HPBCANADA.COM

Seems I'm stricken with the same affliction as Greg from an earlier post. Poligize for that. I come across a 1971 Sidewinder s16 this summer and couldn't resist. My experience has been set in the cabin cruiser arena all my life. My family having a Sea Ray as the main vessel. Found the Winder on kijiji and told the wife - if it's got a good transome - I'm bringin it home! And I did. It had the bonus of a 1978 Black Max 150 on the back. It was set up close to proper as well! The prop running at approximately 5 inch below the boat. Close! After new stringer and floor replacement - I got to try her out. I got to 59 mph with a 25p prop. But I think it's too tall. My wot is way too low in my opinion and feel you guys have the best advise to give. I have no tach and have no idea how to hook it up on this old girl. The engine runs tops but as it would be - it's tiring in its old age. Here we go! You guys got a prop suggestion?!! Know you love this one! Once again - Poligize for that!

You need a tach before anyone can make a proper prop guesstimate

welcome to the forum TheGWCRedneck
you have a sidewinder / don't worry it could of been much worse, could of been a binliner with a force on the back

with a 150hp merc 59mph aint that bad if its a ski - family prop, 59mph is pretty fast for any boat.

what does it pull away like with a few people in it ?
what is the prop ? alloy , stainless, ?
3 blade , 4 blade
diameter and pitch ?

plus like said above without a rev counter you cannot tell what its doing.

i can make suggestions all night

mine ran 71 with a 225 and a 26p small ear chopper..

zonkas runs mid 70's with a 150 xr6. no idea what prop..

mine ran 6" bellow the pad im sure 2' would of yielded alot more speed..

theses boats have a round bottom and are an extreme handfull to drive after 50mph they will not find a surface to run on, 70 is just nuts and requires proper set-up......in most cases

Ah! Thanks for all the replys! I gathered from my research that the optimum prop depth for these boats was approx 4" below the bottom. (Found here) Anyway - this info about the round bottom boats makes sence. When I did this 59mph -not official - but close I imagine - I did have my hands full!best guess at what it's name is - chine walk?.... Anyway at speed she's rockin left and rite Perdy heavily. And that's got questioning the fact wether or not I want to go any faster... Unless there's some easy "MOD" I could do to it to change this..
As for the prop. It's just an aluminum run of the mill Merc prop. Just 25p. I'm guessing it's from a bigger hp engine. I bought it from a marine mechanic shop in Mitchels bay Ont. I had a 21p prop previous to this and well it excellerated like a rocket but didn't have the top end I expected. Beginning to think that a 23p would be what I'm looking for. Cleaver. If I can find one.
And I agree - I should have the tach. Going to look into this pronto.
Thanks again guys!

foot throttle,and trim on the wheel will help you keep both hands on the wheel and easier to tame the beast.. i would go up to 2"-4" bellow and try some props

dual cable or hydrolic steering would help with the chinewalk also, you will never get rid of it totally but you can calm it down quite a bit..

Ah, so the 2-4" is the goal. Nice. Jack plate is the best answer. But I'm guessing it won't be in the budget. The steering - it's just single cable - with some play I might add. That IS getting done come spring. Hydrolic steering isn't out of the question here. I've got some boats in parts at my disposal. Will prolly end up redoing the transome to get that extra inch or two. But well worth the effort.