1998-2001 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer 5.0 EFI Bravo III's, What props work?

[Ship Happens]

%1998-2001 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer owners.%

I have a 2001 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer with 5.0 EFI 240 hp Vortec engines and Bravo III drives.
Additional factory items that add weight. 5kw Kohler generator, Heat/Air conditioning unit & windlass.

Additional items I have added. Yamaha T9.9 outboard motor, autopilot, traeger PTG barbeque on Aluminum stand bolted to swim deck, Radar scanner, automatic satellite dish. yeti cooler in rear of cockpit. 2 folding chairs.

RPM gauges all over the place. So I can't tell you what WOT-RPM's are until I have that looked at and repaired.

Boat came stock with 24 pitch props in 2001.
After adding the extra items. I went to 3x3 22 pitch props. added 3" drop fins to 12"x12" trim tabs.

Hole shot still sucked and would do about 38-40mph on the GPS.

When fuel tank is full and 4 people in cockpit and trim tabs down, it really struggled. So I dropped to 3x3 20 pitch bravo III props. Not much change.
Found spark arrestors filthy. Cleaned them up and replaced spark plugs, wires, rotors and caps. Had timing set. With just the wife and I and a half tank of fuel. It did pretty good.

I am looking for other people with a similar boat and similar factory options to see what they are running for props?

 

[Little Ducky]

I have to ask ........ does the 9.9 hp outboard push that boat anywhere?

 

[Ship Happens]

3.4 mph

 

[Lazy Daze]

3.4 mph

And... only when going downhill!

#1... You've got to get the RPM gauges fixed. That's important info to know - pretty much required info. Try moving the selector switch on the back side to clean the contacts.

In stock form (no options, no water, light gear and light on fuel), with your engines and the 24's, that boat should do mid-40's. So, honestly, with all of your extras, 22's, possibly a heavy load in the boat, maybe dirty bottom or rough paint, 40MPH is probably about right.

"Hole shot sucked" is subjective and hard to quantify. Are you comparing to how it used to be, or are you comparing to another boat - different style boat, maybe? Can we assume you're using full down trim on the drive and the tabs? You can try moving the celery stick on the drive if the hole isn't already in the outward position. Wider tabs will help.

That extra 100lbs + of weight on the swim platform will have a good impact on hole shot.

 

[Ship Happens]

And... only when going downhill!

#1... You've got to get the RPM gauges fixed. That's important info to know - pretty much required info. Try moving the selector switch on the back side to clean the contacts.

In stock form (no options, no water, light gear and light on fuel), with your engines and the 24's, that boat should do mid-40's. So, honestly, with all of your extras, 22's, possibly a heavy load in the boat, maybe dirty bottom or rough paint, 40MPH is probably about right.

"Hole shot sucked" is subjective and hard to quantify. Are you comparing to how it used to be, or are you comparing to another boat - different style boat, maybe? Can we assume you're using full down trim on the drive and the tabs? You can try moving the celery stick on the drive if the hole isn't already in the outward position. Wider tabs will help.

That extra 100lbs + of weight on the swim platform will have a good impact on hole shot.

Thanks for the reply.

3x3 - 24's were on the boat when I test drove it. hole shot was slow compared to my buddy's exact 2001 290 Sundancer boat and engine and drive packages, but he doesn't have a generator or ac unit or windlass. and doesn't have kicker motor or traeger grill on swim deck. Or a heavy yeti cooler near transom.

When I got it home I put on 3x3 - 22's and added my options on the boat.
I wasn't happy with the hole shot, so this summer I went to 3x3 - 20's and hole shot has improved some with the lower pitch props and last weeks tune up and cleaning of the spark arrestors. 37 mph on the GPS.

I moved the celery stick last spring to allow the drives to go down a little further.

Every time I come out of the hole the drives are down and the trim tabs are down.

I know there are 4x3 props and 4x4 props out there for sale. Just wanted to see what other people are running on there 290's with same engine packages and factory options?

I plan on going to 12x24 or 12x18" trim tabs depending how much more room I have.
Also plan to not have Heavy Yeti cooler in back of boat and buy 2-3, 40 quart RTIC soft coolers that will fit under the front V-birth.

 

[Strecker25]

I dont think you're all that far off. Our 98 290 with 5.7EFI's (260hp) on alpha drives with 4 blade aluminum 14x20 props does about 42-43 @ 4600RPM. Thats with 2 adults and gear, near full fuel, and water. We also have a genset and A/C

Here's our numbers with the new props this year

1200 - 7mph
1500 - 8mph
2000 - 9mph
3000 - 24mph
3200 - 26mph
3400 - 28-29mph (the boat is happiest at this speed)
4600 - 43mph

I believe the alphas are slightly faster and the 350's make a bit more power

 

[Ship Happens]

5.0’s are out of boat. Picking up 5.7, 315 hp long-blocks from engine builder this Friday 12/29/17. This should solve my getting out of the hole issues. Plan to go back to 22 pitch props from 20 pitch props also. (Bravo-III duo-props)

 

[Ship Happens]

@Lazy Daze

I had my Yamaha 9.9 high thrust outboard on my 1992 sea ray Sundancer 330. Did very well on it as well. I am using it for fishing in fresh water no currents. So when I say it does 3.4 mph it goes 3.4 mph!!!!!!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Looks like you got a better Christmas present (actually two of them!) than I did!

Good luck!

 

[Ship Happens]

I have to ask ........ does the 9.9 hp outboard push that boat anywhere?

It wouldn’t be on there if it didn’t.
I can’t stand stupid people with stupid questions.

 

[Little Ducky]

It wouldn’t be on there if it didn’t.
I can’t stand stupid people with stupid questions.

Sorry.

It must be difficult to have so much hate built up inside.

Hope 2018 will be kind to you.

I'll hit the ignore button so I won't ask any more stupid questions in any thing you post.