ChesapeakeBoater
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 01/01/2007
I got some great information here last year when I started to think
about this., especially from someone in FL who has a speedy HM on a
lift and I think it was what I am going for. Since then
I have reproped and been able to get to 16 knots (twice) when
conditions were good with my 22 year old volvo 260. I just
bought a used 454 Crusader which I was assured would bolt right up
to the VOLVO 290 drive. One of the local race mechanics is
pushing to change the cam so that it will develop peak HP at
2500RPM, instead of 4,000. He claims it will get it on plane
easier and earlier without affecting higher RPM speed. A
marine mechanic, whom I trust a lot, tells me that the
crusader has a high torque cam already installed from the
factory. I like displacement, but I want to be able to
get in a cove when it kicks up quickly. We also plan longer
trips to see our son at college 80 miles away.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated as I am not a
mechanic.
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1995 Holiday Mansion 3914 on the Upper Chesapeake Bay
I was an engineer for Mercury 30 years ago, I did a lot of
evaluation with my HM 38 with both Bravo 2 and 3 with a stock 300
hp 454. The biggest challenge is prop area along with gear
ratio. 20" Bravo 2 works well but a Bravo 3 is better.
In both cases a 2 to 1 ratio is good, a 2.3 to 1 is slightly
better.
If your Volvo is a single prop, you my not have enough blade to
handle your 454.
Call me if I can help
832 473 8928
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Johnplatou 1990 HM 38 with Mercruiser 454 Bravo.Lift Stored, Trailerable, and Fits in garage. One of 9 boats presently owned. Boating experience 45 years and 8000 hours. Trailering Hm 38 16 years and 6000 miles, other trailering 100,000 miles and 39 years.
We e-mailed a few years ago. I was rebuilding a 1983 HM 38 here in
Corpus. Well I am almost finished, I added an Armstrong
bracket and installed the outboards. Two Hundred horse
Johnsons. I remember your advice on trimming the bow up to
help the boat step up on plane. I will splash the boat in
about two weeks and give that a test. I am finishing the
paint job and a few other details like replacing bad stantion
bases. I am using a new Mac and have not figured out how
to get pics to attach. You can e-mail me at
Fastway288@aol.com if you like and I can replay back with a few
pics.
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Johnplatou 1990 HM 38 with Mercruiser 454 Bravo.Lift Stored, Trailerable, and Fits in garage. One of 9 boats presently owned. Boating experience 45 years and 8000 hours. Trailering Hm 38 16 years and 6000 miles, other trailering 100,000 miles and 39 years.
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10/18/2007 10:51:26 AM
