Prop source for aluminum props....

[HenryHawthorne]

That is along the line of what I was thinking. They do bulge somewhat in the hot sun at sea level but flatten when cool. I desperately need to sand and paint the boat, so I’m seeing knocking them down and painting in a couple years if they don’t deflate on their own.

Shows a downside of gobbing filler on a boat.

Meanwhile, back on the East Coast...





Not many days that the ocean looks like this, could have gone skiing out there today.

 

[William Reinicke]

Tod

I had no idea altitude has that much effect on internal combustion engine performance. One might could make an argument for electric motors at higher altitudes. Thanks for the report and it's good to hear you are back in business.

Sure surprised me the extent of it. I'm familiar with towing at high altitude and understand that turbochargers make a lot of difference, but I never considered it for the boat. I'll definitely go with a 50 next time around to get back some of that get up and go that I lost.

One other interesting thing that I noticed is that places where I filled holes with epoxy/microballoons that were very deep with abrupt edges (think buried screw holes) they are now are standing slightly proud. When I put my grass rails on, I bored the countersink holes deeply (think it was a screw size constraint that I was accommodating), I can see every one of those holes clear as day as a little bulge. Nicely faired stuff with a tapered edge doesn't show. I'm wondering if the mix had enough air to expand at higher altitude.

Welcome to the world ive played in for since I could boat in high school. Most guys have literally no idea what altitude does to motors. EFI is an absolute game changer. I dont run carbed anything anymore. Props are always a nightmare. My bass boat is rated for a 200 and guys can get up to 85 mph with the correct prop on it at sea level. After 2011, they same model was actually considered too dangerous and Nitro had to stamp all of them as 150 max hp starting in 2012. I have a 150 now, but my buddy has the same boat with a 200 and best we can get is 68. It really is nuts. Bigger is always better at altitude. Tod, if you wanted to play around with a JP, bet you could get a little better than 22.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

That is along the line of what I was thinking. They do bulge somewhat in the hot sun at sea level but flatten when cool. I desperately need to sand and paint the boat, so I’m seeing knocking them down and painting in a couple years if they don’t deflate on their own.

Shows a downside of gobbing filler on a boat.

I've read about this somewhere, but cant recall where. What got my attention the most is that it may cause stress cracks in joints. Might be a wise move to check the fillets closely.

 

[tod osier]

I've read about this somewhere, but cant recall where. What got my attention the most is that it may cause stress cracks in joints. Might be a wise move to check the fillets closely.

Good thought. Fillets are wood flour and epoxy and I haven’t seen any changes (and wouldn’t expect). Even spots that I know I faired pretty heavily with micro balloons I can’t see anything. I think depth or thickness is driving it and I never faired anything that thick. I also do t usually fair with pure micro balloons, I usually use a mix of micro balloons and maple because I like how it spreads and sands. I’m hoping the boat stays intact until the end of my days.