1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

I have bought Diego Toiran's Reel Smoker. It has a full transom with an Armstrong bracket and now a 225 Merc carbed engine. what kind of prop should I be running? Diego had a 16 pitch on with the OMC, seemed kinda low to me. My tach is giving me problems, but hopefully I have it fixed now, just not much time to water test it. We have the engine hung as low as possible and it seems to want to blow out or cavitate the 21 pitch prop that is on it. I can run 35 mph, gps, and it seems comfortable. My question is when you get the pad of the hull on top of the water is the boat high out of the water or do I have something else wrong? I noticed that I cant open the throttle right away to get on plane I have to ease into it. any ideas?

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

What prop is it? or I should say what type of prop.. Laser,Rebel... I had a Whaler with twin E-tecs blow out really bad on the hole shot. Switched over to Rebels with the bigger blades and rake fix the problem.

There are alot of 16p props but they arn't the same.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

I have been on the Reel Smoker several times. The Armstrong bracket does not have much positive flotation. You need to lower the trim tabs on the hole shot. I ran a 17" Viper on my 225HP & now the same on my 250HP. You should get some where around 5400 - 5700 rpms = 46mph (+ or -) top end.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Capt...what was the diameter on the 17p viper?

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

John - My Brother runs a 17P viper on his 150 omc. It's an awesome prop, but I think the diameter is only 14.75". His is a lefty :(

Remind me to let you borrow my Mirage Plus 17p with the OMC FloTorq 2 hub kit.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

14 3/4 x 17

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

not sure what your question is exactly but the 23 Seacraft has a very narrow 3" pad that runs 2/3 the length of the boat before tapering down to nothing at the bow and yes the boat is high out of the water when you are running on this pad.

You should be able to goose it and jump right up on plane without easing into it. Sounds like you need to try a different prop as suggested.

strick

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

it has a 21 pitch laser II on it now

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Tbag - 21 pitch is WAY WAY too much pitch for that setup. 3.0L merc's are thirsty enough without be lugged down. Drop down to a 15 Pitch Mirage Plus and you'll pick up speed and a LOT of rpm's. The ratio on that motor is 1.75 and you'll detonate that engine lugging it down with a 3800/4000 rpm WOT. I am surprised you can even plane with that combo. Also the Laser II is a tiny bow lifting prop (designed for bass boats and such) . . . it's ok for a 20 seacraft with a lightweight 200+ hp motor, but not even close to the best prop for a big ole 225 3.0L merc pushing a 23 seacraft.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

I have tried many different props, i can turn a 19 high enough but i dont get anymore speed than a 17 mirage. whenever i hit 33-34 mph the motor isnt getting enough water, the guage bounces around and eventually runs hot. I have the 225 merc mounted as low as possible on the bracket and it is in the water when on plane. do any of you guys have a 23' with bracket? and where are things positioned? i know i can get more than 35 mph out of her but not with heat issues.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

If your cavitation plate is "on" the water while on plane, then I would bet you have a partial obstruction in you cooling system or a bad water pump/impeller. It sounds like when you need all the cooling you can get is when you have problems and the most significant contributor to cooling capacity is flow volume. Something is retarding your flow volume from achieving max flow. It could also be a bad/wrong thermastat; either not opening enough or something. Depending on the history of the engine, you might want to flush it with a salt/corrosion removal product/solution. If if hasn't been flushed in some time or stored open to entry of bugs, mice, etc., something could have gotten in and made themselves at home and something still in in hte system restricting the flow.

Just my 2 cents.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

I saw your boat today at Morris Is. I have a Yam. 250 on alum. bracket and might be able to help out. reelescape1@yahoo.com

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Yeah we saw you also, Reelescape, Great looking rig on the water. I removed the thermostats today. Might be able to water test wed. I put a new impeller in last week, just never seems to get much pressure. only about 5-6 psi on a new gauge.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Tbag - You gotta fix the motor overheat issue before you play with props. You can check the cavitation plate and make sure it's at least 3" - 5" up from the bottom of the boat (b/c of 30" setback). assuming that fine . . . start addressing the problem by replacing the water pump (impeller and housing) just to be safe . . . and see if that take care of the overheating problem. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself then find someone to look over the engine (check compession or do a leakdown test, clean carbs (if it's not an EFI), check plugs for lean condition (ashy color), Etc. You get the idea . . . once you think the motor is running well . . . you can mess with props.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

I have a 3liter 225 Merc on my Sceptre with a Mirage plus 15" pitch prop. It jumps right up on plane and tops out at 42 mph at 5500 rpm.

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Armstrong only recomends 2 1/2 of lift on a 30" setback

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

Well...recently I have studied this TOPIC quite a bit. ;)

Re: 1973 23' cc with bracket performance??
 

The motor was running on a 19' center console a week before and @6000 had no heat issues. I measured/eyeballed with a level and tape from the bottom of the hull to the top of the bracket and its about 25". might be too high, but when you take a straight edge from the hull bottom the cavitation/aeration plate is 3.5-4" above hull line. I have been trying to push a 21" prop and I know it is slipping like crazy maybe making too much turbulence and disturbing water flow. Im going to try a 15" prop and see what happens.