Alpha One in need of speed

[Boatcephus]

Went from a 'toon to a brand new deck boat this season. It did great. However, I had hoped the 135hp 3.0 liter would push this boat faster than 28-30mph WOT. I don't want to change props, so are there any easy and safe bolt ons to try to get more speed out of my drive? 2-5 mph extra would be great. Want more HP but don't want to damage or void this new beasty.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Hey,<br /><br />Please state your prop specs and achieved rpm at wot.<br /><br />One really good improvement is to remove weight.... and to trim optimally.

 

[Boatcephus]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Prop is 15 inch with 17 pitch, if I have my numbers right. WOT is 4600 or 4800 rpm, dont recall which, I hate runnin it that hard. It takes all of that to flirt with 30mph though. It's just a big, heavy boat.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

If you are not running a stainless steel prop, that alone will get you a few more mph over an aluminum prop of same pitch---cost is under $500. You could spend $2000 on the motor and not gain 2 mph.<br /><br />By design, deck boats run with more of the hull in contact with the water, which equals slower top end.<br /><br />Weight is a factor. An outfit in Wisconsin makes a three-log pontoon with two outboards that runs 88 mph----I would not ride an aluminum torpedo at that speed!<br /><br />You might try a "shifting prop," but not sure your 3L will turn one. Search this board with the words Torque-Shift and you can read more than you want to know.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

DDBoater, The outfit your talking about is an Odyssey Millennium, it had (2) 225 Evinrudes on it, and it set the World Speed Pontoon record of 80.8 MPH. <br /><br />I just bought a 2003 Odyssey Lextra, Tripple Pontoon boat, with the 350 Mag MPI (5.7 liter). Top speed so far 45 MPH, that was with an Aluminum Prop. I am still trying S.S. props, trying to Zero it in, but the best I have got with it on S.S. so far is 43/44,<br />with 6-8 people and spare gas and gear on board with both props.<br /><br />I still like S.S. but not convenced yet it will always run faster.

 

[MrBill]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Myself and many others have advised folks against trying to save money by getting the 3.0 instead of moving up to the 6 cylinder or 8. Not that you tried to save money but it always makes the price of a new boat seem great and the price of a used boat too good to be true. There is no magic fix, prop, HP booster, turbo, etc. 135 HP simply isn't enough to move 2800+ lbs of boat with water skiers, etc. at the rate of speed that you're looking for. Even a SS prop at $500 will only improve a certain portion of the powere band. My experience withh stainless has been a little lower top end, more low end torque and a better hole shot.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Hello<br /> now ya know. speed costs money. how fast ya wanna go?<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[jam39vw995]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Rodbolt has a good point and it's not just boats where speed costs money, it's pretty much anything with an engine.<br /><br />As I look for my boat, I look at engine size, size / weight of boat, how fast I want to go etc.<br /><br />There isn't much you can do to a boat to make it go faster if it's under powered.<br /><br />I'm going to try and balance, speed, function, fuel economy, wake size etc. before I buy a boat. I've made up my mind that it will definately be an I/O, everything else is in the research stage and the iboats.com forums are great for learning.<br /><br />Jeff

 

[airman]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

I know I'm drifting off topic here a bit, but how can you say that "everything else is still in the research stage" ? Staight inboards and staight outboards have both been around longer than I/O's. I've owned and serviced all 3 types and the I/O is inherently the worst of the of the three, in my opinion. All of the weaknesses of both but not all of the advantages of either. I run my I/O because it's so much cheaper - I can buy three old 470's and a couple of spare legs for the cost of one 4-stroke 175hp outboard. An I/O can be a good setup but there's lots of great O/B' out there and nothing beats an inboard on a straight shaft for reliability.

 

[chris in va]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

I really think you'd be pleased with a SS performance. I went from 38 to 47mph when I switched. Just don't get one of those Ballistic props.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

GodsBeast----I stand corrected on the world speed record for the 3-log pontoon but I imagine 80.8 probably felt like 88 to the driver!!<br /><br />In 25 years of boating I've never experienced less speed at WOT when comparing stainless to aluminum---but I've never driven a 3-log pontoon.<br /><br />Keep us posted on your experiment!

