How fast will she go??

[MaxOD]

I recently bought a 1995 Regal 176 valente se. First time in the water the engine packed it in so I'm in the process of rebuilding it. Its a 3.0L Volvo Penta and if required now would be the time to try to get a bit more power out of her. Problem is the engine failed before I could get to top speed so I don't have an idea how fast it will go stock. We just got to plane, clocked 34mph on GPS and lost power. Any advice on the capabilities of this boat/motor combination would be appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: How fast will she go??

you were getting close to the limit.

 

[ArkBoater]

Re: How fast will she go??

i have an '88 17' bowrider with the 3.0l mercruiser i/o and top speed on her is about 38 (depending on load) if that helps any.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: How fast will she go??

Boy that is a bummer to blow up the first time out. What exactly happened? or do you know yet. I don't know what the compatibility with the drive is but it sure would be nice to drop a 4.3l v-6 into it I think you would be better off in the long run and be happier with it's performance. The cost to convert might be too prohibitive to do. I would think with the right prop on a fresh engine you could get somewhere around 40 mph. but probably couldn't pull skiers with that same prop. Let us know what you decide to do and what happened to the first engine. Good luck, hope you get back on the water soon.

 

[MaxOD]

Re: How fast will she go??

Hey thanks for the quick reply. All indications are that water got into the engine via a rotten exhaust riser. The inside was very rusty and I suspect the moisture and rust did a number on the bearings. Number 1 and 2 rod bearings spun. The 4.3L wouldn't be hard to drop in just costly. It may be a plan for the future. I think the exh. tube would have to be changed and maybe the front engine mount as well as some minor plumbing issues. The 3.0L is the HO model rated at 150HP. I am going with the flat top pistons and I think I'll have the rebuilder take a bit off the deck and head. Not sure what else can be done. I'm also running a 19 pitch prop.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: How fast will she go??

Swapping a 4.3 V6 for 3.0 inline involves more than just unbolting one and dropping in the 4.3. A 4.3 is wider than the 3.0 so a different engine bay layout may be required. A 4.3 has its motor mounts at the side whereas the 3.0 is at the front so the layout again is different. The 4.3 is "V" engine so the exhaust plumbing is entirely different. The 3.0 uses a different outdrive ratio than the 4.3 so it needs to change and as often mentioned on the I/O forum, don't even think about compensating for that with a with a prop. If you still have not been convinced this is not a simple swap, it can be done but you best have deep pockets or know what you are doing. As for getting more power out of the 3.0 that is also not going to happen. Speed parts are not readily available and an increase in power means a loss of low end grunt so you compromise hole shot. Fix the engine and keep it stock. If you want a go fast boat, sell it and buy one.

 

[MaxOD]

Re: How fast will she go??

I think thats good advice Silvertip. When I get it back together I'll see what she does. The boat is beautiful otherwise and if it will be reliable, pull the kids on a tube and haul my rear end up on skis, that may be fine. If not, the for sale sign will come out. Thanks again

 

[MikDee]

Re: How fast will she go??

If you're rebuilding that 3.0, and building it up some, I'd guess you'd probably get a strong 45mph out of it, when fully broke in, not too shabby, but thats about it.

Make sure to get a new coupler, you don't want the old one to wimp out if the engine is fresh, & beefed a bit, especially when skiing or tubing.

 

[iron21]

Re: How fast will she go??

I had a 3.0 in a 16' maxum. the fastest it ever did after playing with props and such was 42 mph. Regal makes a heavier hull than maxum so i would think you be lucky to hit 40 or 41. It wont be no race boat, but will be a good cruiser and good on gas. If your looking for speed, i would sell it as-is and use the money towards a faster boat.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: How fast will she go??

I think you can get close to 45. I had a '99 Wellcraft 175 with a 3.0 that did 43 with a 19" pitch. Kinda surprised me a little. I didn't think I would hit max rpm with the 19, but it did.

 

[marine4003]

Re: How fast will she go??

want speed.......I got a Scarab for sale, how's about 97mph, shot from a stationary Troopers radar gun....That'll pull the kiddies.

 

[MaxOD]

Re: How fast will she go??

Wow thats some fast!! I was hoping for 40 but to go more than double that, it must be a scary ride.

 

[MikDee]

Re: How fast will she go??

Hey Max, Just a note here, a Regal is a heavy boat,,, But a well made boat!
But wait, I have a question, if that's a Valente, is that the model with the step in the bottom???

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: How fast will she go??

I had a Searay BR176 with a 3.0 Mercruiser in it that would hit 44 with just me in the boat lightly loaded. Of course that was with the stock speedo that rarely ever worked right and with the boat rigged as it came from the factory.

I wouldn't have wanted to keep it there verey long though...

 

[Wet_Dream]

Re: How fast will she go??

I think thats good advice Silvertip. When I get it back together I'll see what she does. The boat is beautiful otherwise and if it will be reliable, pull the kids on a tube and haul my rear end up on skis, that may be fine. If not, the for sale sign will come out. Thanks again

I have an 18' Stingray with a 3.0 VP. With a 21P 3blade aluminum prop the boat would hit about 47 MPH with my myself, my wife, and 3 small kids in the boat. I just put a 4 blade 20P aluminum prop and top speed dropped to about 42 MPH, but much better holeshot. I think you will be fine...may need to re-prop depending on how the hole shot is for skiing.

 

[steelespike]

Re: How fast will she go??

As long as you have the motor down how about boring to the max available over size.Probably should do rings anyway.

 

[MaxOD]

Re: How fast will she go??

Hey Max, Just a note here, a Regal is a heavy boat,,, But a well made boat!
But wait, I have a question, if that's a Valente, is that the model with the step in the bottom???

Not sure what you mean by a step. The floor of the boat is flat through out except for the engine bay. I think it weighs in around 2500lbs, I recall reading that somewhere.

We're going .020 over on the cylinders which is enough to clean it up but won't add much for cid.

 

[JCF350]

Re: How fast will she go??

As long as you have the motor down how about boring to the max available over size.Probably should do rings anyway.

Your only going to gain about 2 1/2 cu.in. by doing this. Definitely not worth the reduced reliability of doing such a thing.

 

[MikDee]

Re: How fast will she go??

Not sure what you mean by a step. The floor of the boat is flat through out except for the engine bay. I think it weighs in around 2500lbs, I recall reading that somewhere.

We're going .020 over on the cylinders which is enough to clean it up but won't add much for cid.

I meant the hull bottom itself, Regal has a few certain model boats out there with a stepped bottom like a hydroplane, or race boat, definitly a PLUS, a faster design then a regular Vee bottom! You'd know it if you had one, just by looking at the bottom.