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Author Topic:   13 Footer - How Fast does yours go?

project13 posted 06-27-2009 10:19 AM ET (US)
Since there are currently a lot of posts about overpowering 13's on here, I thought that now might be a good time to bring this back up, again.
I have always wondered how fast my boat goes since I completed the restoration of it and mounted the current power on it 4 years ago. It has a yami 40 2 stroke tiller power trim on it.
I found an app for blackberry that uses the GPS capability as a speedomoter. My wife and I made 36 MPH WOT (30 knts) with her in the bow.
I have not had a chance to test it with just me yet but my over under is 42 MPH. I have a SS 15 pitch prop on it (that I bought from someone on here as a great deal) that contributes to this kind of speed.
How fast does your boat go? How fast have you ever seen a 13 go?
Thanks
west river rat posted 06-27-2009 10:05 PM ET (US)
I can get my 13' 1969 classic up to 37.9 knots per GPS or 43 mph per 1/4 mile drag time. I'm running a 1976 evinrude 35, 3 gals of gas, no battery, 180 lbs of person and a 100 lb outboard on a 9x17 polished aluminum prop. Prop used to be 10x17 but the previous owner whacked a rock and had it reconditioned and they took it down to 9". The diameter reduction allows more power to be put toward speed than toward thrust. I'm running it jacked up an inch so the cavitation plate is at hull level exactly and on the top hole of the manual trim adjustment. The hull is dry and has had the aft anti-porpoise lift removed in its restoration. The motor has been ported, reeds from a 40hp modified to fit and a 70's 40 hp carb on it. Unfortunately it is a major dog out of the hole, taking up to 30 seconds to plane and usually necessitating me jumping forward to break loose. It also drinks gas at that speed because of an oversized main jet. Running on 1/8th of the hull in flat water it porpoises like crazy but goes like a rocket. Lost the original motor cover and have modified a junker cover to have a "hidden" air scoop while looking scuzzy as ever (its a 1973 cover in poor outside condition) and appearing to be a 25 hp. I cut out the area behind the forward cowling logo plate, hinged it and fit a plastic funnel i got at the hardware store to the mouth of the carburetor. At WOT when you open the door the extra air "supercharges" the engine, getting an extra 200 RPM out. This is extremely useful because under such a high prop pitch the motor runs 5300 rpm and this extra little boost brings it into expected WOT RPM. Its a hell of a ride and probably the best that can be squeezed out of a 13' without making it too unsafe.
project13 posted 06-28-2009 08:49 AM ET (US)
Wow, that sounds like a wild ride indeed.
I measured it again yesterday with just me aboard and got to 38 MPH in less than ideal conditions, but there is no way I am getting to 43 MPH.
It sounds like you are really sacrificing some comfort to get there though in terms of not being able to plane etc.
I weight 230 and have the battery and a 15 gal tank.
My boat will porpise but I can control it with the power trim and as long as I give it lots of throttle and achieve a certain speed before I trim out it rides true.
R T M posted 06-28-2009 10:13 AM ET (US)
west river rat, your statement (the aft anti-porpoise lift removed in its restoration).
I never heard of that expression. Did you grind the hook off the bottom and make it flat? If so that would be the reason for your excessive porpoising, and the extra couple of mph in speed. 13 foot Whalers were not designed for speed, and can`t be made to go fast. You might get an extra couple of mph with your setup if you buy a prop from Ron Hill that he designs and builds for GT Tunnel boats using the same engine you are running. Those boats are running 50mph+ now.
http://www.dillon-racing.com/
rich/Binkie
Tohsgib posted 06-29-2009 12:53 PM ET (US)
1981 Sport with 2006 Suzuki 40hp 4 stroke. Anything over 37/38 and it gets too squirrely.
west river rat posted 06-29-2009 03:27 PM ET (US)
when i was referring to removing the "hook", my boat, when acquired was missing the rear half of its bottom fiberglass and in its restoration, i faired it as smooth as possible. yea its a wild ride. with friends out and when i'm not pushing it for all its worth, the trim is set lower, more gear is onboard and i drop to a 10.5 x 13 prop for thrust and if its a large load, pop on some dole fins. Whalers are not for speed sadly even thought we try to make them the fastest things around. Its utility or speed never both.
BQUICK posted 06-30-2009 10:05 AM ET (US)
I still have my 71 Sourpuss from 1971. The best I ever got out of it was 51 (46-48 most of the time) with a 70 Merc 50 with power trim and 17 in pitch 2 blade bronze prop. That was under ideal conditions: high barometer, slight chop and into a light breeze to lift the hull. Entire console and seats (no middle) relocated back 6 inches.
