4.3l Mercruiser Top Speed Run

This is my 1998 Starcraft 1810SS with 4.3l Mercruiser Vortec 190hp. It is by no means a speed demon, but for the size and weight of the boat it goes good enough for me. It has a Stingray Hydrofoil on it that takes away from the top end but really helps on the bottom end. I've had it up to 55.4 mph on the Red River on a calm day without the hydrofoil on. It has a 21" 3 blade aluminum prop. Thanks for watching

[@franksmythe6969]

To anyone watching this, never run your i/o with the the outdrive all the way up like this guy.

[@winnipegjohnston]

Ok, now this is a GREAT bit of knowledge. I had no idea that I would be causing stain on the drive shafts with trim all the way up JUST AT IDLE. Thanks for the post!

[@joeundercoffer2567]

Cool man! Brings back back my awesome memories on Lake Erie! Thanks for sharing man! We had a sea ray 350 with 4.3 vortec

[@winnipegjohnston]

Good luck with your rebuild. It'll be nice to have a fresh tight motor. Personally I like the hydrofoil. It really helps you get out of the hole quicker. Thanks for the advice regarding not starting or idling with outdrive trimmed up. I've heard that a few times now and I appreciate the heads up. Cheers!

[@winnipegjohnston]

That is super good to know that we are at the same place with the same setup. Thanks for the comment

[@winnipegjohnston]

Well hello to South Africa from Canada! Cheers!

[@winnipegjohnston]

Good eye on the tach there! Yeah, my 19" prop puts the revs right around 4600-4700 and is right on par for top speed. It would seem that the 19" 3 blade is the optimal prop for our setup. Cheers!

[@winnipegjohnston]

Hey thank! I appreciate that : ) Cheers!

[@winnipegjohnston]

Thank you : ) I recommend a hydrofoil. The difference is noticeable...not just placebo effect. Cheers!

[@rickytimms1851]

You actually get better speed with choppy water then you do with calm sea. Creates more air under haul = less drag. Bad ass little boat . Trim down and out a wot !!!

[@lovegun1414]

nice vid. just getting my 4.3 rebuilt after low comp on 1 cyl. Thinking of hydrofoil as well. Had one on another 21'cuddy with 4.3 . FYI..I'd recommend not starting or idling with outdrive trimmed up!! Puts pressure on bellows and shafts. thanks for posting.

[@winnipegjohnston]

Thanks! My dad has a 2006? Stingray with the 3.0l merc...runs very nice. Cheers!

[@32ttz]

winnipegjohnston why comment when it has nothing to do with the post. Not even close to the same boat.

[@jayce_outdoors]

@@32ttz bro chill it ain't hurting anything

[@winnipegjohnston]

Oh wow! Sorry to hear that! Good to know though...thank you for sharing that. After I did that I realized that it probably wasn't the best idea. I got caught up in the heat of the video...dumb move. Luckily it didn't cost me! Thanks again for the comment! Cheers!

[@ThatGuyThi]

I don't know how much the choppy water was affecting the boat, but at wide open throttle your tach looked to be at 4100 RPM and should be reading between 4400-4800 RPM, closer to 4800. Anything lower than that indicates the prop is to big for the boat which means the engine is working too hard to spin it giving you less hole shot, lower MPG, and extra wear on the motor. I would recommend dropping to a 19" or 21" to maximize performance. It may even give a higher top end by giving you more revs.

[@gunnerneikoify]

100% agree. I have the identical exact same boat as this guy. I run a 14.25 × 19 pitch 3 blade and top out at just under 55 mph and my tach at wot runs anywhere from 4500-4700 rpms. On top of that, the 19 pitch gives a better hole shot too.

[@winnipegjohnston]

Thanks so much for the great reply! That makes sense... I wasn't sure exactly what I was doing to damage my u joints... On my throttle lever, I have trim up/down and then I have a separate button to trim up for towing/storage... would the regular trim up/down lever be in the "safe zone" for trimming up or should I just leave it trimmed down while running? Thanks again!

[@winnipegjohnston]

Okay, thanks for clarifying. In this video I was using the regular trim so I should be safe then. Cheers : )

[@Qbhoy79]

If that was flat out, your boat is over propped. Max rpm on that engine should be between 4400-4800. It's recommended that the prop should be pitched to allow between these revs. Not sure why people are saying about throwing a rod though ?

[@elguizar3633]

is a great video my friend. I have a question for you. I have the similar boat and someone just stold the battery and the Stereo. I need to replace the battery and I don't know what kind I need. I need the cranking amps number. Do you know how many cranking amps your have?

[@winnipegjohnston]

I haven't tried a 17" pitch prop. I started with a 19" and then bought a 21". You are probably exactly right with your suggestion. In hindsight, I should have bought a 17" instead of a 21". Oh well...live and learn! Take care!

[@matijalovasic7694]

Hello. What is diameter of your prop?

[@winnipegjohnston]

I'm not sure exactly how much fuel I'm burning at that speed. Cruising at around 40mph I'd use around 60litres/100kms with a 19" prop (according to my rough calculations from prior trips). My dad has an 18' fiberglass Stingray with the 2.5l Mercruiser and at that speed I'd use less gas than him. Thanks! I absolutely love boating and look forward to summer! Have fun with your Bayliner...they make nice boats! Cheers!

