[BVLew]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for this forum, have been trying to learn from it.

Been sailing for 50+ years, but never had to pay attention to engines until getting a 1978 Catalina 30 a few years ago. And I'm not much of an engine guy. So my questions are pretty basic.

Original gas Atomic 4. Engine hours when I bought in 2018 were about 850, I've been putting on 30-40/year. I suppose previous owners could have averaged 20 hours/year, but perhaps there was a rebuild along the way. I had a mechanic change the oil once (I know, I know, I should do it every 50 hours and at the end of every season -- I just bought a vacuum pump so I can try it myself soon).

Here's the question: Idling, I get a little more than 3000 RPMs. But in gear, I can't get more than about 1800 RPM, even with full throttle. Propeller is a folding 2-blade. This seems a bit low -- is it? I had a mechanic check it last year, but he didn't find anything. Prop is clean, no weeds.

Is this behavior about right for a 40+ year-old Atomic 4? Or are there things I should be looking at?

Thanks.