268DA and Weekenders

Thanks. I will try to take pictures, but I am horrible at stopping to take the time for pictures. Once I am going I like to get it done. :)
 
Pontoon Boat!? The Hell you gonna do with a pontoon boat?! Retake Omaha Beach!?
Back on the water but with a 20' pontoon for now wife said we can try it for a year or so. I was cruzin e-bay and found some intresting projects for people that live close to them.
 
It is what the wife wanted so we can have the whole family with us at one time she said it is time to slow down and with the winter we had I was able to pay cash with my plow money. I wanted to get another 242ls Formula. but with $4+ gas prices seems more logical. The 268 was to much for me to trailer around and I couldn't afford to pay 2K for a slip. We have friends that live on the river by us that we can dock the pontoon but is too shallow for anything bigger.
 
Hey gents, finally did a little research on my last lake trip. I have Lowrance Fuel flow meter installed, and did some fuel consumption analysis. It maybe a little rough around the edges, but gives you the idea. I know most of you are cranking the single 454 without all the goodies, so probably do a lot better than I do overall.
Fuel consumption information
Blew By You, 1988 268 Sea Ray Sundancer Twim 4.3L LX 4 Barrel Rochester Qaudrajet Carbs
Onan 3.0kW Genset - 100 Gal. Fuel - 40 Gal Fresh Water Tank - 9000 BTU A/C Unit
Props: Mercury Vengance 48 16318 21P (13 3/4 x 21P)
RPM Range: 4400-4800
Conditon: Full Fuel, Two Coolers, Full fridge, Two Adults, 3x 13" Anchors, Bedding, Ropes, Gear…Ect
Elevation: 3600' - Light Chop - Light wind - Maximum Trim up - Minimal Tab
RPM29003100340035003800400042004400
GPH1213.415.416.426.226.52728
MPG1.831.941.851.891.341.391.441.53
Speed222628.53135373943
FYI: Fully loaded Onan 3.0 kW MAJB Genset .6 GPH Fuel Consunption
 
Interesting numbers BBY.

I'll bet my 454 is not any better than these numbers (fuel consumption wise)....and I'll never see 43mph.

Best I can do is 31 at 4200 with my 16x16 prop.

Thanks for the data!
 
Interesting numbers BBY.

I'll bet my 454 is not any better than these numbers (fuel consumption wise)....and I'll never see 43mph.

Best I can do is 31 at 4200 with my 16x16 prop.

Thanks for the data!

I've been able to get her up to 50 MPH with half water, 1/4 fuel, and very little gear on board. 4600 RPM.
 
Twins are a wonderful thing! Exactly what that boat needs.

I can get 36mph with my old 15 x 17 prop, but she falls off plane at 24mph which is not good in heavy Lake Michigan/Lake Huron seas.

The BB is easy to work on due to an abundance of space in the engine room, however, twin 4.3's would be the cats butt for speed and handling.
 
Twins are a wonderful thing! Exactly what that boat needs.

I can get 36mph with my old 15 x 17 prop, but she falls off plane at 24mph which is not good in heavy Lake Michigan/Lake Huron seas.

The BB is easy to work on due to an abundance of space in the engine room, however, twin 4.3's would be the cats butt for speed and handling.

We are in the "SAME Boat" lol! When it comes to planing. I have to have her about 22-24 MPH to stay up or she falls as well, but that's all hull design. I measured it out one day, it would be possible to drop two 5.7L engines down in the hole, but I squat so bad in the water as it is, I would probably sink her. I want to put a bigger platform on her too, but I'm just worried about her sag.
 
We are in the "SAME Boat" lol! When it comes to planing. I have to have her about 22-24 MPH to stay up or she falls as well, but that's all hull design. I measured it out one day, it would be possible to drop two 5.7L engines down in the hole, but I squat so bad in the water as it is, I would probably sink her. I want to put a bigger platform on her too, but I'm just worried about her sag.

Hmmm, interesting. I never would have guessed that your boat would fall off plane at the same speeds.

