1999 four winns h180 top speed?

techman · Sep 30, 2009

Hello all
New to boating so be aware very inexperienced. I just picked up 1999 h180 four winns with Volvo 3.0 i/o. it has a 14-1/2"x21 prop which max rpm is 4600 and speed is 36mph. I changed to extra boat prop 14-1/2x19 prop and rpmwent to 4800 and lost speed to about 32mph. I have trimmed up and this is my max speed. My question is does this seem to be proper speed. I did change back to 21 pitch which seems to be in good condition.My rpm and speeds are what reads on the gauges.Too cold now to check with gps. Does anyone know original prop size on boat. Thanks and I am enjoying the site

Bondo · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

My question is does this seem to be proper speed.

Ayuh,... That sounds about Right...

Fun Times · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

techman said:
Hello all
New to boating so be aware very inexperienced. I just picked up 1999 h180 four winns with Volvo 3.0 i/o. it has a 14-1/2"x21 prop which max rpm is 4600 and speed is 36mph. I changed to extra boat prop 14-1/2x19 prop and rpmwent to 4800 and lost speed to about 32mph. I have trimmed up and this is my max speed. My question is does this seem to be proper speed. I did change back to 21 pitch which seems to be in good condition.My rpm and speeds are what reads on the gauges.Too cold now to check with gps. Does anyone know original prop size on boat. Thanks and I am enjoying the site

Sounds like you are right where you should be running at with both prop's.

The only way you might be able to pick up just a few more MPH's is to try a [SS] 21 pitch prop.

techman · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Thanks for the response. I felt it sounds and runs good but thought I read somewhere guys were getting over forty mph. So far love the boat and seems easy enough to work on. I had to change power steering belt that was loose and burned out. Bit of a challenge being the 3rd belt in from end. Changed all 3 belts to be sure and have an emergency spare. now all I need is warmer weather to get back on the water. Also had a dead battery once as I left a dash switch on. Is a second battery with an isolator recommended.

hwsiii · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Techman, you should be able to get over 40MPH with that setup.

H

steelespike · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

I agree with H your close but 40+ should be possible.
Use the gps the next time you go out.Speedo can be off 5 mph sometimes.
21 pitch is about right but may be sluggish for skiing and stuff.
Over the winter you could be sure the bottom is clean and smooth with good paint. Be sure the throttle opens all the way.Do a compression check.
Give her a good tunup.Check the timing advance The mechanical advance some times gets stiff.I think from corrosion.

hwsiii · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Tehman, I ran some prop slip numbers using information I found on your boat and motor. I show your motor to have 135 HP with a 1.97:1 gear ratio, please verify this information.

Prop Slip

H

techman · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

reads sx-m 2.18 on drive. Is that the gear ratio. I hope it is warm enough this weekend to test speed with a gps.

Fun Times · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

techman said:
reads sx-m 2.18 on drive. Is that the gear ratio. I hope it is warm enough this weekend to test speed with a gps.

what city/state is your lake in that you go to?

techman · Oct 1, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Way north.Sudbury, Ontario Canada. Good news is no snow yet. lol
I went to four winns site and dug up old specs and speeds. for a 135hp volvo on a h180 36mph at 4600rpm is what is there. But below that the volvo sx 135hp say 36 mph at 4000rpm. Stock pitch is 14-1/4x21.I wonder why it says different for SX model of drive?

steelespike · Oct 2, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

To further complicate things::
The NADA site lists the 170 at 135 hp.the 180 at 190hp.
Does make me wonder what you really have.
The 170 has a 7'6" beam the 180 8'.
170 is 2190lbs 180 2580.
Obviously the Four Winns site should have the right info.
Perhaps it is a heavy boat or a really deepV design?
giving up speed for ride.

hwsiii · Oct 2, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Techman, after you said what you did about their website, I went to it and this is what I found for the 1999 H180.

H180 WOT Speed

So, I must be wrong about the speed, sorry about that as I was using the 1.97 gear ratio.

H

techman · Oct 3, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Thats the page I was looking at. I found it strange it shows speed for 4000rpm and not also for 4600. Got to ask to be sure...Is WOT stand for without trim. If so why would speed be higher. Makes me think it means something else.
Got to say a big thanks for all the info and learning I did from this thread. A little info stimulates the brain.

hwsiii · Oct 3, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Tech, it stands for Wide Open Throttle.

H

jimdaddicf · Oct 3, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Guys,

Not to muddy the water, but I have the same problem except mine boat is a 2006 180 Horizon with the 3.0 volvo penta with 2.18 drive.

This is what happens: I put a new prop 14.3x21 volvo prop on this boat I just bought.( the old prop was banged up) This was the size that was on the boat. volvo #3817469. Took the boat out first time and ran great but RPM's were 5400 WOT, read 45 MPH on the speedo, WTH !! I feel the tach might be wrong but the speedo too? I'd like to verify the tach value and the speedo also. The speed I can do with a GPS the tach is something I don't have a clue. Any suggestions would be great.

techman · Oct 10, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Let us know what speed is on gps. I think I have same motor and gear ratio. Mine with 21 pitch prop reads 4600 which I believe is what it should be. I didn't get to gps speed as winter is coming.Just winterized yesterday which went well.

jimdaddicf · Oct 13, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

techman said:
Let us know what speed is on gps. I think I have same motor and gear ratio. Mine with 21 pitch prop reads 4600 which I believe is what it should be. I didn't get to gps speed as winter is coming.Just winterized yesterday which went well.

Thanks for the response. I am also going to have the boat winterized this week and unfortunatly won't be able to verify the speed with GPS. I will have the tech check rpm's with a meter to see if the tach is accurate. I'll let you know.

jimdaddicf · Oct 16, 2009

Re: 1999 four winns h180 top speed?

Techman, I had the tech check the tach and it was spot on! The 14.3x21 prop from volvo was turning 5400 RPM, with a 3.0 volvo with 2.18 drive. I can't guess what the heck is happening but the one thing I can do is take the outdrive (which is off the boat) and have the skeg repaired. It has a slight bend to the right after the previous owner hit a rock. If this is the culprit I will be surprised. The tech said it could cause a slight cavitation or disruption of the water flow to the prop. Water dynamics 101 I guess. I will keep you posted.

1999 four winns h180 top speed?

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