260 Chaparral Plane Issue

[Brett Abplanalp]

I just bought a 2004 260 cruiser with a 6.2L MerCrusier outdrive a couple of weeks ago.
I just used it this past 4th of July weekend.
I have a question for anyone who can help or has had experience with this boat.

I had 8 people sitting on the deck of the boat and could not get up on plane.
I was running trim tabs both down and the outdrive trim down.

It was pulling 3000 RPM with a huge wake.
Once I took two people off the boat I had no problem.

I am looking for comments on my approach and if I need to get my boat looked at.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: 260 Chaparral Plane Issue

I am not experienced with that particular boat, but Im thinking that it is marginally powered. Did you test drive the boat with light load? Does it achieve the recommended rpms at WOT?

8 adults with coolers, etc is a good bit of weight... try to get as much weight forward as possible when carrying a heavy load, and try the trim tabs in different positions, sometimes all the way down is not the best.

 

[180shabah]

Re: 260 Chaparral Plane Issue

Sounds like you need a second prop for the heavy load days.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: 260 Chaparral Plane Issue

Where is your deck, fore, aft, or midship? What propeller pitch? What top speed does it run? what RPM is it at when it's full speed? Is the prop in perfect condition, no dings, bends or hacks? Does the engine run smoothly? Do you know what your boat weighs? I'd think 8 people are less than that boat's maximum capacity by a few.
If your propeller is a high pitch for top speed it may have to work too hard to get the bigger load onto a plane. A lesser pitch has less top end but pulls better at low speed.
Check what you can of those items and watch for other answers, someone on here will have a same or similar boat that had the same situation.

 

[Brett Abplanalp]

Re: 260 Chaparral Plane Issue

Boat planes well under smaller load (5 people). I am going to check into RPM checks at full power with light load. The boat is rated for 14 people. The seats on the boats are in the back of the deck.

 

[QC]

Re: 260 Chaparral Plane Issue

Brett,

The weight rating is only about safety, so not going to mean anything as far as what the performance will be like.

The 6.2 is a high revving setup. If you are going to run with high loads then you need to prop for that. B3s are an expensive prop replacement deal and I am guessing you need one set to do all things. If that's the case then your light load setup needs to reach 5200 RPM. This will give the best flexibility. Good luck!