Rinker 2008 350 Getting on plane

LaRea

YYZRC said: What's the best way to go about this?  Do I get one of those add-a-links?

Yes.  I've used a 5/16" link and a 3/8" link.  Both run through the windlass with no problem.  

LaRea

mfritz said:

... The boat planes out but takes a while. ...    

@mfritz here's a good procedure for getting on plane:

Trim tabs all the way down
Outdrives trimmed all the way down
Full throttle until boat gets to at least 22-25 mph
Start backing off the throttle while bringing the trim tabs up

Then after you're on plane, tweak the throttles, outdrives and tabs to optimize your speed.

Is that what you're doing?  

Black_Diamond

++ on the Hill 4x4 props. Night and day difference on my 342. 

earl1z19

The Bravo 2 is the issue. Bravo 3 would be much better in getting the boat to plane

Pat310

@earl1z19 his third post on this thread says:

August 10

Yes the bottom is clean and I have Bravo 3 out drives. The boat is 15,550 lbs plus gas (250 gallons), holding tank and fresh water tank. I only had the boat for around a month but been boating all my life.   

Aqua_Aura

It's the last poster on page 1 that has the bravo 2 that early is referring to. 

Pat310

Missed that. Thanks @Aqua_Aura.

Aqua_Aura

This just happened in another post. Easy to get lost when old post get revived. Not saying they shouldn't be revived.

No the real question is why a 2007 350 has bravo 2, was that an option?

earl1z19

Aqua_Aura said:

This just happened in another post. Easy to get lost when old post get revived. Not saying they shouldn't be revived.

No the real question is why a 2007 350 has bravo 2, was that an option?

That is the real question. I would have thought Bravo 3 would have been the only choice by 2007. Maybe the P.O. swapped them out when they needed replaced for some odd reason

laureniac1

Stop the madness lol! Hill marine 4x4 props! They are life changing and proven performers. No need to add even more weight to an under powered boat. Search the forum for Hill marine I have not heard of a bad review 

davidbrooks

Just wanted to ask if you verified that one of the engines isnt in Guardian mode. There are a few issuea that will do this without sounding an alarm.

Dream_Inn

My 2008 400 came with Bravo 2 drives.  Not sure why it wouldn't be an option.  I love my B2s and with my hill marine props, I get better gas mileage, quicker on plane time, and much better dockage response than the B3s.  I know because I boat most summers with a twin 2007 400 that has B3s.  I'm not saying anything bad about B3s, but most people don't realize how great the B2s are as well.

Handymans342

You need 4 blade big cow props. Hill marine

mfritz

I ordered the 4 by 4 props with a 20 pitch yesterday from Hill Marine. Thanks for all the input.  

cme4brain

mfritz said:

I ordered the 4 by 4 props with a 20 pitch yesterday from Hill Marine. Thanks for all the input.  

As did I!  I ordered the 18.25 X 20 four bladed props,  Let's communicate via this forum as to how it helps our similar boats get up on plane.  Like a prior post, I have to have the trim all the way down, the engines trimmed all the way down, and push the throttles forward until I get on plane.  Then I can back off the engine drive trim and throttles.

cme4brain

earl1z19 said:

Aqua_Aura said:

This just happened in another post. Easy to get lost when old post get revived. Not saying they shouldn't be revived.

No the real question is why a 2007 350 has bravo 2, was that an option?

That is the real question. I would have thought Bravo 3 would have been the only choice by 2007. Maybe the P.O. swapped them out when they needed replaced for some odd reason

From a different website concerning B2 and B3 drives: 
If I understand it correctly, A B-II drive is a single prop drive for twin applications. It's designed for to handle high-torque applications to move big boats, like a big cruiser or houseboat. It can swing up to a 20" prop (big!).

B-III drives are an upgrade from the original Alpha series. As mentioned, they have dual props on a single drive, and are intended for single or dual engine applications. They have better handling than a single prop drive, but can't handle the same torque as a B-II drive. Max prop size is 16".

I've never actually seen a regular pleasure boat use a B-II drive. The vast majority are Alpha drives, or B-III drives. A 260 Sundancer isn't going to have a B-II drive - it's not the right application.

Handymans342

I had B2s on my diesels. Dream has them on his 400 

cme4brain

JimGuy341 said:

Hill Marine 4x4 props.  20p.   

I had the same set up as you.  Twin 350 mpi w/ B3 3x3 props.  Switched to Hill this season.  Money well spent.

I bit the bullet and got the hills Marine 4 x 4 20 pitch $1400 propellers for my 2007 Rinker 350. It has made a world of difference on how fast I get up on plane. At wide open throttle as best as I can tell I’ve only lost perhaps 1 mile an hour of top end speed. Prior propellers were three bladed aluminum 21 pitch. Merely changing material from aluminum to steal made it to huge difference anyway. 

cme4brain

Michael T said:

The boat is grossly underpowered with 350 magnums even if they are in excellent shape and all else well. It is even significantly underpowered with 377 Magnums. I have posted on this exact topic before and said, at the time the following: I had friends with both boats. The 377s were just slightly better. The 350 magnums were miserable. That boat should never have left the factory with either engine. Minimum 496s better yet 502 magnums for a 350/360/370. There was nothing either one of them could do ( they tried weight shifting, partial gas fills - it was just like shuffling the deck chairs on the Titanic - a waste of time. It was painful to watch and more painful to be on the boat and hear - particularly those 350 magnums scream - trying to wrestle that boat onto plane then rev high to go anywhere, all the while sucking huge amounts of gas. I am sorry to be so brutal but do what both of my friends did (eventually) and sell the boat. It is a lake queen NOT an express cruiser - there is no express in that configuration and never will be. Only someone who respects you as a fellow boater will tell you this. I am truly sorry and wish you had checked threads on here regarding this topic posted, before buying.

I’ll add another comment to this post as I now I’ve upgraded my propellers to four bladed stainless steel from three blade aluminum. My performance is enhanced and I still have 36 mph top in speed. I boat in mostly in protected waters (Eastern Virginia Chesapeake Bay) and hardly spend any time at wide-open throttle, therefore gas mileage and performance at a slow planning speed is what I need. I get at least 1.2 miles per gallon at 30mph at 4100rpm in my Rinker 350 with Mag 350’s which I think is fantastic for the weight I’m pushing around. But would I like an extra 100-200 hp? Perhaps, but then my gas mileage would go down. I’m perfectly satisfied with my boat.

Dream_Inn

That's great to hear!  I love my 4 bbn ldaed stainless props!

cme4brain

My latest boating hack.  A Lowe’s coat rack used to hold dock lines in the garage of my 350.