Considering Buying a Used Nautique (80s?)

[TravisFling]

Prop...

As far as the prop goes I have no idea, by the way... I tend to think it was the 13x13, but I'm certainly speaking out of turn (hahhaa) on that one.

[horkn]

My 78 martinique had a 13x13 on it. The boat was all stock when I got it with low hours. A Martinique in these years is a SN with a ton of options as standard.

I went to a acme 208 13x12 4 blade because i have added a good amount of weight to the boat when i re floored it,a nd I run a fat sac as a seat bottom in the back when boarding. I love the prop's holeshot, but I have a feeling it has lowered the top end compared to the 13x13. I have never tried to gps it, and it goes well over 40 mph as per the speedo, so that's more than good.

[dochockey]

I bought my 89 new , and back in the day raced my buddies ski tique (70's) I could always beat him because out of the hole I was faster so I could cut him off if needed ! but top end he would take me eventually. On my new speedo's at the time I was around 46-47 (I wish they had GPS back then?) I was a Humming!!! Now I don't even think about flooring it I just want to go fast enough to ski the course (34) and trick! I love my 89 Its part of the family and will be handed down to my kids. Yes I wish the stringers were not wood but even if you buy a boat and you have to to replace the rotted wood once that is done you have a boat that will be around for another generation of fun!
Kirk

[horkn]

As an update to my last post here is what I found.

My acme 208 4 blade is a 12.5 pitch, not a 12pitch. The original prop I have is a federal 13x14. I assumed it would be faster with the 13x14, especially since my boat is about 60-70 hp more than it was the last time I ran the old 3 blade. It isn't as fast as I expected with the 3 blade. Only like 44 mph on my boat speedo, and then the motor is at 4500 or so rpm. Now, I should really test this with the GPS to see what I really am turning. It felt fast, but the speedo didn't back that up.

I'm getting my 208 repaired by acme this winter, as it has a slight bend from hitting something soft underwater (old stump assumedly), but I will take the GPS and see what it will do next spring. I'm also thinking of buying a 540 3 blade to see what that can do. I wish acme made a 13x14 3 or 4 blade for these boats.


The 4 blade acme, even bent up a little still has so much more out of the hole acceleration that I will only keep the 13x14 for a spare. You would assume that the lower pitched cnc 4 blade would have more low end pull, than a 14P 3blade, but you would also assume a 13x14 3 blade would have more top end speed than what the speedo told me. I recall even when 240hp, that my un dinged acme 208 would hit at least 45 on the speedo.

[TRBenj]

I wish acme made a 13x14 3 or 4 blade for these boats.

They do. They offer the 13x13 3-blade (#430) and a few 13x14 3-blades (#1598 with .080 cup and #1458 with .135 cup).

Regardless, I doubt you would see a better top end with either of them than you would with a 540 when matched to a 351w with <1hp/ci. The 430 is a large wheel that performs closer to a 13x14 traditional style prop, similar to how the 13x12 540 spins similar revs as a traditional 13x13. The 430 underturns by ~300 RPM on a 2nd gen hull. The 13x14 Acmes are better suited to big blocks that came with 14x14 or 13x15 wheels from the factory, as they'll underturn by 300-500 RPM on a v-hull CC.

Unless youre turning above 5500, then youre probably best with what you have (or a 540). Regardless, get a GPS on there so you have some idea of the performance youre actually seeing. 44mph out of that hull would be pretty weak, even the stock 240hp engine. Ive seen stock 2nd gen SN's run 48-49 on the GPS.

[horkn]

They do. They offer the 13x13 3-blade (#430) and a few 13x14 3-blades (#1598 with .080 cup and #1458 with .135 cup).

Regardless, I doubt you would see a better top end with either of them than you would with a 540 when matched to a 351w with <1hp/ci. The 430 is a large wheel that performs closer to a 13x14 traditional style prop, similar to how the 13x12 540 spins similar revs as a traditional 13x13. The 430 underturns by ~300 RPM on a 2nd gen hull. The 13x14 Acmes are better suited to big blocks that came with 14x14 or 13x15 wheels from the factory, as they'll underturn by 300-500 RPM on a v-hull CC.

Unless youre turning above 5500, then youre probably best with what you have (or a 540). Regardless, get a GPS on there so you have some idea of the performance youre actually seeing. 44mph out of that hull would be pretty weak, even the stock 240hp engine. Ive seen stock 2nd gen SN's run 48-49 on the GPS.

Keep in mind that the indicated 44 mph was with the old federal 1970's 13x14. As has been said many times before, comparing an old tech prop to a CNC prop is not apples to apples. The lake I was on was pretty weedy, it's possible the speedo intake was obstructed.

That, and I was not using a GPS, but the 208 sure feels like it has a lot more top end (bottom end too) than the 13x17 federal even. I had the same impression of the props when it was 240 hp.

I won't be spinning above 5500 rpm, you don't think that a 430 would do any better than the 540 would for top end? Acme does not list the 430 on their site, and I don't see a 430 listed at any site.

Oh well, I can get the 208 repaired, maybe find a 540, and see what it reaaaallly pulls on the GPS next spring.

[TRBenj]

Keep in mind that the indicated 44 mph was with the old federal 1970's 13x14. As has been said many times before, comparing an old tech prop to a CNC prop is not apples to apples. The lake I was on was pretty weedy, it's possible the speedo intake was obstructed.

That, and I was not using a GPS, but the 208 sure feels like it has a lot more top end (bottom end too) than the 13x17 federal even. I had the same impression of the props when it was 240 hp.

I won't be spinning above 5500 rpm, you don't think that a 430 would do any better than the 540 would for top end? Acme does not list the 430 on their site, and I don't see a 430 listed at any site.

Oh well, I can get the 208 repaired, maybe find a 540, and see what it reaaaallly pulls on the GPS next spring.

The comparison is apples to oranges, but that doesnt mean the old props are slow. They dont perform as well all around as the new CNC props, but on the older, lighter boats, the Federals still pull very respectable top ends. Oftentimes they are very comparable to the new Acmes- within a mph or so... sometimes they are faster.

Im not sure what the 13x17 reference is to. Even the 13x14 Federal was not likely to have been the original prop on your Martinique. Like the Ski Nautique, the 13x13 would have been the standard prop when matched to a 351w.

If your build is mild enough to keep the revs under 5500 (with a stock-ish sized prop like the 540, 208 or Federal 13x13) then you likely will not benefit from a larger prop like the 430. The best matches for a prop like the 430 is either a hi-po 351w (>1hp/ci) in a light hull that would otherwise be spinning too much, or an engine with more cubes (stroker). Even a 300hp 351w wouldnt likely have the torque needed to pull that size wheel to make a noticeable improvement in top end- and it would hamper holeshot and midrange punch. The prop is relatively new (available for ~3 months) so its probably not a commonly stocked item yet.

Speed can often be deceptive, so get a GPS on there. Ive found the Airguides to be surprisingly accurate across the band once theyre ajdusted properly- but otherwise theres no way to tell what youre really seeing.

[horkn]

Ahh, thanks for the explanation

I meant 13x14, and yeah, it probably was not the original prop, but that prop is certainly is close to the original age of the boat.

I'll pull out the GPS when I really start getting it dialed in.

[karins]

what should I pay for a 1986 2001 ?

the boat is in MA, impeccable condition, I would be the Third owner, it has 650 hrs on it