift for staying in plane and better dock manners from the 4 blade.
Worried i should go 16, but dont want to goto far the other way.

 

[ScottyCee]

I ran a 4 blade 17" Powertech offshore on mine - 226 / 225 Yamaha SWSII. It may have been a slightly lighter boat, but the performance was much better than what you guys are posting. If you are both hitting 6100, then another inch of pitch will probably make things better. FWIW...


EDIT - those pictures make it look like an aluminum prop! THE HORROR! IF SO THEN GET RID OF THAT!!

 

[bazzturd]

Tell us about how you are trimming the boat (engine and tabs) at the various speeds

I trim it from bow all the way down to 4 bars on the trim indicator. I mention the trim indicator just as a reference for my personal note as it could vary from boat to boat.

 

[bazzturd]

I ran a 4 blade 17" Powertech offshore on mine - 226 / 225 Yamaha SWSII. It may have been a slightly lighter boat, but the performance was much better than what you guys are posting. If you are both hitting 6100, then another inch of pitch will probably make things better. FWIW...


EDIT - those pictures make it look like an aluminum prop! THE HORROR! IF SO THEN GET RID OF THAT!!

Well, I am trying to upgrade. It is steel, not aluminum. Either way, my numbers are s**t.......

 

[SeanC]

2006 Seafarer 2006 F250. SWS2 15.5x 17 I think. Top speed 41-42mph. Easily planes at 20mph. Max revs 5500-5600.
When you say it won't stay on the plane under 20mph is this flat water? If things are at bit lumpy at 20mph especially in a following sea you will find it is falling off the plane as you push into the back of the wave in front and slow down. I am considering a 4 blade prop for extra bite and little slower planing speed for lumpy conditions.
Have you checked you pod for water?

 

[bazzturd]

2006 Seafarer 2006 F250. SWS2 15.5x 17 I think. Top speed 41-42mph. Easily planes at 20mph. Max revs 5500-5600.
When you say it won't stay on the plane under 20mph is this flat water? If things are at bit lumpy at 20mph especially in a following sea you will find it is falling off the plane as you push into the back of the wave in front and slow down. I am considering a 4 blade prop for extra bite and little slower planing speed for lumpy conditions.
Have you checked you pod for water?

Flat or bumpy pretty same results. No water in the bracket. All through hulls above water with medium load.

 

[SoLucky]

What is the diameter and pitch of your current prop?

 

[bazzturd]

What is the diameter and pitch of your current prop?

Unfortunately it only says 17-M

 

[SoLucky]

Unfortunately it only says 17-M

Sounds like a Yamaha aluminum prop -- 14.5" diameter by 17" pitch. I know you said it is "steel"... but are you certain? Aluminum props don't work well on heavy boats as they deflect too much under load.

Your boat must be very heavily loaded given you struggle to stay on plane at 4800 rpm. Given the high load, the likely solution is a 4-blade stainless steel prop with a 15" pitch -- also around a 15" diameter give or take a little. The name of the game is increased blade area to improve the "bite" and reduce slippage. There are some large blade area 3-blade props, too, that could work for you (for example a Solas Titan HD) but the safe bet is a 4-blade.

Good luck!

 

[bazzturd]

Sounds like a Yamaha aluminum prop -- 14.5" diameter by 17" pitch. I know you said it is "steel"... but are you certain? Aluminum props don't work well on heavy boats as they deflect too much under load.

Your boat must be very heavily loaded given you struggle to stay on plane at 4800 rpm. Given the high load, the likely solution is a 4-blade stainless steel prop with a 15" pitch -- also around a 15" diameter give or take a little. The name of the game is increased blade area to improve the "bite" and reduce slippage. There are some large blade area 3-blade props, too, that could work for you (for example a Solas Titan HD) but the safe bet is a 4-blade.

Good luck!

It is very magnetic and my last F115 had an aluminum prop that was not magnetic at all. I would put a magnet on my old one and it would fall off, same magnet that I used last time. I talked to Ken at Prop Gods and he recommended either a Quicksilver in 15 x 15 or a Power tech 4 blade in 15 x 15. He said that the Power techs can vary greatly from prop to prop even in the same model/dimensions. He said the Quicksilvers are much more consistent. I feel like my numbers are so shitty anything will be better. I like the sound of some of the 4 blade perks and the cheaper cost.

And yes, load is heavy with full tanks, bait tank, ice, fishing gear couple people and of course BEER!

 

[Blaugrana]

I think trimming the engine to "4" is a little too high and probably why your RPMs are so high. What happens if you run it at 3?

I have an OX66 225, but I think most of us 228 owners run them the same except for LuckyDude . Whenever I get moving, my engine is trimmed all the way down and I quickly push my throttle so the RPMs are around 3800-4100. Once I do that, I hit the trim tabs for about 2 seconds or so and then I raise the engine to around 3. If 3800, that's about 25-27 while 4100 is right around 29-31, once on plane. You can start slowly easing the throttle back ever so gently and get the MPH down. I was able to stay on plane around 19-21MPH doing that, but I like going faster

That is with 140 gallons of fuel, bottom paint, hardtop, enclosures, 3 blade prop, etc

 

[ScottyCee]

Aluminum isn’t magnetic, but neither is stainless steel. Yours looks painted. In fairness I’ve never checked to see if my propellers are magnetic, but I’ve definitely identified stainless vs regular steel. Interesting...