1999 Sundancer 270 Bravo I/II/III confusion

Thanks Bugsy, I think I will give solas a try.
I couldn't change a hub, as the prop looks completely different from mine, seems that mine is old and they changed the design.
Nut out of shaft came of suspiciously easy, I kept one blade with other hand and used short ratchet. I thingten it solid when reinstalled. Disappointed that I couldn't narrow the root of my problem on the way back to marina, i tired it again and it plained around 30mph at 4200-4300.
Then I did 10 more runs, so it goes up to 15-16mph around 3600 stays there for 2-3 sec while i raise the throttle and jumps out at around 20mph and goes up to 30. I was able to keep 24-25mph at 3800 and at 3600 it goes 21-23 but struggle to stay on plane.
I don't have idea how tightening the nut could make any difference, but im glad that it's not coupler or clutches in drive.

Now on the hunt for right diameter/pitch prop.
My goal is to keep planing at lower rpm, don't really care about top speed, just want to cruise nice while not stressing the engine as much.
Checked compression around 135psi+/-3 on all 8. Engine cooled down while I struggle to reach and remove all 8 plugs.
Not sure what's normal on these engines but manual is saying min 100psi and it should be similar on all 8.
 
A few prop shops around here will let you test props out for a day. Of course you leave your equivalent valued prop or a deposit. Any larger diameter 4 blade stainless should get you the results you want. To boot it should get the rear of the boat up a little higher, turn less rpms, use less fuel, and just be a more pleasant ride. The Solas uses a hub(rubex) thats if I remember correctly interchangeable with the merc flo torque system. Good luck.
 
Looking right now at rubex 4 and amita 4 to order.
19p 4 blades options:
rubex 14.3 x 19p
Amita 14.25 x 19p
17p 4 blade options:
both 14.5 x 17p

I assume aluminum is fine?

I'm leaning toward 17p as you had good results on 5800lbs dry weight similar style, mine is 7500lbs dry.
 
Update:
Tried 15x15P 4blade Hustler today, boat jumps on plane really quick (I was alone with a lot of tools stuff loaded, but comparing to 3blade 14.5x17 3 blade).
It doesn't matter if trim tabs are up or down, still jumps out without a problem. tabs down plane nicer and get out slightly quicker, tabs up bow is a little bit higher and seems like engine is working harder to push. (It was taking ages to get on plane with tabs up with old prop)

Gained acceleration, Stern lift and engine revs to around 4200-4300 initially when catch up with speed goes to about 4500 without trimming up used to be 4300 before trimming.
Top speed is still the same around 30-31 as with old prop, but was able to stay on plane at 22mph@3600, sweet spot seems to be 25mph@3800.

Weather was terrible so this all was with fully enclosed isinglass and on choppy water.

Cruising speed seems pretty decent to me for size of the boat, although I was hopping for 3500-3600 sweet spot.

I have yet to test it fully loaded.

Have order for 14x19p 4blade Hustler as well, that I'm trying to cancel.

I did use their prop selector tool, and it suggested 14x19p (I selected boat year model power package, a lot of variables, nicer then mercury/quicksliver prop selectors).
I ordered that one, but their tool also offer option to request opinion of their experts, and they sent me the email day after with suggestion of 15x15, this one was available locally, so I was able to try it immediately.

Not sure if I should cancel or give it a shot. 1in diameter down should be 500rpm up and 4 pitch up should be 600rpm. So I believe it would still turn this 19p fine, but probably going to slip much more with smaller diamter.

I think sweet spot would be 16-17p with 15diam, but couldnt find one with these specs, so might just re-pitch my 15x15 1 in up and go with that.

Thanks everyone for good suggestions and details.
 
My own experience is that 14" props are just too small for boats this size. An 1 1/2" bigger made a big difference for me.

I used to run a 23' bayliner cruiser, 305, alpha 1. It was smaller and lighter, so the 14" was adequate perhaps but it sure wasnt quick getting up. My friends had a 2855 and they would jump up and run away.
 
I personally would consult with a prop expert. Like Ken at "Prop Gods" his suggestions are usually spot on. No need to try this or that.
 
@Dave - M
You are right about diametar, probably not going to work, that why I'm trying to cancel order for that one.

@scoflaw
That a good point, will consider that. I spoke with couple of people that have some experience with props, and most of them had the same reaction when I tell them B1 single engine 8000lbs+ boat. I then searched for days for similar boat size and this setup and it seems no boat of this size came with this setup from factory, it's either B2, B3 or volvo dp. Only reference I have found in some old boat magazine Chaparral 2835 1999 with 7.4mpi and B1, but official documentation on their website is only for 2000+ and they are volvo dp or b3.
So either typo in magazine or they figured it's a no go and switched.

researched CSR 270da topics and people with factory setup B2/3 are getting 37mph@WOT at best, not a big deal to me, but they have slightly better sweat spot for cruising especially B3 like 3400 and still on plane.

Didn't want to spend a ton if I don't need, and selection of aluminum props 15"+ diameter is very limited. Just to return 2nd prop that's on the way and might consider contacting the experts ,so I can keep 15x15 as a spare if they suggest something different.

edit: Researching prop gods forum and found kens recommendation for '93 290, slightly longer slightly lighter and his expectations are high 20s @WOT, so at 31@wot in rough water, I'm doing pretty good.
 
