Same boat new prospected buyer 6cta 480CE

[Greg Weaver]

Hello all,

I have a deposit on a 2003 CC35 powered with 480CE bearing a solid sea trial.

Kinda ironic thing here, so bear with me, but I think you’ll all enjoy this.

Once i put deposit down and before for that matter i have done nothing but put time in researching these engines.
I found this thread here.

2003 35 Carolina Classic with 480CE’s – Things to look for?

And it is the same boat, I have actually spoken to Allen , the previous guy trying to buy the boat.
His sea trial was cut short due to a starboard engines blow by was bad and he walked away from the deal.

NOW…………the owner has completely rebuilt the starboard motor and we are awaiting OEM cummins head to finish up the engine. This new motor rebuild will come with a 1 year or 1000 hour warranty.

If you all were to read through Allens thread, which I have posted above, it will enlighten you as to what I am up against.

Allen posted, that it was opinion the boat was and is over propped.

I personally know the current owner and was actually on the boat when it went a-shoal and created much damage.

All that damaged was repaired and repaired WELL !

So Basically, my thread here is starting off where Allen’s thread ended.

Here are a few things Allen witnessed on his sea-trial

1.. ” My first part of the sea trial across the Chesapeake bay proves the boat was and is way overpropped. 2100 RPMS and the fuel burn was around 16gph. 1900RPM was 12gph. ”

2. ” The engines never got hot. At WOT (which was only 2480RPM), the engines were about 167-169. They may have jumped into above 170 for a moment – but for as many times as we brought it up to WOT, I was impressed how cool they ran. ”

So here are my thoughts.

I know the current owner and have fished this boat several times and it does run like a stripped APE, However the repair receipts show all signs of damage points to over propping, I don’t care if it runs like a stripped APE, I want the boat motors to last and target Tony’s recommended fuel burn numbers

So with the starboard engine having very low hours on it and the port engine being freshly rebuilt and a new OEM Cummins head ” WITH WARRANTY ” , If all I have to do is some re-propping, I might just have a good boat ???????

I now own a run a 2008 Regulator and it’s time for me to step up to something bigger and it makes me excited but also nervous as a lot of you could understand.

The last thing I want to do is buy a boat and be setting myself up for financial headaches.

I might add the boat was listed at 165K when Allen was buying it last month and they agreed on 145k

Now the port engine will be new and we have agreed on the same 145K if I’m happy with sea trial

So any help or advice you all can give me would be highly appreciated.

If this is not the right boat, well then my search will continue however it sure would be convenient because he slips his boat 30 feet from mine LOL.

Thank you all very much for your time

Greg

Topic

[Tony Athens]

110%. SAFE.

Glad you went go it..

Tony

[Greg Weaver]

New prop test and fuel numbers

Alrighty, Props are now 24 x 27.94

Got the newly worked props on the boat today and took a sea trial with broker and survey guy.

MAX RPM we got was 2695 on both engines and bottom was a bit dirty i’m sure.

Top speed was 29 knots. “91% load was the highest load we saw mostly mid 80’s ” 26.2 GPH

2000 RPM was 10.8-11.0 making 17.5 knots didn’t write the load down on this one.

2200 RPM was bouncing between 13.6 and 13.8 GPH 21.9 knots 59% load

2300 RPM was 15.3 GPH making 22.5 – 23 knots and 64% load

2400 RPM was 17.2 GPH making 24.0 – 24.5 knots and 72% load

The boat felt good running at 2380-2400 RPM making close to 24-25 knots.

So my question is, is it safe to cruise these engines at 2380-2400 rpm at 72-75 % load ??

After running the boat an hour I think we cleaned the bottom up a bit and saw even better cruise speed.

Looks like i will finalize this purchase.

Thank you all

[Greg Weaver]

Props came off boat today

10/4 Tony

I will pass this info off to the prop guy AGAIN

Thank you for your time sir

Greg

[Tony Athens]

The 480CE will stop at about 2670 even with NO PROP on the shaft…

Remember: YOU CANNOT UNDER PROP THIS ENGINE, YOU CAN ONLY OVER PROP IT..

