need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

[MooseMan]

Hi all - I've got a 1959 18hp Evinrude that I will be racing (it is quite a casual event I assure you

in a few weeks. It is on an old Alumacraft and probably does mid-high 20's. I'm told 28 mph will keep me in the race. (pretty much anything goes as long as it is under 25hp and qualifies as an 'Adirondack fishing boat') <br /><br />Question is - outside of leaning it out the best I can - is there any way to get a little more out (ideally I'd like to get a touch more power then put a larger prop on it)<br /><br /><br />Thanks!

 

[corm]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

Hi MooseMan,<br />Not much you can do to it.Set the pts at .020<br />Make sure the carb is opening all the way.Raise the motor an inch or so on the transom. Most of all tip the boat over and put 4 coats of wax on the running surface.<br />The small details win the races. Oh and wax the gearcase also.<br /><br />...have fun...corm

 

[MooseMan]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

Thanks corm. I didn't think about the wax - the surface might actually be too irregular to hit but I should give it a try.

 

[uflanke]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

I don't have an opinion on this matter, but here's a contradicting point of view...<br /> http://www.bassboatcentral.com/don'twax.htm <br /><br />KF

 

[corm]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

Hi MooseMan,<br />You would be taking off the oxidation that has occured over the years on the metal. Even though Alumacraft coated their hulls<br />it would still benifit from a really good wax job. It is hard work. I've done several<br />when I was young and one canoe that we use to race, but it helped. Only do the surface that is in the water when your running because it will change the color of the metal. You don't want to do the whole boat, trust me. Unless you have some kids that need work. hehe<br />...good luck...corm

 

[MooseMan]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

that's a fascinating article - I've never thought of it in that manner - however I have noticed that our old boat used to be slower on pure glass and faster in a touch of chop. On the other hand it was always faster after a good waxing. Here's what I think might happen.<br /><br />While the article makes sense, it does not account for s***my buildup on the bottom of the hull. And as we all know - you clean before you wax. My guess is that the cleaning is what is causing the increased speed, and that the slight sandpaper job is how to improve performance on a clean hull.<br /><br />Either way my boat has a bent keel and an imperfect bottom that is covered with gluv-it and drilled out rivets. Best analogy I could come up with is a screen door with a motor. This is a very unofficial event, I assure you and is probably not worth my time waxing. I will however be changing the plugs and leaning it out the best I can. I might be able to find a different prop as well.

 

[corm]

Re: need to squeeze a little more power for a race...

The easy way out spray your hull with Slip-plate graphite and buff it down with a sotch-<br />brite pad.<br />I've been sanding hulls and lowerunits since<br />1976. Pirmered LU but no finish paint seem to be the fastest over a hundred any way sanded also. Sanding does not work on slower<br />boats so don't run out and sand yours!!!<br />...have fun...corm