1986 Glasstream 1550 ProBass Suzuki DT85 VERY SLOW to plane

[PCSS]

I just purchased a 1986 Glasstream 1550 ProBass with a Suzuki DT85. It had been sitting up for a couple years before I purchased. I replaced the impeller, new plugs and fresh gas and hit the water. Me and my friend took it out and never could get it to plane out. It does have a little rough idle but give it a little gas it smooths out well. I installed a StingRay Stinger Hydrofoil to possibly help and it did but it still takes forever, seriously over a minute with us looking out the sides to make sure we don't hit anything since we can't see with it straight up. Now between the both of us we weigh 500 lbs but you would think a 15.5' boat rated max with a 75hp motor and we have a 85hp it wouldn't matter. Why does it take so long to plane out? Any ideas? And I do have other issues like over heating once we got it to plane(alarm went off) which I'm replacing the thermostat now(2 bolts broke taking off). My speedometer and tach do not work either. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[gm280]

Okay first things first. :welcome: to iboat PCSS. Nice to have you join us...

I actually know what your boat looks like because I use to own the HydroBass Glasstream Bass boat before. The 1550 ProBass is a nice setup.

I have a gut feeling you have a lot of wet soaked rotted wood and foam that is weighing the hull down too much to plane off. It is time to do some investigating work on the transom, floor, and stringers to see what is good and what isn't. Post a few pictures of both inside the hull and outside as well. Then we can see what you are dealing with. JMHO!

 

[PCSS]

Thanks GM! The guy I bought it from said he replaced all wood and installed carpet. Which you can tell he replaced all wood on top with new carpet. I would hate to rip all that up. I might try parking boat leaning downhill to see if it would drain any more out for a start.

 

[jbcurt00]

Look in and under all the hatches and lockers.

Did he remove all the old plywood and fix all that was necessary below as well before installing new plywood?

Or did he lay new plywood over the old?

Deck overs are common on boats of this age and hide problems from unsuspecting buyers who see new carpet and interiors and hear new plywood was laid.

Post some pix.

 

[PCSS]

Thanks JB! I'll get some pics this evening when I get off work. I have to get started on those broke off bolts on the thermostat too.

 

[PCSS]

Can't find a thermostat for my Suzuki DT85! Iboats doesn't have it and nobody near me can even get it. Any suggestions? Run it without it?

 

[lakensea]

Can't find a thermostat for my Suzuki DT85! Iboats doesn't have it and nobody near me can even get it. Any suggestions? Run it without it?

Did you try calling or visiting your local Suzuki dealer? If they do not have it in stock, they can get within a few days as they are in stock at Suzuki's distribution center.

 

[PCSS]

Nobody local would even order it so I found Brown's Point Marine Service and should get it by Saturday.

 

[gm280]

PCSS, I honestly hope you don't have any rot issues. But like jbcurt00 stated, too many time folks will lay new plywood on top of really rotted flooring and stringers and then new carpet and sell it off. It is way more common then folks think. I really hope that isn't your situation. But with a 85HP engine, that ProBass 1550 should plane off is seconds. JMHO!

 

[PCSS]

I forgot to mention compression was good. 135, 145, 135. So yes GM it should plane off in seconds. That's what has me puzzled and according to my GPS we could only do 25 mph. Now, I didn't trim any after we planed cause I was happy it finally planed.

 

[gm280]

I forgot to mention compression was good. 135, 145, 135. So yes GM it should plane off in seconds. That's what has me puzzled and according to my GPS we could only do 25 mph. Now, I didn't trim any after we planed cause I was happy it finally planed.

Can't say for certain. But that hull with that engine, you should be in the high 40's, low 50's MPH range. I had the Glasstream Hydro Bass with a 115 inline Mercury six and it clocked 63MPH on select water. Would run all day long in the 50's with ease. Just saying.

 

[Blowt]

I have a friend of mine that has the same boat and is having the same problem.

 

[99yam40]

My bet is the motor is not hitting on all cylinders under load.
even with a water logged hull it should eventually get it moving faster and faster if the motor was running well.
Maybe the motor is propped wrong and is lugging down the motor

What RPM it is hitting and what prop he is running may help someone get an idea

 

[PCSS]

Tachometer does not work so I am getting ready to order one.

 

[gm280]

PCSS, if you don't want to spend tons of money on a new tach presently, pick up a tiny tach and see what your RPMs are doing. JMHO!

 

[PCSS]

I had to order a tach, nobody around our area had a cheap one. I pulled my prop and it was a 14 X 19. I think it should be 13 1/4 X 17, what do you guys think?

 

[PCSS]

I purchased a new prop 13 1/4 x 17 yesterday and have it on now. I also drilled and re-tapped the 2 bolts I broke on the thermostat housing and replaced the thermostat. So I am ready to go try it out and hope it'll plane quicker and not over heat. Hoping the river will go down tomorrow or Monday so I can take it out. I'll keep everybody updated.

 

[PCSS]

Took the boat out today and had problems getting it cranked. Had to pull the cover off and push the manual choke down because the choke at the gear lever wouldn't crank it. Once I manually choked it it cranked up but went dead but at that point I could use the gear lever choke to crank it. I had to rev it up then hurry up and put it in gear and give it gas to get it to go. Once I got it going it ran great. Now to the good news! With the new prop on it I could get it to plane in about 1-2 seconds! It was amazing! Didn't have to run but half throttle to plane and keep it there and it had plenty of power to go fast but I chose not to how high the river was and with branches etc. floating around. And it never ran hot! So if I can figure out the cranking and idling I'd be one happy camper.

 

[gm280]

Took the boat out today and had problems getting it cranked. Had to pull the cover off and push the manual choke down because the choke at the gear lever wouldn't crank it. Once I manually choked it it cranked up but went dead but at that point I could use the gear lever choke to crank it. I had to rev it up then hurry up and put it in gear and give it gas to get it to go. Once I got it going it ran great. Now to the good news! With the new prop on it I could get it to plane in about 1-2 seconds! It was amazing! Didn't have to run but half throttle to plane and keep it there and it had plenty of power to go fast but I chose not to how high the river was and with branches etc. floating around. And it never ran hot! So if I can figure out the cranking and idling I'd be one happy camper.

Sounds like your old prop may have been spun. You could take the old prop and have it rebuilt for a spare. As for the starting issue, maybe it is time to rebuild the carb(s) and/or primer system. I don't know anything about your engine, so it wouldn't hurt to rebuilt things now and then have zero issues for the boating year. JMHO!

 

[99yam40]

Sounds like your old prop may have been spun. You could take the old prop and have it rebuilt for a spare. As for the starting issue, maybe it is time to rebuild the carb(s) and/or primer system. I don't know anything about your engine, so it wouldn't hurt to rebuilt things now and then have zero issues for the boating year. JMHO!

not sure where you get that the prop spun, he said when he put a smaller prop on it it finally got it to come up in RPMs.
Spun prop would have high RPMs but no forward propultion

To the OP you still need to find out what RPMs you get at WOT to figure out if the prop is correct.

Also sounds like you will need to clean the carbs and work on the choke to get it to run properly.
cranking to most is turning the motor over , starting is when it fires up and runs