proper size prop

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vern23906

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Jun 7, 2004
4
Oday 28 Bald Eagle St Pk, PA.
I purchased a 1985 O'Day 28 which I really like. She sails well and has lots of space on deck and inside. The only thing I do not like is my cruising speed under motor. It has a Universal M-12 (10 hp) diesel and I can't get up to hull speed. I can cruise between 4.5 and 5 knots unless I'm going against the tide or have her nose on the wind. Sure I have the original 2 bladed prop; has anyone had better success with a different prop? Would a 3 bladed prop give me a better cruising speed? Suggestions? Thanks, Vern
 
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Paul Mieszczenski

How are you checking your speed?

Vern, I have the same engine and 6 knots is not a problem at about 3/4 throttle. How are you checking your speed? Could be your knotmeter is off calibration. Find some flat water and slack tide and check the speedo against the GPS. Also the boat is very sensitive to a dirty bottom and prop. These could be factors in your low speed. Are you getting all 10 HP? A dirty/partly clogged exhaust riser is undetectable unless you take it apart and inspect it, but it will rob you of a couple of those precious horses. I would have prefered that the boat had come with a little more HP, but that would come at the expense of weigth aft which she does not need any more of. I don't think that a 3 blade prop would help much as you don't have the power to twist it. PM
 
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vern23906

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Jun 7, 2004
4
Oday 28 Bald Eagle St Pk, PA.
PM response

PM, Thanks for the tip; Used my GPS to calculate speed. Was fighting some barnacles on the shaft & prop last year so I painted them this year. Didn't think they would make a knot to knot and a half difference. Will check out the exhaust riser. Vern
 
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