325 Aft Cabin - Pokey Speeds

[Viper]

Yes props are stamped with pitch and diameter specs. To know WOT spec for the engines, you'll have to do some homework before the sea trial. Recording the engine make and model will help in your search for the spec. Some engines are labeled with info that sometimes includes the WOT spec.

[buster53]

QR_BBPOST It's got carbs, so I'll check to make sure that the throttles actually are fully opening it up. I've been planning on lubricating the throttle cable anyway, so I'll add it to the list.

We do have trim tabs, and I can confirm that they work properly. It actually took me a while to recognize how the indicator display actually reports the position of the tabs. Turns out they're a lot slower to move than my prior boat.

So what’s the latest? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Tommyfmu]

Old post, but did you figure it out? Wish I had seen it when originally posted. We have the 325 in a '96 with carbed 350XL Crusaders. Factory props are 18" x 20 pitch. The key to performance on the 325 in these years is to always start with tabs fully lowered. That will get you up on plane within about 12 seconds, not having to punch it, and heavily loaded. Once on plane you can adjust bow up to get the roll right per wind and current. You should have no problem reaching the spec'd 4400 WOT and hit up to around 28 mph. Without tabs fully down to start and trying to get it planing, the bow is way too high (actually dangerous), a ton of fuel burned while achieving a max of like 15 mph. Hopefully your situation was remedied a long time ago. ps: retract the tabs fully when not running her to avoid growth.

[drewp]

I am very excited to try this - one thing, I have the same boat - year, model, engines - but my factory props are 18 x 19. My mechanic and local prop shop say the rights props are 18 x 14.

[km1125]

QR_BBPOST I am very excited to try this - one thing, I have the same boat - year, model, engines - but my factory props are 18 x 19. My mechanic and local prop shop say the rights props are 18 x 14.

That's a huge difference between a 19 and a 14 pitch, especially as other owners have noted theirs are 19s or 20s.

If you wanted to sacrifice top speed to improve "ease of getting on plane", you could go to a smaller pitch prop, but I would not make those changes without knowing the boat is performing as it should with the stock props.

[bud37]

FWIW, a good prop shop can knock a prop up or down about 2 points in pitch.....I would recheck the factory prop specs for your boat/power combo to be sure....

[drewp]

Tommyfmu, I tried many times following your instructions and could not get on plane! I tried when towing my dinghy, when not. The tabs were keeping the bow down but it never got above 11 knots at 3000 rpm. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated!!