Maybe read that a few more times

We’ll see.

Tony

[Greg Weaver]

Props came off boat today

Well the props came off the boat today and we discovered they are ACME 24×32 yes 32’s holy cow !

From the research I have done and talked to other 35 CC owners, the census is 24×28 that seems to work

Tony mentioned in a post above that I would need to take at least 2 inches of pitch out of my props IF NOT more

So the current owner and the propeller shop owner got together today and have decided to take out 2.5 inches which will make them 24×29.5

As I said above the starboard engine made 2525 RPM’s and the freshly rebuilt port engine made 2530 RPM’s
and the prop shop owner said i should see an additional 200 turns when he’s done taking pitch out and playing with the cup.

So with that said 2525 + 200 = 2725 for the starboard and 2530 + 200 =2730 for the port

Does this seem to high ?

And I have really done my best as to explain to them WOT is not what i’m after, what i’m after is following Tony’s advice and targeting the 13.6 at 2200 rpm

So above is what the current owner is willing to do and since I don’t own the boat yet, anything after this is on my dime.

My concern is they are 24×32 and he’s pulling 2.5 inches of pitch which is a lot and if i need to make changes, I’m more than likely looking at purchasing new wheels.

Brain overload right now

Any advice Tony other than what you have already given me ?

Thanks

Greg

[Tony Athens]

Look at the attached………….You are GROSSLY over propped..

How much pitch to remove?—-At least 2″, but most likely more …..

See and understand “or below”. ……………..You 100% cannot under prop engines like this, You can only OVER PROP them..

Until your GPH meets the specs in the attached, IMO you are at very serious risk..

Tony

[Greg Weaver]

Max RPM 2530

OK……

Port engine rebuild is complete and the broker and the mechanic sea trialed the boat yesterday

Port engine turned up to 2530 and starboard turned up to 2525, hull and running gear were cleaned before the run.

1900 rpm = Port 11.7 Starboard 12.7 GPH

2100 rpm= Port 14.7 Starboard 15.1 GPH

I forgot what he said the loads were.

The owner told me he would have the props worked to make the sale happen

My question is, how much pitch should we take out to start with ? and how much cup should they have ?

I have read a thread on CC forum that a 24×28 prop seems to work good

I am told by owner that the wheels are Michigan’s 24×30
but the diver whom cleans his boat, that put the props on think they are ACME 24×30

Any help would be highly appreciated

Thanks all

Greg

[Tony Athens]

CC exhaust– I guess it safe as to the “spill over point” ( that’s what really matters) although I would not want my name on ithe design & fabrication part….

With 480CE’s you can record GPH at RPM’s in the 1900 – 2200 RPM range –Do it with the boat “loaded for bear”..

Tony

[Philip]

“Recurring head problems” – says it all for me…. overpropped

On an overpropped boat the head shows the issues first, but the entire engine is being stressed.

Phil

1 user thanked author for this post.

Greg Weaver

[Greg Weaver]

Thank you for chiming in here Tony.

There is a deff roll of the dice here with this boat, I know the current owner and have fished this boat with him.

He says Carolina Classic specd these props but I think to myself how would they know, you would need someone like yourself whom has much inside knowledge of this particular engine to get it propped correctly.

He has had recurring head problems with this boat

[Tony Athens]

Greg,

I think your answer is already within your research data or grasp………………..This engine must be loaded to where the fuel burn at 1900-2200 RPM is at or below that of the 450 Diamond fuel curve….If either of the engines have been in operation above the GPH numbers at cruise RPM’s at or below 2200 RPM, , then you have to roll the dice as to any past damage to the valve or valve seats……..Coolant temps have nothing to do with engine loading and are dealt with separately..

Also, is the exhaust design is safe? I’ve redone not less than 3 of these CC boats over the years–All of them were feeding saltwater into the turbos.. Have I “seen” these engines as installed in the boat?

Tony

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