I have to run extreme trim angle to compensate for the hook which is even more extreme on the later hulls. Limiter removed from trim so you can go as high as you dare. I would run it up till I heard the exhaust (neighbors on the river would call the marine police sometimes, as I usually ran in in AM before other boats came out or at sunset). Probably not much water flow at that point but it was only for a brief speed run.
Only every third speed run does it not chine walk but it's a beautiful thing when it flies right.
Right now it has a 74 50 Merc on it with no power trim. Have to deal with porposing at lower speeds but then it smooths out and runs 43-44. 3 blade stainless 15" high rake prop.
I have a BRAND NEW 1977 50 waiting with NEW power trim as a future project.
Bruce
WATER RAT
(Barrington River, RI)
project13 posted 06-30-2009 03:30 PM ET (US)
I went out again by myself but only got to 38. BQUICK, where do you find a 30+ year old motor brand new?
I am suprised by the lack of difference between 1 and 2 people. I thought I would get more out of it and if definitely "feels" faster.
BQUICK posted 06-30-2009 03:54 PM ET (US)
I found it on EBAY! 50 hp short shaft, manual start!
A fisherman in Alaska bought it as a spare but the motor he had lasted until he retired then he sold it to a guy in Virginia that was restoring a 50s wood speedboat. But, he decided to use a Johnson 25 from the 50s rather than a 70s motor. So, he put it on EBAY about 5 yrs ago.
New, in the original crate/box, with controls and new 6 gallon tank.
I was/am stoked since manual start, short shaft is hard to find anyway....much less BRAND NEW. 30+ yrs old!
I always ran faster with one person since I had it propped for one. I found that I got more speed out of the Merc running the 2 blade 17 at 6000 rpm vs. a 3 blade 19 at 5500. Like to rev.....
chuck21401 posted 06-30-2009 07:11 PM ET (US)

quote:
I found an app for blackberry that uses the GPS capability as a speedomoter.
Cool!
Could you post a link to this app (or send me an email offline)?
project13 posted 07-01-2009 08:50 AM ET (US)
No problem...
http://www.adapta-solutions.com/solutions/speedometer.html

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Author	Topic: 13 Footer - How Fast does yours go?
project13	posted 06-27-2009 10:19 AM ET (US) Since there are currently a lot of posts about overpowering 13's on here, I thought that now might be a good time to bring this back up, again. I have always wondered how fast my boat goes since I completed the restoration of it and mounted the current power on it 4 years ago. It has a yami 40 2 stroke tiller power trim on it. I found an app for blackberry that uses the GPS capability as a speedomoter. My wife and I made 36 MPH WOT (30 knts) with her in the bow. I have not had a chance to test it with just me yet but my over under is 42 MPH. I have a SS 15 pitch prop on it (that I bought from someone on here as a great deal) that contributes to this kind of speed. How fast does your boat go? How fast have you ever seen a 13 go? Thanks
west river rat	posted 06-27-2009 10:05 PM ET (US) I can get my 13' 1969 classic up to 37.9 knots per GPS or 43 mph per 1/4 mile drag time. I'm running a 1976 evinrude 35, 3 gals of gas, no battery, 180 lbs of person and a 100 lb outboard on a 9x17 polished aluminum prop. Prop used to be 10x17 but the previous owner whacked a rock and had it reconditioned and they took it down to 9". The diameter reduction allows more power to be put toward speed than toward thrust. I'm running it jacked up an inch so the cavitation plate is at hull level exactly and on the top hole of the manual trim adjustment. The hull is dry and has had the aft anti-porpoise lift removed in its restoration. The motor has been ported, reeds from a 40hp modified to fit and a 70's 40 hp carb on it. Unfortunately it is a major dog out of the hole, taking up to 30 seconds to plane and usually necessitating me jumping forward to break loose. It also drinks gas at that speed because of an oversized main jet. Running on 1/8th of the hull in flat water it porpoises like crazy but goes like a rocket. Lost the original motor cover and have modified a junker cover to have a "hidden" air scoop while looking scuzzy as ever (its a 1973 cover in poor outside condition) and appearing to be a 25 hp. I cut out the area behind the forward cowling logo plate, hinged it and fit a plastic funnel i got at the hardware store to the mouth of the carburetor. At WOT when you open the door the extra air "supercharges" the engine, getting an extra 200 RPM out. This is extremely useful because under such a high prop pitch the motor runs 5300 rpm and this extra little boost brings it into expected WOT RPM. Its a hell of a ride and probably the best that can be squeezed out of a 13' without making it too unsafe.
