Modifications for Windy Conditions

[Barrett .502]

What modifications would help my boat cruise at a lower RPM in windy conditions (eg more pitch, higher gearbox ratio)?

I am running close to 4K RPM when the wind is over 10 MPH and don’t want the engine working so hard

I’m about to send my gearbox for a rebuild so wondering if a 2.55 would help or hurt.

Also might stroke it to 540 in the next few years but have to do the gearbox soon. That being said, I would like a ratio well suited for current and future displacement.

Boat is 16 ft aluminum deckover with 2.38 gearbox powered by a gen v zz502 and 4 blade water walker propeller

Riding on the gulf coast of Florida

 

[Andy]

Runnin the gulf is a whole dif world ,,,big boats, deep water,current and wind are challenging ,,,I try to hug the coast as much as possible to stay in the skinny water,

 

[One Eyed Gator]

Looking at your signature line a 70" prop seems a little short for that setup.

What is the max length prop you can run? Keeping the blade 2" of the deck.

Weight and air flow are key can you get rid of any weight?

Is thing restricting the air flow to the prop.

Is the boat balanced well?

Is the bottom flat?

If fishing the waccassasa bay area I ran a 14x7-6 alumitec for years. Just got a new to me 13'x7'-6" we will see how it works.
When my boat bottom/poly are beat up hulls seems to feel like it's dragging add the tidal current and wind, you have to run hard to stay on top. I changed raked to one 6" longer and was surprised at the difference on a windy day

Maybe post a pic

 

[Barrett .502]

Looking at your signature line a 70" prop seems a little short for that setup.

What is the max length prop you can run? Keeping the blade 2" of the deck.

Weight and air flow are key can you get rid of any weight?

Is thing restricting the air flow to the prop.

Is the boat balanced well?

Is the bottom flat?

If fishing the waccassasa bay area I ran a 14x7-6 alumitec for years. Just got a new to me 13'x7'-6" we will see how it works.
When my boat bottom/poly are beat up hulls seems to feel like it's dragging add the tidal current and wind, you have to run hard to stay on top. I changed raked to one 6" longer and was surprised at the difference on a windy day

Maybe post a pic

Thanks - tagline is wrong on the prop size - it’s at least 80 inches, bottom is good, no obstructions, balanced well - boat is definitely heavy though

 

[Coastslider]

That falcon series blade is going to turn the rpm’s for the conditions you’re describing on that boat. A 3 blade Maximus is a great prop for the zz502 and 2.38 gear box. The Falcon is going to need more rpm in all conditions. I put the 3 blade Maximus on a friends boat. Same motor and box. 15’ Alumitech 3/4 deck with 2’ rake and it’s a beast. Took a 3 blade falcon off of it. Was a turd with that prop

 

[OneBFC]

4 falcon = 3 maximus. Actually, 4 falcon is slightly more overall, but its close.

I have done the exact swap testing on my boat in the past.

Agree Max is an awesome prop, but 4 falcon can produce 1800+ lbs of thrust too.

 

[Coastslider]

At higher rpm and added drag from 4th blade though in my opinion

 

[Barrett .502]

You guys think a new prop would be more effective than a higher gear ratio?

 

[Slidin Gator]

So here is my thinking, 4 blade, 80" on a 2.38 gear running into the wind (I assume, no one bitches when running down wind). You say running ~4K rpm, making prop RPM=1,680.

The Falcon does like RPM and runs to about 2,400 top end I think, which would be 5,700 engine speed on a 2.38. You are not working those blades in their happy place, they want a 2.09/5000 rpm gear on your setup.

My best advice is to add some pitch on a windy day, it just costs you time to set up. When running into the wind you are swimming upstream, the engine has to make some more RPMs just to stay even. Keep in mind, once you do that, you won't have the snap or top end that you had, but you might find the fish like the lower revs.

Please post details and pictures of the prop and pitch setup. Confirm make/model etc.

 

[John Fenner]

Looking at the pictures of the setup, you have a 502, assuming iron block, gear box, etc, now, that is quite a bit of weight for a narrow hull, displacement is key.
If you measure the bottom at the break "chines" at rear, my bet is that it is only 6'3-6" wide, that said, you are pushing a rope so to speak, that hull is the issue not the powerplant.

 

[Barrett .502]

So here is my thinking, 4 blade, 80" on a 2.38 gear running into the wind (I assume, no one bitches when running down wind). You say running ~4K rpm, making prop RPM=1,680.

The Falcon does like RPM and runs to about 2,400 top end I think, which would be 5,700 engine speed on a 2.38. You are not working those blades in their happy place, they want a 2.09/5000 rpm gear on your setup.

My best advice is to add some pitch on a windy day, it just costs you time to set up. When running into the wind you are swimming upstream, the engine has to make some more RPMs just to stay even. Keep in mind, once you do that, you won't have the snap or top end that you had, but you might find the fish like the lower revs.

Please post details and pictures of the prop and pitch setup. Confirm make/model etc.

Thanks - I’ll try to get the blade info next weekend

 

[Barrett .502]

So here is my thinking, 4 blade, 80" on a 2.38 gear running into the wind (I assume, no one bitches when running down wind). You say running ~4K rpm, making prop RPM=1,680.

