My local Suzi dealer raised my motors today. He said they were mounted where they're supposed to be IF mounted on the transom. As you said, they were mounted too low. Had to wait until 7 PM tonight for high tide so I could launch it and try it out.
What an incredible difference in performance! At 4,200 rpm, I was doing 27.5 mph, 1 mph faster than before at wot, 6200 rpm. At 5,000 rpm it was doing 33 and at wot, I hit 39+ mph. All these speeds are into the wind. I also found I could bring the Bennett trim tabs all the way up and just trim with the motor.
I still have the problem of falling off plane when my speed drops to 25 or lower. I've done a lot of reading in the forums and it seems like the Gulfstream may need to be moving about 25 or better to get up on plane and stay there. How about it Gulfstream owners - about what speed does your stern start to settle?
I have Powertek 13 1/4 x 18 4 blade props on there now but they performed exactly like the 3 bladed 14 x 18s did except they came out of the hole quicker. I got no additional lift out of them either. I'm going to swap them for a set with more pitch, at least 19s if not 20s. I'm also having my 3 bladed props cupped so they'll be like 14 x 19s and keep them for spares.
Again, thank you Brian for mentioning this. I was coming out of my skin over the weekend in anticipation even tho' I tried very hard not to let my expectations get out of hand. The results were way better than I'd hoped for. I haven't stopped grinning for the last 2 hours!
Gary 93 Gulfstream
What an incredible difference in performance! At 4,200 rpm, I was doing 27.5 mph, 1 mph faster than before at wot, 6200 rpm. At 5,000 rpm it was doing 33 and at wot, I hit 39+ mph. All these speeds are into the wind. I also found I could bring the Bennett trim tabs all the way up and just trim with the motor.
I still have the problem of falling off plane when my speed drops to 25 or lower. I've done a lot of reading in the forums and it seems like the Gulfstream may need to be moving about 25 or better to get up on plane and stay there. How about it Gulfstream owners - about what speed does your stern start to settle?
I have Powertek 13 1/4 x 18 4 blade props on there now but they performed exactly like the 3 bladed 14 x 18s did except they came out of the hole quicker. I got no additional lift out of them either. I'm going to swap them for a set with more pitch, at least 19s if not 20s. I'm also having my 3 bladed props cupped so they'll be like 14 x 19s and keep them for spares.
Again, thank you Brian for mentioning this. I was coming out of my skin over the weekend in anticipation even tho' I tried very hard not to let my expectations get out of hand. The results were way better than I'd hoped for. I haven't stopped grinning for the last 2 hours!
Gary 93 Gulfstream
