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Trolling with a straight inboard GPH?

D

DeepTreble

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25 footer 9.5 beam rebuilt carbed 350 crusader 270hp. loaded with crew and gear shes gotta be close to 7k.

I have not put her in the water yet so I have no base numbers and I was wondering if anyone else trolls with a set up like this and what kinda fuel burn you are seeing at 1-3 knots. I like to troll into the waves when possible to gain better control of my planer boards and gear. Possibly may have to deploy trolling bags to get her down to speed?

How bout a cruise speed and rpm range*anyone have an idea or a guess on what that might be and my burn numbers? The prop shes swinging*looks so small compared to the boat but I have been running outboards for the past 10 or so years and*forgot how*much smaller inboard props appear. prob is a 10 x 14 bronze hull is a modified V but by no means flat in the back. Lets assume shes propped right and I can hit the recomended rpms


Educated guesses*is about all I am looking for because of the variables so I tried to give as much info to calculate with.*

Thanks
 
Thanks Jeff,

Here are some numbers I have gathered. Maybe someone can look them over and tell me what they think.

25 sportfish 9.5 beam 270hp 350 Crusader straight inboard. I am swinging a 10x14 3 blade bronze.

She will spin up to 4200-4300 rpms with 2 people on board I only pushed her one time to see if I was propped out ok.

She cruises with a lighter load at 3400-3600 rpms making 19-21knots. With a full crew she will cruise at 3600 making 19sh knots. She wont hold plain loaded up even with tabs unless I push her up to around 3400 rpms but I am only making 17 knots and she feels slugish. I think the motor likes to run at 3500-3600 rpms she sounds pretty good there but I think the back barrels might be opening up as I am trying to figure some numbers on fuel burn and if I am withing range for a single 350.

Fully loaded on a 17.7 mile round trip with 90% on plain at 3600rpms 5% at idle 600 rpms at 5% at 1200 rpms I burned 12 gallons on the nose.

I will have some more numbers from another trip when I go up and top the tank off. Do many run flo scan type equipment on straight inboards?

Any idea what I might be burning at idle speeds on warm ups and no wake zones?

Thanks
 
missnancy said:
Just wondering, what is she? The hull type would make a differance.
Click to expand...

She is a Cherokee 250 Sportfish. She does pretty well for what I use her for here on lake Erie she drifts to the beam very well, She fishes fine on the hook and she will slow troll down to 3 mph, with a bag and boards out I get down to 1.8. She cuts waves well she handles most any seas I wanna be out there in. She does get a little pushy in a large following sea and I am usually working the wheel. See if I can post some photos so you can get a look at her.

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Hello, I have the exact same hull (1985) but mine is a 250 Brave. I'm not sure why yours is called a Sportfish, I thought that model name was for the 28 footers? And yes they like their fuel, I'm actually surprised you only used 12 gallons on the trip you described.I installed a kicker to help with the fuel usage while trolling.Be extra careful when running in following seas it can pitch you sideways in a heartbeat. http://www.ezlivincharters.com Michigander
 
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Hi there Michigander,

I would like to talk with you when you have some time and compare some numbers and stuff. I would also like to know what size kicker you are using and how do you have it mounted? I would love a kicker when I run offshore and troll for walleye and steelhead.

I am not sure about Sportfish/Brave but on my title it does say Cherokee 250 Sporfish Brave. I do know that Dick added the bow pulpit to the 25 and 28 and made the 27 and the 30 later in the model years, and there is a Cherokee 31 Chief. I also recently found out that Big Jon sports bought everything the molds/factory/and contents after Dick passed away. I know a guy that worked at the factory in Kelava, MI and he was told that the hulls came from the older Luhrs molds. They were originally made for the charter fleets on lake Michigan its good to see you are still chartering yours. There are a couple dozen of us on lake Erie still running them.

I have some more fuel numbers from over the weekend 41 miles round trip with 80% on plain 3500rpms 15% at 1500sh rpms running back up my drifts and 5% 600 at no wake idle and warm up I burned 27 gallons for 1.51 mpg.

What motor and hp is in your Cherokee and what kind/size prop are you turning? I was told that a newer Nibral prop with newer technology and I might find some better numbers.

Thank you, Anthony
 
Anthony, Most of your info is spot on,except Big Jon purchased Cherokee before Dick passed away...I was at the sale! Dick was a real gem and I miss not having him around to talk Cherokee with.I did a repower back in 2008 with the Crusader Classic series engine 300-315 hp... depending on who you ask! My kicker is a 20hp high thrust Honda.If you email me I will send you some pics of my setup. [email protected] or if your a lousy typist like me give me a call 231 832 4323.
 
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