These old girls would be better with some weight toward the snout instead of so much weight in the can.

Kinda sounds like those bowlegged women I used to swim with...cheers! LOL!
 
Test drove a 1989 268 the other day. Overall condition was not bad. Dirty from couple years little use torn driver seat. Otherwise did not look beat. Engine is 454/bravo1.on trailer/muffs she started fine and purred. Underway again initially at trolling she did fine. Got on it and immediately felt miss that turned into occasional what sounded like popping through carb. Had to head for dock. Coasting up to dock she died. Missed and popped whole way back in. Temp and oil showed normal whole way. Any thoughts on why she ran poor? Tank showed almost half full. Owner said he added stabil every year and five fresh gallons recently. I suspect bad gas. Carb rebuild few months ago by neighbor. Could be bad rebuild. Any other thoughts. Wonder why she won't push under load. Owner was genuinely surprised. Am thinking now that if I could determine problem might make a "mechanics special" offer. Otherwise liked the boat.
 
do a compression test. Probably just needs octain boost and a full tune up. if its been sitting for a while not a good idea to put in on aload with old oil in it.
 
Hmmm, interesting. I never would have guessed that your boat would fall off plane at the same speeds.

These old girls would be better with some weight toward the snout instead of so much weight in the can.

Kinda sounds like those bowlegged women I used to swim with...cheers! LOL!

Had the same problem with my 454 powered 268 and the admiral didn't like the ride at 24mph in rough seas, nor did she like wallowing around off plane which was even more uncomfortable! I decided to remove the rather small trim tabs and put the largest width and deepest tabs without changing the position of the ram (can't recall the size now) and WOW - what an improvement!!
I recall being able to plane at 18mph which allowed a much more comfortable ride, especially with a lot of cross chop. This would allow the bow to cut into waves with more of a pushing feel than a slapping or "wham" action that was definitely NOT healthy for anything attached to the inside of the hull.

It also helped the boat be more stable on calmer days on plane. With a little tab deployed along with the drive up it seemed to plant the stern firmer in the water. Before this the boat always seemed tippy on plane, like it was balancing on the head of a pin. Any wind or shifting of passengers would set it on one side or the other. Definitely better with the larger tabs!
 
Had the same problem with my 454 powered 268 and the admiral didn't like the ride at 24mph in rough seas, nor did she like wallowing around off plane which was even more uncomfortable! I decided to remove the rather small trim tabs and put the largest width and deepest tabs without changing the position of the ram (can't recall the size now) and WOW - what an improvement!!
I recall being able to plane at 18mph which allowed a much more comfortable ride, especially with a lot of cross chop. This would allow the bow to cut into waves with more of a pushing feel than a slapping or "wham" action that was definitely NOT healthy for anything attached to the inside of the hull.

It also helped the boat be more stable on calmer days on plane. With a little tab deployed along with the drive up it seemed to plant the stern firmer in the water. Before this the boat always seemed tippy on plane, like it was balancing on the head of a pin. Any wind or shifting of passengers would set it on one side or the other. Definitely better with the larger tabs!

I've been contemplating the same change you are talking about JB. In fact, this just became my first upgrade for this winter. A buddy of mine has the same boat as me and he welded an additional 6" to the end of his trim tabs with great results. I may do what you are talking about and add some width along with length.

My wife's biggest complaint is the feel of the boat on plane. As soon as a cross wave comes at us the boat feels like it's riding on the head of a pin just like you said. Big tabs should fix that problem. Thanks for the post. That helps greatly.

Let me know when you decide to sell that 340AJ....:grin:
 
Getaway, does that arch get in the way of bow access at all when trying to go up the Gunwale?
 
I can monkey swing around it pretty well, but I don't send anyone else along the rail. The kids go through the hatch and up on the bow when I need them for docking.

BoatatOffshore2014_zpsae4cd07c.jpg




Most of the time, I don't need anyone up there. Backing into a slip with a leeward wind is when all hands need to be on deck...LOL:smt101
 
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Thanks BBY!
 

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