Hello and Questions from Newbie

yodamage

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Hello all!

I am new here as well as new to Grady Whites. I have lusted after them for a few years, having owned other boats such as Trophys, but now I have finally found the right deal. I this spring purchased a 1993 Sailfish 254 with only 375 all freshwater hours on it. It had spent most of its life in storage in a barn, and the rest in Lake Erie chasing walleye.

After cleaning up some glass defects with some gel coat work, doing some drive line and engine maintenance, updating all the electronics and adding some proper gear it is now a Lake Ontario salmon and trout machine. Last weekend I lathered her up good with blood!

Anyway, two questions for any owners of a similar rig or those in the know. First, the trim tabs on this thing look undersized for the rig. Secondly, it has the 7.4 Merc in it and runs WOT at 4000 RPM, but WOT is showing 27 MPH on my GPS as well as the graph which seems very slow. Additionally the boat, no matter how trimmed, does not stay on plane under 3500 RPM...but then again right now 3500 RPM is about 23 MPH which is probably close to planning speed of this hull. I do think it is slightly over propped as the book on the motor is 4200 to 4600 RPM WOT. 330 HP seems like it may be under powered for the hull as well, but I wanted to speak to some others before deciding on either a course of action or acceptance.

thanks all, and tight lines.
 
Congratulations...! I know that boat and almost bought it last December - Lisa at Olson Bros. Marine in Buffalo - right? That boat is in excellent condition - the hull was in better condition then any I had looked at. Transom was solid and bone dry. Even the 20 year painted trailer was in excellent condition for it's age. Fresh water boats are the way to go when you can find them. I even posted about your boat here in my "new boat" post (I bought a 1994 252):

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=19613

I can't really answer your I/O questions but it does sound like it might be over propped. Just messing round with my E-TECs I was able to hit 29 MPH with only one engine in the water.

Good luck,
-Scott