Pete McMiller
Well-known member
I while back, OK maybe last year, we talked about props for the BB3. I have a 30 hp Evinrude on my BB3 and was disappointed in the performance. I had difficulty getting up on plane and it just seemed to be a dog in the water when I had a load of decoys, dog and a buddy. I was using the 10x13 prop that came with the motor as well as a 10x13 aftermarket prop. Up until this last weekend I was even thinking of getting a 40 hp for it just to get some reserve power.
Last summer I bought a different prop from Cabelas, a 10.5x11, just to see what the effect would be. Over the past couple of weekends I had a chance to check it out under similar loads. At first, I could tell that the rpm's were up but I still had trouble getting it up on plane. Motor seemed to run better but still a dog. I had me at 210, my dog at 115, my buddy at 150, 4 dozen decoys and of course a bunch of anchors, long line wts, and gear. You don't realize it until you add it all up but there had to be in the neighborhood of 600lbs in the boat. In addition I have a 9 gallon built in gas tank just behind the forward bulkhead. We realized that most of the movable weight was ending up in the back half of the boat when underway.
We rearranged the weight and put as much forward as we could, anchors, long line wts., my buddy and dog and now the boat flies! I didn't put the gps on it so I have no idea how fast but getting up on plane, even with all the weight is no problem. I finally realize I have enough motor for the boat.
So, take heed if your boat doesn't seem as lively as you want, redistribute your weight and try again. It seems dumb to say it considering all the time I have spent in boats but I was really surprised at how much the performance increased with a little weight redistribution.
Pete
Last summer I bought a different prop from Cabelas, a 10.5x11, just to see what the effect would be. Over the past couple of weekends I had a chance to check it out under similar loads. At first, I could tell that the rpm's were up but I still had trouble getting it up on plane. Motor seemed to run better but still a dog. I had me at 210, my dog at 115, my buddy at 150, 4 dozen decoys and of course a bunch of anchors, long line wts, and gear. You don't realize it until you add it all up but there had to be in the neighborhood of 600lbs in the boat. In addition I have a 9 gallon built in gas tank just behind the forward bulkhead. We realized that most of the movable weight was ending up in the back half of the boat when underway.
We rearranged the weight and put as much forward as we could, anchors, long line wts., my buddy and dog and now the boat flies! I didn't put the gps on it so I have no idea how fast but getting up on plane, even with all the weight is no problem. I finally realize I have enough motor for the boat.
So, take heed if your boat doesn't seem as lively as you want, redistribute your weight and try again. It seems dumb to say it considering all the time I have spent in boats but I was really surprised at how much the performance increased with a little weight redistribution.
Pete