Return to the home page...

Go Back   Moyer Marine Atomic 4 Community - Home of the Afourians > Discussion Topics > Troubleshooting

 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Prev Previous Post   Next Post Next
  #1   IP: 47.16.178.29
Old 11-03-2019, 07:39 PM
Wisakedjack's Avatar
Wisakedjack Wisakedjack is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 118
Thanks: 19
Thanked 29 Times in 16 Posts
Low boat speed troubleshooting

My boat is 1976 Catalina 30 with 3 blade Indigo prop. At the start of the season I was able to get 1900 RPM at full throttle and slightly over 5kts boat speed. Towards the end of the season few issues have developed:

1. I could barely make more than 3 kts at full throttle.
2. There was noticeable vibration when I increased RPM, which seemed to come from under the cockpit.
3. Tachometer stopped working: its jumping between 0 and reasonable RPM, while staying mostly around zero. I don't think issue is related to the first 2, but just adding it here for completeness. I suspect this is just the case of bad connection... But because of this I don't know what was the engine exact RPM.

So, long story short the boat was hauled out this weekend and I was curious to see the state of the prop (hopefully a big garbage bag wrapped over it). There was some barnacle on the blades and some on the shaft. The later was behind the strat and kinda asymmetric. But I don't think this could explain such a loss of boat speed. The hull was mostly clean. I check the prop shaft for play and did not find any. So, obviously I will have to wait until next season to see what my boat speed will be with clean prop. But in the mean time I wanted to ask few questions:

1. Should I expect to see higher RPM with Indigo prop. I think max 2300 is advertised.
2. What else should I check in spring to explain loss of speed? Could it be ignition timing, for example, or anything else?
3. Can growth on shaft case vibration? What else should I check? Engine mounts, alignment come to mind as obvious candidates.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.
__________________
Alex
1976 Catalina 30
Perth Amboy, NJ
Reply With Quote
 

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Winterizing A4 and General Boat Preparation Mo General Maintenance 85 11-05-2021 06:26 AM
old boat..new owner..needs tlc..might as well start a thread about it and its A4 sastanley General Interest 136 12-16-2019 12:04 PM
Systems Troubleshooting Don Moyer Troubleshooting 0 02-28-2007 08:48 AM
Troubleshooting Exercise Don Moyer Troubleshooting 0 10-12-2004 01:42 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 09:15 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.


Universal® is a registered trademark of Westerbeke Corporation

Copyright © 2004-2024 Moyer Marine Inc.

All Rights Reserved