2.3 Capri....More Power??-gctid393119

[Guest]

I am a new owner and this is the second thread I have posted. Thank you for all the help from everyone who posted the boat runs great! This past weekend I went out with a few friends and while pulling a skier or an intertube the boat will not plain out, it just keeps the nose way up in the air until I have someone walk to the bow and sit and after a few minutes it sets down and takes off and does great.

I understand that the 2.3 is a really small motor and I don't have an extreme power house, my question is do I just not have enough power to pull the 19' boat and a skier? If that is the case what can I do if anything to get more power or the torque I need to set the boat down?

Little more info, pulling a 2 man tube, 1 person about 150lbs and a 75' rope. Me driving 165 lbs and 1 friend in the boat 220 lbs. Him in back will not plain out him in front plains out quick.

220 on tube, 150 in bow, 165 in boat I had to stand in front 150 alone was not enough to plain it out.

165 on skies, 150 in bow, 220 driving, would not plain out till 220 stepped up front too.

I believe it is the factory prop wide open and plained out turns 4200 rpm and about 35 mph, I had the trim set about in the middle of its movement.

[Guest]

You should have the engine trimmed all the way down when starting off with a tube or ski in tow. Also, it's not uncommon to need your passengers up front to get started on such a small and low-powered boat. Doesn't sound like anything at all is wrong with the setup to me.

[Guest]

jhenkel wrote:
You should have the engine trimmed all the way down when starting off with a tube or ski in tow. Also, it's not uncommon to need your passengers up front to get started on such a small and low-powered boat. Doesn't sound like anything at all is wrong with the setup to me.

Thanks for the reply and I will try that with my trim. Do I leave it down or trim it up after I am out of the water?

I was going to mess with it a little but its stopped working. Come to find out it had blown a fuse and the previous owner wrapped it in aluminum foil rather than getting a new one, I was able to bandage it enough to get it up for the ride home lol.

[Guest]

KvHotDog4 wrote:
Thanks for the reply and I will try that with my trim. Do I leave it down or trim it up after I am out of the water?

I was going to mess with it a little but its stopped working. Come to find out it had blown a fuse and the previous owner wrapped it in aluminum foil rather than getting a new one, I was able to bandage it enough to get it up for the ride home lol.

When I am pulling tubes and skis, I usually run with it down all the way the entire time. That helps to hold plane at a lower speed, especially important for wakeboarding and kneeboarding which my kids love. When we're just cruising around I normally run it up a little, but not usually more than about 1/4 of the way. Any more seems to have a negative effect on the ride. You'll end up getting a feel for where it makes the boat run most comfortably, and don't be worried if you end up leaving it all the way down most or all of the time.

[Guest]

I had the same engine (assume this is OMC 2.3 Ford not volvo) very reliable, but there is no method for increasing power, except an engine swap. Although they are much maligned on this forum, I had a whale tale on my outdrive, helped with getting on plane, in my opinion. 35mph was tops for me.

[Guest]

OneidaSteve wrote:
I had the same engine (assume this is OMC 2.3 Ford not volvo) very reliable, but there is no method for increasing power, except an engine swap. Although they are much maligned on this forum, I had a whale tale on my outdrive, helped with getting on plane, in my opinion. 35mph was tops for me.

It is the OMC 2.3 Ford, it had the whale tail on it and I took it off after heard bad things about it having the opposite affect of what it is suppose to do. I considered putting it back on just to see if it would do anything.

Another question, where should the exhaust come out at? When cranked in the water it has smoke come out right where the outdrive comes out of the boat, it this right? I thought it would all come out at the prop???

[Guest]

Yes, when at idle the exhaust comes out of holes at the bottom of the transom mount. As soon as you move forward it's pulled out the prop.

A hydrofoil/whale tail is made for smaller low power boats. Mine has been a great improvment with no problems for 8 years. I'd put it back.nthego:

[Chief_Alen]

What pro you have on now? You could go down in pitch

[Guest]

Chief Alen wrote:
What pro you have on now? You could go down in pitch

This is what I was thinking (kinda like sprockets on a motorcycle, maybe?), however, I do not know how to tell what I have or what I need lol

Any help?

[Guest]

KvHotDog4 wrote:
This is what I was thinking (kinda like sprockets on a motorcycle, maybe?), however, I do not know how to tell what I have or what I need lol

the pitch should be stamped on the hub .... less pitch is like going to a lower gear on a truck less speed more rpms, should help when pulling a tube

[2850Bounty]

jhenkel wrote:
You should have the engine trimmed all the way down when starting off with a tube or ski in tow. Also, it's not uncommon to need your passengers up front to get started on such a small and low-powered boat. Doesn't sound like anything at all is wrong with the setup to me.

I would agree with exception to trimming the engine down, unless this is an OMC Stringer drive.

If Cobra, we're actually trimming the drive IN/OUT!

KvHotDog4 wrote:
Thanks for the reply and I will try that with my trim. Do I leave it down or trim it up after I am out of the water?

During the time while pulling skiers, wake boarders, or tubers, leave it trimmed IN.

KvHotDog4 wrote:
This is what I was thinking (kinda like sprockets on a motorcycle, maybe?), however, I do not know how to tell what I have or what I need lol

There is no substitute for doing a WOT RPM test. Anything short of that is a crap shoot.

With this little boat, you will very likely end up with two propellers.

One for just cruising....., and one for while you are pulling.

When checking to see if you are propped correctly for pulling, load the boat as you would normally.

Connect up, and begin pulling a skier/wake boarder/tuber as you would normally.

See if your engine can make the WOT RPM that is specified in your OEM manual.

Prop the drive accordingly for the usage.

Use this prop for pulling, then switch back to the other prop if you plan to take a long cruise.