project13	posted 06-28-2009 08:49 AM ET (US) Wow, that sounds like a wild ride indeed. I measured it again yesterday with just me aboard and got to 38 MPH in less than ideal conditions, but there is no way I am getting to 43 MPH. It sounds like you are really sacrificing some comfort to get there though in terms of not being able to plane etc. I weight 230 and have the battery and a 15 gal tank. My boat will porpise but I can control it with the power trim and as long as I give it lots of throttle and achieve a certain speed before I trim out it rides true.
R T M	posted 06-28-2009 10:13 AM ET (US) west river rat, your statement (the aft anti-porpoise lift removed in its restoration). I never heard of that expression. Did you grind the hook off the bottom and make it flat? If so that would be the reason for your excessive porpoising, and the extra couple of mph in speed. 13 foot Whalers were not designed for speed, and can`t be made to go fast. You might get an extra couple of mph with your setup if you buy a prop from Ron Hill that he designs and builds for GT Tunnel boats using the same engine you are running. Those boats are running 50mph+ now. http://www.dillon-racing.com/ rich/Binkie
Tohsgib	posted 06-29-2009 12:53 PM ET (US) 1981 Sport with 2006 Suzuki 40hp 4 stroke. Anything over 37/38 and it gets too squirrely.
west river rat	posted 06-29-2009 03:27 PM ET (US) when i was referring to removing the "hook", my boat, when acquired was missing the rear half of its bottom fiberglass and in its restoration, i faired it as smooth as possible. yea its a wild ride. with friends out and when i'm not pushing it for all its worth, the trim is set lower, more gear is onboard and i drop to a 10.5 x 13 prop for thrust and if its a large load, pop on some dole fins. Whalers are not for speed sadly even thought we try to make them the fastest things around. Its utility or speed never both.
BQUICK	posted 06-30-2009 10:05 AM ET (US) I still have my 71 Sourpuss from 1971. The best I ever got out of it was 51 (46-48 most of the time) with a 70 Merc 50 with power trim and 17 in pitch 2 blade bronze prop. That was under ideal conditions: high barometer, slight chop and into a light breeze to lift the hull. Entire console and seats (no middle) relocated back 6 inches. I have to run extreme trim angle to compensate for the hook which is even more extreme on the later hulls. Limiter removed from trim so you can go as high as you dare. I would run it up till I heard the exhaust (neighbors on the river would call the marine police sometimes, as I usually ran in in AM before other boats came out or at sunset). Probably not much water flow at that point but it was only for a brief speed run. Only every third speed run does it not chine walk but it's a beautiful thing when it flies right. Right now it has a 74 50 Merc on it with no power trim. Have to deal with porposing at lower speeds but then it smooths out and runs 43-44. 3 blade stainless 15" high rake prop. I have a BRAND NEW 1977 50 waiting with NEW power trim as a future project. Bruce WATER RAT (Barrington River, RI)
project13	posted 06-30-2009 03:30 PM ET (US) I went out again by myself but only got to 38. BQUICK, where do you find a 30+ year old motor brand new? I am suprised by the lack of difference between 1 and 2 people. I thought I would get more out of it and if definitely "feels" faster.
BQUICK	posted 06-30-2009 03:54 PM ET (US) I found it on EBAY! 50 hp short shaft, manual start! A fisherman in Alaska bought it as a spare but the motor he had lasted until he retired then he sold it to a guy in Virginia that was restoring a 50s wood speedboat. But, he decided to use a Johnson 25 from the 50s rather than a 70s motor. So, he put it on EBAY about 5 yrs ago. New, in the original crate/box, with controls and new 6 gallon tank. I was/am stoked since manual start, short shaft is hard to find anyway....much less BRAND NEW. 30+ yrs old! I always ran faster with one person since I had it propped for one. I found that I got more speed out of the Merc running the 2 blade 17 at 6000 rpm vs. a 3 blade 19 at 5500. Like to rev.....
chuck21401	posted 06-30-2009 07:11 PM ET (US) quote: I found an app for blackberry that uses the GPS capability as a speedomoter. Cool! Could you post a link to this app (or send me an email offline)?
project13	posted 07-01-2009 08:50 AM ET (US) No problem... http://www.adapta-solutions.com/solutions/speedometer.html