The Falcon does like RPM and runs to about 2,400 top end I think, which would be 5,700 engine speed on a 2.38. You are not working those blades in their happy place, they want a 2.09/5000 rpm gear on your setup.

My best advice is to add some pitch on a windy day, it just costs you time to set up. When running into the wind you are swimming upstream, the engine has to make some more RPMs just to stay even. Keep in mind, once you do that, you won't have the snap or top end that you had, but you might find the fish like the lower revs.

Please post details and pictures of the prop and pitch setup. Confirm make/model etc.

Do you think a 2.55 would help? Getting it rebuilt soon and Stinger said the could rebuild to that ratio

 

[Slidin Gator]

Do you think a 2.55 would help? Getting it rebuilt soon and Stinger said the could rebuild to that ratio

Not with the Falcons.

 

[Slidin Gator]

So here is my thinking, 4 blade, 80" on a 2.38 gear running into the wind (I assume, no one bitches when running down wind). You say running ~4K rpm, making prop RPM=1,680.

The Falcon does like RPM and runs to about 2,400 top end I think, which would be 5,700 engine speed on a 2.38. You are not working those blades in their happy place, they want a 2.09/5000 rpm gear on your setup.

My best advice is to add some pitch on a windy day, it just costs you time to set up. When running into the wind you are swimming upstream, the engine has to make some more RPMs just to stay even. Keep in mind, once you do that, you won't have the snap or top end that you had, but you might find the fish like the lower revs.

Please post details and pictures of the prop and pitch setup. Confirm make/model etc.

Talk to Andrew at WW, but per my previous I'm pretty sure a 2.09 ratio would better match your present engine and those blades. Given a need to rebuild the gear, assuming OX can go down as well as up on gear, a 2.09 is the most cost-effective change I can think of given your need to rebuild. But it's going against what you might want to do in the future, like change blades and/or upgrade the engine.

Not knowing what you got in the engine, the factory specs are 508 Hp at 5,200 and 580 ft lb at 3600. Add that to your stated goal of dropping cruise RPM, you want/need to drop RPM's on the engine while adding RPM to those Falcons.

If 2.09 doesn't work, then you need more gear, wider blades, engine mods to turn more revs and possibly a new hull.

 

[Barrett .502]

Talk to Andrew at WW, but per my previous I'm pretty sure a 2.09 ratio would better match your present engine and those blades. Given a need to rebuild the gear, assuming OX can go down as well as up on gear, a 2.09 is the most cost-effective change I can think of given your need to rebuild. But it's going against what you might want to do in the future, like change blades and/or upgrade the engine.

Not knowing what you got in the engine, the factory specs are 508 Hp at 5,200 and 580 ft lb at 3600. Add that to your stated goal of dropping cruise RPM, you want/need to drop RPM's on the engine while adding RPM to those Falcons.

If 2.09 doesn't work, then you need more gear, wider blades, engine mods to turn more revs and possibly a new hull.

Thanks I’ll reach out to him.

I have a goal of more performance/snap yet a bit of an issue with the windy conditions of the Gulf so it’s pretty confusing figuring out if a new ratio/blade/stroker kit would be best or if I just need a new hull (or setup altogether)

Realistically can’t buy a new hull but open to do one or two of the other options I mentioned

 

[Barrett .502]

Looking at the pictures of the setup, you have a 502, assuming iron block, gear box, etc, now, that is quite a bit of weight for a narrow hull, displacement is key.
If you measure the bottom at the break "chines" at rear, my bet is that it is only 6'3-6" wide, that said, you are pushing a rope so to speak, that hull is the issue not the powerplant.

Interesting- it’s a thrill in the shallow water but has to rev up like I said in 5+ feet of water in windy conditions so that kinda makes sense

Still need the gearbox rebuild and wondering if a change would help with either the wind and more snappy throttle response.

I could add a stroker kit myself but can’t build a hull or spend that money anytime soon.

I think running around 4K RPM in windy/deep conditions is fine compared to a new hull so I’ll probably be fine hah

Ill keep that in mind though

 

[Slidin Gator]

Interesting- it’s a thrill in the shallow water but has to rev up like I said in 5+ feet of water in windy conditions so that kinda makes sense

Still need the gearbox rebuild and wondering if a change would help with either the wind and more snappy throttle response.

I could add a stroker kit myself but can’t build a hull or spend that money anytime soon.

I think running around 4K RPM in windy/deep conditions is fine compared to a new hull so I’ll probably be fine hah

Ill keep that in mind though

I agree with John on this one too. More hull width will absolutely improve your cruise in the deep.

I run a narrow hull, it is awesome in the skinny or ninny. But go deeper than 1 foot and the hull starts to settle and the revs go up. So, I stay in the skinny and will run dry to avoid the river.

No changes are gonna improve the skinny performance of what you got, you are looking for the right compromise. The 2.09 with less pitch is TBD vs. snap at the low end, but it should decrease engine speed at cruise. Top end is TBD and should be discussed with Andrew at WW. First you need to have a handle on your engine RPM range.

Focus on making what you got work well. For starters lay some pitch into your blades to hold the engine down to 4,800 on the trailer. See how she runs in the skinny and the wide open.