Reprop 220 Select

C

campingdad

New Member
Apr 12, 2009
11
Fortville, IN
Boat Info
220 Select
Engines
5.7 Bravo 3
Just picked up a (new to me) 2005 220 Select from a private owner. During the water trial the boat performed flawlessly, but I think I would like for it to come up on plane faster. It has the 350 Mag with a Bravo III out-drive and 28 pitch props. I think I might get the performance I am looking for by propping down a few pitches. I used Mercruisers prop selector and based on my spec it suggested a 22 pitch. That seems a little low to me.

If anyone has any suggestions or can direct me to someone who can assist me, it would be greatly appreciated. The Sea Ray dealer that I used to work with went out of business and I am not real confident with the new dealer.
 
Okay, no bites on that one, let me pose this question. Instead of changing pitch, I am thinking about adding some form of trim tab to the boat. Once on plane, the boat accelerates and runs great but I would like to get a better hole-shot for watersports. Any ideas or experience with tabs on a boat of this size?
 
A 350MAG and B-3's on a Sea Ray hull and it's not popping up fast enough? I've slalomed skied behind a 220 with a 5.0MPI while having 4 adults in the boat and I came right up. Are you sure you've got it trimmed all the way down? Really, you shouldn't be having any problems.

But, aside from that, new B-3 props will run you like $1,500. As far as if you've got the right pitch on their right now, you can call a dealer with your HIN #. All 220's will not have the same pitch. It depends not only on horsepower, but also the gear ratio being used.

If you still end up wanting more, don't waste your time with a "hydro-foil". You could try to fit trim tabs - but there's limited space on the transom. Lenco makes electric tabs (as opposed to the traditional hydraulic) that are very nice and easier to install.

On edit: Oops. Just saw you weren't happy with your new dealer. If you want, PM me your HIN and I'll check it out for you.
 
Here are the numbers from my BIII props... 48-823667 A6 26P and 48-823668 A6 26P

Forget the foil! See if your merc dealer has a blue prop program. You place a deposit on the "Blue" props and if they are returned damage free you get your money back. This way you can try several different pitches prior to spending all that hard earned money.
 
Campingdad,

I took the wheel of a 220 BR w/a 350 mag/B-III 28" pitch props several years ago. It would flat out fly! If I remembr correctly 3,800 rpm would give you about 45 mph or thereabouts. Before you make any changes, I would make sure you are within the wide open throttle range 4600-5000 rpm. As compared to my 230, the 220 had a bit more bow rise and was more sluggish coming out of the whole, but once on plane the 220 was a rocket. So I agree with you. I would also try your current set up and see how she does with watersports. If you drop down to 26" props, you will pick up about 400 rpm at WOT (assuming you don't find the rev. limiter first) and your bottom end/time to plane will improve.
 
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Thanks for all the input. I did some tests last weekend and with the 28P props it ran WOT 55 MPH / 4900 RPM. I am thinking about getting a set of 26P for skiing and save the 28P for when I am on larger bodies of water.
 
I would think about adding tabs. They made a huge improvement on planing speed and handling in rough water. I have Bennett tabs and the install was easy. Smart tabs are cheaper and the install is simpler.
 
Thanks to all that replied. After experimenting with the boat, I found that the boat responded better to a gradual application of the throttle to get it on plane. My smaller bow rider required that I go immediately to WOT then back down once the boat was on plane. I think that the boat is cavitating the props when going WOT from a stand-still. If I ease into the throttle and bring it up gradually things work much better.
 
I go full throttle and back down. I don't have significant bow rise to speak off. 5.0 MPI w/BIII drive. I always tell people my boat almost stays level and it kinda pops up on plane.
 
www.propmd.com He cups the rear B3 prop. Good for holeshot and mid range cruise. Give him a call.
Merc make a Double cupped B3. Have not found any sales on them yet.
 
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