Not a Seacraft But West Coast Potter/Hermco First Splash

Normagain · #1 06-10-2015, 08:49 AM

For the last year I have been working on a Wellcraft 24' Airslot which I bought with troubled Ford Windsor and OMC Stringer drive. After closing in the transom I contacted Don at Hermco and managed to get one of his brackets out here to Southern California. I also got lucky when a local guy decided to give away his 2000 225 FICHT with 700 hours on it. He thought it was a failure on the 2009 EMM but it turned out to be a weak starter and the motor just wouldn't spin fast enough to fire. So yesterday was the first splash. Motor performed great and I managed upper 5000k rpms close to 40mph looked like and economy up to 3mpg per the Garmin fuel flow unit. I still have some weight to add back into the boat, teak drawers and trim and some other stuff, so will know what I've got after a few more trips. Very impressed though and the boat seems to be sitting great with the HERMCO! We had a tropical storm move through from the South and it was pretty rough and steep with a bit of wind so didn't play for long.

gofastsandman · #2 06-10-2015, 06:30 PM

Just needs a hookah for abalone.

Make sure the updates have been done to the motah.
Cheers,
GFS

Bigshrimpin · #3 06-10-2015, 07:12 PM

That's a great boat for left coast . . . nice and dry and tracks straight in following seas.

Normagain · #4 06-11-2015, 08:27 AM

What struck me the most is how efficient it seems at trolling speed and how clean the wake was inside the harbor. I've never seen anything like it.

GFS,
I know who the mechanic is who worked on the motah and he is one of the best. Updates seem to be taken care of. She is a powerful beast.

gofastsandman · #5 06-11-2015, 07:08 PM

The idle mpg is sick. I`ve seen 10 on Whacker`s sled.

Fr. Frank · #6 06-12-2015, 09:24 AM

Even fast idle (1K rpms) is incredibly efficient on both the FICHT and Etec motors.

One of my parishioners recently repowered his 31 Fountain from the original twin '96 225 Saltwater Mercs to new (leftover) 2013 T/250 Etecs. He says his Lowrance HDS9 tells him his reported fuel flow works out to getting about 7.2 mpg at a combined 1K rpm's at 8.1 mph, and 2.6-2.8 mpg at 3500 rpms/33-34 mph.

(On my recommendation, he bought Powertech PTC4 14.25x23 props, and loves everything about about them except he isn't happy with their performance in close-quarter maneuvering: he says, "they won't back down for sh$t!")

He said the Mercs got 1.7-1.8 mpg at about the same cruising speed, and he "guesses" he got about 3 to 3.5 mpg at fast idle trolling speeds.

That's a 60% - 65% increase in fuel economy at cruise, and more than a 100% increase at trolling speeds.

Normagain · #7 06-12-2015, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

The idle mpg is sick. I`ve seen 10 on Whacker`s sled.

Interesting, I thought the Garmin fuel flow sensor wasn't registering right but will look again Sunday. I don't idle troll much, more like 6-8mph for palagics most of the time. It pushes the boat really good at those speeds, 1,500 rpms to 2,000 seems to have tons of torque. I couldn't believe how fast it got on plane for such a heavy boat. I know it is an efficient hull but I may see an etec in my future. Now I believe the guy who told me a 200HO would probably be enough. I was sold on the four stroke torque curve and still like it but ohhh mamma!