Last edited:
Just a thought on boat weights, as you've quoted 5800# on what I assume is Bugsys and mine. I've heard it speculated .here that the sea ray literature specs, from the early 90s at least, are weights without power. Ive seen a couple threads where guys mentioned weighing 90-91 270s on the trailer and hitting 10,000 lbs +. So might not be too much difference between boats, weight wise.
 
I heard that as well for early '90 for later it should be with engine..Mine is 7500 per manual, but im unsure if that includes generator/ac, there are heavy things as well.
I hauled mine from FL to GA some 700miles with 3axle trailer rated for 9000lbs, emptied the tanks etc... Now I didn't want to go on a scale as beam is 9'2", but trailer was fine and f250 didn't feel it at all.
I couldn't find some legitimate tests for this model, but found really detailed one with 2008 270 6.2 with b3 (this is smaller and lighter boat not like our 270#) and top speed was 38.5mph and test was on brand new setup. I believe hull design is different as well.
My father had '03 280 few years ago T-4.3mpi/alpha ,If I recall correctly it was going low to mid 50kph. so 30ish mph.

I'm trying to confirm that my numbers are in spec, as i don't want to damage engine/drive from working in improper conditions.
If I wanted to go fast would probably buy Baja :)
 
Just received Hustler 14x19 and turning point hub, they already shipped when I tried to cancel order.
20% restocking fee + return shipping, not worth returning it, so I will give it a shot just out of curiosity. If engine have power to spin it to proper rpm, might use it when I'm lightly loaded and use 15x15 when have more people aboard.

I had flo torq II that I used for current prop, but received turning point hub with new prop, and I can say it looks much stronger, better quality compared to Quicksilver.
I'm surprised, judging by design I think if Quicksilver spun you will be spining only shaft and TP one would still work for idle speed.
Hopefully props are good quality too, time will tell. Could find much info online.
 
Well, I had another outing today. Once again, 3 people aboard. This time though I stopped for gas first. I got 42 gallons, which put me at roughly 3/4 tank. The extra gas made a big difference. Tabs up, drive in, she struggled. Tabs down partway and doing some weaving, she got up. Once up, I got a steady 26-27 mph at 3500- 3600 rpm. Hit 30 a time or two. I got the same speed as before, just needed an extra 100 or so rpms to get it.

After an afternoon at anchor, coming back, I started with a different plan. Tabs up, give the throttle the business, then hit one tab at a time, part way. Climbed up a little faster that way. Once up, it was easy to cruise.

A half tank of gas might be the ticket, we'll see
 
So far for me the fastest out of hole strategy is drive in all the way tabs down all the way, once on plane couple of taps on trim up I get top speed, when I want to cruise slower have to keep drive in.
On my boat with tabs up it takes more time and bow raise a alot, once on plane it runs almost flat regardless of position on tabs, then I use them just to balance left/right weight when I have more people or during turns.

I don't know If my tabs are stock size, they are fairly small, but they shift weight pretty well.
Probably our hulls are slightly different and they respond to tabs differently.
 
What's your beam? Mine is 9', which is kinda narrow for a boat 28' +. I find I have to use my tabs a good bit to stay level. I'm on a narrow, very serpentine lake, so with other traffic, wakes and wind, I play with the tabs quite often, mostly in the turns. They work well though.
 
9'2" not to big of a difference, but hull shape might be different, I'm on moderate size Lake and underway, unless I'm steering, it's pretty leveled, but anchored in "no wake" cove pontoons and pwcs wakes are bouncing me :)

I also have only couple feet of chain and rest is rope on windlass, so bow is pretty light, no counter weight for generator and tanks, so I guess that might be the reason I have to keep tabs down to get the bow down.
 
update: I tested 14x19 4 blade Hustler and it's too much pitch for my application, wot went down to 3600, without trimming I didn't want to push it to hard, so went back to 15x15.
Surprisingly it didn't jump out at around 3200.

with 15x15 Lowest plane speed 20-21mph@3400, sweet spot seems to be a little higher 25mph@3600, nice fast cruise 27-28@3800. WOT is 4200 without trimming goes to 4500 trimmed, too speed around 30-31mph with closed windshield/isinglass.

Did few hour cruise and it was pretty stable on plane at 3400-3500 despite rough water.

Here are some numbers I noticed, might be useful for reference.
Speed MPH | Engine RPM | fuel GPH
20-23 | 3400-3500 | 16-17
25 | 3600 | 18-20
27-28 | 3800 | 20-21
30 | 4000 | 21-23
31 | WOT | 24-27

edit: Interesting thing is I can trim drive up decently even with lower speed and bow doesn't fly up like it did with 3blade. I believe I found appropriate pitch for my setup (15"), so I probably benefit more/less with different design props, rake, cup... Didn't know there is whole science around props :). Anyway it's a cruiser and I can plane at 3400 now, so probably will not spend more money on props.
 
Last edited:
Took another ride today. First time out this year I planed with tabs up after tabs down didnt work. Since then, it has struggled some getting up. Today, on the way back to the dock, i put the tabs down all the way and got up on plane fairly quick. The change was pretty dramatic.

Im inclined to think that the first time out, I had a brain fart and had tabs down while I thought I had them up.
 
I had similar situation once on another boat, didn't perform well with tabs down (usually planed much better with them down).... I anchored and asked my wife to click the switches and tabs were stuck up, after pulling them down with hands hard few times, they started working again. Maybe your tabs were stuck also so when you played with them eventually they unstuck.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,182
Messages
1,428,060
Members
61,088
Latest member
SGT LAT
Back
Top