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

DDBoater, no problem, I figured it was a type-O at first, figuring you forgot the .0 in the middle Yes I image ole Jake's rear was pretty tight that morning on the river, running that fast. Those (2) Evinrudes have been taken off of that particular boat. The dealer that has it now, is planning to put (2) 125 Evinrudes on it, so I imagine it won't be so fast now. The reason I know this, when I was checking into 3 log Pontoon's I figured if Odyssey's structure was strong enough to handle that speed, it should not have any trouble structually, going 50 MPH every once in a while. My Lextra is heavier and more plush than the Milleninum he was on, and I carry plenty of junk on board, so if I am only able to go between 42 to 45 MPH, that is fast enough, like I have said before, I just want to know I've got it set up right. Still investigating! My 350 Mag, Alpha One Outdrive, running a Power Tech CLU200 PTC3R 17 POLISH ran 41/42 Sunday, it fluctuated RPM's again though and peeked at 5000. <br /> The Service Bulletin on the 350 Mag, put me behind schedule on fine tuning! If I am not Mistaken, Odyssey suggested it should run 44 MPH and I may gain some MPH with a Mirage Plus Prop!<br />We will see! <br /><br />I don't doubt what your saying, but I am begining to fear that the first Used S.S. Mercury S.S. Prop was the one I should have stayed with, and the Moisture under the Dist. was keeping the RPM's down. The guy has sold that prop though now. <br /><br />Here is the link to the Pontoon Speed Record.<br /><br />www.internetgrapevine.net/partypontoons/index7.html <br /><br /> <br />Performance Millennium Pontoon Boats <br />... Joseph River in Elkhart, Indiana we were certified the WORLD SPEED RECORD at 80.8<br />miles per ... In fact, Pontoon & Deck Boat Magazine has judge Odyssey Boats Best ...<br />www.internetgrapevine.net/partypontoons/index7.html - 12k - Cached <br /><br />Oh well, I tried! Anyway, Good luck Boatcephus, and DDBoater, I will let you know if the S.S. ever surpasses the Aluminum! I still have a few tricks to try.

 

[jam39vw995]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Airman,<br /><br />By "in research" I meant "I" am still researching/learning what would be best for me. Reliable, economical etc.<br />I grew up around boats and the OMC in our first boat was nothing but trouble. The 228 merc in the Silverline was no trouble.<br />I like the lower cost of parts etc. for I/O's and I can probably do most of the work myself. Outboards I could probably work on with a good shop manual but they scare me a little. Inboards, if the most reliable, I will look at, but don't they take up a lot of room in the boat?<br /><br />Sorry for the off topic post.

 

[Boatcephus]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

I'd like to see 40mph. I made a BIG mistake when shopping. I saw the 4.3 V6 in my boat was supposed to run 42 mph. The dinky outboard was supposed to run 24mph, so I figured the 3.0 I/O would run somewhere in between. Never actually asked the dealer, "how fast does it go?" Should have though, just didn't sound like a good question to ask about a deck boat at the time. (Major stress while buying a boat)<br /> So my next question is: Since my boat is available with up to a 5.7 V8, how difficult is it to swap out motors? Is the answer basically to buy another boat or is this in the realm of doing with a proper shop? I might try ot find me a nice used 4.3 or 5.0 liter. Lord knows they gave me a big enough gas tank.<br /><br />Thanks,

 

[jam39vw995]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

Boatcephus,<br /><br />I am certainly reading this thread with interest. I am still shopping for a boat, if you've read my other posts/questions as to what will be the best fit in terms of make of boat, speed, maintenance etc. you'll know that already.<br /><br />From what I've read here on engine swaps, I and read alot, archives, all pages, subjects with searches etc. it's cheaper and easier in the long run to buy a different boat.<br /><br />So I have 3 questions for you;<br />1. If you sell your boat right now, would you get "all" of your money back? <br />2. Will the dealer allow you to trade in/up without penalty? ie. giving you less for your boat as a trade in than what you bought it for?<br />3. And third, with some cleaning up, maintenance and detailing, could you sell your boat for "more" than you bought it for?<br /><br />If the answer to all 3 above is yes, I know what I would do. I'd get the boat I want.

 

[Capt. T]

Re: Alpha One in need of speed

You might want to check out trim tabs. Do a search here for SmartTabs. They (and a SS prop) should help some. <br /><br />But as others have suggested more HP == more speed. You may end up swapping boats to be happy in the end.