23 CC rebuild - shine

[shine]

I decided to keep the boat, for while anyway.



Picked up a 2006 F250 with 500 hours. First prop test was impressive, using a borrowed Merc 4 blade 19 pitch, got all the way up to 5900-6000. Load was somewhat light; 55 gallon fuel, three 200+ men, no gear, no ice, no fish. saw 47 mph on the GPS. 4000 was over 30 mph, and burning a hair over 8 gph

Ordered a big 3 blade in 21 pitch to see what happens. If I can get 5600 with it (light river cruising load) , then I will keep it and get a lower pitch 4 blade for heavy offshore days.

[drobbins]

Glad to see her back in the wwater Joel !
Keep in touch, I'll be down for the winter season next week.

[DonV]

"4000 was over 30 mph, and burning a hair over 8 gph"

That "hair over 8 gph" is real nice! Good luck!

[shine]

3 blade 21 pitch was a bust, bad slipping (motor is a little high) and bad numbers.

bought a new merc revolution 4 blade 19 pitch and reproduced same numbers as the test, 4000 RPM gave 29.5 mph and 8 gph. When I was out of the wind, it was actually below 8 gph .

I confirmed the fuel flow meter is accurate, filled it up, ran it, said 17.8 gallon burned. Took 17.9 gallons when I filled her up. I think at dead idle the flow is too slow to measure and that accounts for the .5 % inaccuracy, or maybe it was warmer when I filled up and gas expansion accounts for it

I super happy with this: over 3.5 mile per gallon. Now if the wind would just let up I can take her fishing again

[mrobertson]

The yamaha fuel flow guage is pretty damn accurate. I've tested mine 2-3 times now and each time it is within ~5%.

3.5 is stellar man. The best i've seen with mine, optimal conditions is 3.4 mpg. I run about 3900 RPM, 27 - 28 MPH usually 3.2 mpg. I can kick it up to 4100 RPM and get 30 - 31 mph but it takes me down to about 2.9 - 3.0 mpg.

Great match for the hull for sure.

[shine]

Originally Posted by mrobertson

Great match for the hull for sure.

Your right, I really have no desire to cruise any faster unless its dead flat.

made my first offshore trip with the 250, and numbers were still pretty good. Boat was heavier than before: 3 big guys, 400 lbs of livewell, 55 gallon fuel, maybe100 lb of ice, and 50 lb of cobia.... a bit over 9 gph at 29-30 mph

[shine]

Gearing up the seacraft for attempts at swordfishing. Only changes I need to make are hooking up the second fuel tank (have used boat for a year without ever burning more than 30 gallons at a time), and to add a larger swivel base rod holder for the big rod. Gunnels will also be reinforced to better take the loads of the big rod.

Here is the large swivel base rod holder, sitting in a piece of AL that will become the backing plate.





We I put the rod in a 15 degree holder, set drag to 30 lbs. and pull on the line, the gunnels flex a little. Nothing is going to break, but I dont like the see the flexing, so Im going to add a little piece to the sides of the hull and the inside of the coaming, basically box it. Will be hidden from view, but it will stiffen up the area around the new rod holder

[TunaMeltdown]

You could try a different rod holder to help with the flexing issues. The Lees are great but they only have 3 bolt pattern and less surface area on the top flange. Your flexing issue is coming from the 3 bolt pattern. You shouldn't have to box in your gunwales and coaming pads. In my opinion the bolt holes are to far forward on the lees. When you mounted it I bet you saw the back of the rod holder lifting up? Same thing happened to me and I switched to LD Marine rod holders. They have 4 bolt pattern and a larger top flange which distributes the pressure put on the rod holder buy the rod. This is the same rod holder used by all the giant bluefin tuna fisherman. I've fought bluefin tuna up to 80" so far with mine and there hasn't been any flexing issues.
http://www.ldmarineproducts.com/

[shine]

The coaming actually flexes out, no flexing between rod holder and the cap. No trying to argue, but should not matter how many holes, leverage is same. BTW, the flexing was with a smaller/shorter holder, the new one is several inches deeper, so you might be on to something there. The new deeper seat may reduce the leverage enough so there is no flexing of gunnels. Think I will mount it first with the backing plate to see, before making the gusset

[Bigshrimpin]

Congrats on the new motor! Those are amazing numbers for a 250. Thanks for posting the info.