[@eclipser2004]

I bought a 2001 Stingray 180LX last year. Similar to your Dad's I guess. 3.0Ltr Mercruiser. Engine needed a bit of work. Front oil seal was gone like they all do. All good now though. Cheers from NL!! Happy Boating

[@Steve-yr5vi]

I have the 4.3 and have a 19" prop the engine will climb to 5100 RPM, and will only hit 41, sucks down fuel. Holeshot isn't great, I will give a stainless 21" three blade a try out. I am planning to remove the Hydrofoil I have found it creates scary situations when I make tight turns, nearly rolled the boat once (I am often in a river with current). I've also heard trim tabs are safer, Hydrofoils are hard on your lower unit.

[@matijalovasic7694]

Helllo, What size is diameter on yours 21 inch pitch proppeler? And what is gear ratio on your z-leg? Is it 1:1.81 or something else? Thanks

[@rockstomper8390]

Hello, I have a 1998 Manta Ray 188. Do you recall the pitch on your prop in this video? I'm new to boating.

[@derekknudtzon6831]

The u-joints sure love when the drive is all the way trimmed up with engine running....

[@mikekane3804]

you can run the motor and the drive in trailer mode.. DO NOT EXCEED 1500 RPM.

[@cliffhanger708]

Nice video I have the same motor in my 20' bow rider. But just a couple of suggestions to help prolong your boats life. ALWAYS lower your outdrive before starting the engine. Your (transmission) outdrive is where the gears change. There is a shaft with U joints that goes into the motor and when you run your engine, it turns. Running them at such a drastic angle puts a huge amount of stress on them. they could weaken and break and cause major damage. Also unless necessary, coming to an abrupt stop is not recommended with a stern drive engine because the water behind you can rush up into your exhaust manifold and end up into your engine causing major damage. As well we shouldn't back up too fast either. Great video though showing these are great motors And NICE BOAT!

[@boaterbil]

Gear change is in the bottom. BAD to run with drive up. U-joints

[@tehsnipatres208]

Some of those small boats with V6s in them can actually haul ass. I'm thinking about buying a used Crownline and just completely rebuild the engine that comes with it. But I can't decide on whether or not I want one with a quiet powerful V6 or a loud powerful screaming V8.

[@Steve-yr5vi]

I do like the sound of the 8, on the other hand with a 6 I can pull skiers, boards and tubes around for hours and only use a 1/2 tank.

[@eclipser2004]

I guess it depends on the type of boating you do. Short high speed runs V8. All day cruising V6 I'd say. Did you get one after?

[@eclipser2004]

Nice looking boat and interior. Sounds nice too. Still have it?

[@jonknott2064]

i cringed when saw you 'slam on the brakes'! i learnt the hard way not to do that, nearly got the boat back in the water after a complete engine replacement :)

[@winnipegjohnston]

Well there was a little confusion that I was running the trim on the boat too high, but that wasn't the case. I did however go from full throttle to no throttle way too fast risking water coming into the stern and wrecking motor or sinking the ship! Amateur mistake.

[@GardylooAlaska]

Comments were referring to running the motor with the drive tilted up , I have done the same thing accidentally, 21 looks like too much prop if you were at WOT. Nice boat...!

[@laynebartman9197]

17 pitch is perfect for any motor 50hp above, especially outboard motors

[@TheMcs33]

can u make video on how to fix dash borad and horn

[@slim33084]

you definetely have the outdrive in the trailer position. either that or your limit switch is shot and not stopping the outdrive at the correct top trim height. I would double check. like will martens said, this is death for the u-joints. just trying to look out for you and your boats best interest

[@jleslie246]

I have the exact same setup (boat size/weight, prop pitch and hydro foil) and I get exactly the same speed. Good to see since my boat is a 1999.

[@gschaib3209]

Are the 4.3 mercruisers the same as the 4.3 omc cobras? Sounds awfully similar to the omc 4.3.

[@itscorky]

Throwing a rod? Really? I have the exact same boat, and it loves to rev. No problems whatsoever. I pitched her up to a 21 from a 19 and it loves it, even considered a 21 four blade. No problem in the holeshot. I take her up sometimes to 50mph at 4500rpm. Sits pretty cruising at 35 mph. It's got plenty of power top and bottom end. Love your ride brother, enjoy.

[@winnipegjohnston]

No, actually I don't? I'm fairly new to boating... Please explain what the issue is. Thank you

[@ReidHenderson]

Man that little 4.3 sounds good to bad they don't sound that good in a truck or car

[@gschaib3209]

It’s actually the same engine as the 4.3 Vortec that GM made for the S10s and full sized trucks. Just a different cam and has the marine applications on it.

[@oneeyedrone4293]

You were saying 50mph but speedo was showing 45/46mph ... so im not too sure how that is 50 :) Not splitting hairs but ya its around 74kph. The GPS is critical if you have one of those water pressure driven speedometers at the back of the pickup fin. Even the spinning wheel speedometers arent the best so a GPS gauge will definitely be a solid investment vs a handheld with batteries etc. Still a nice boat and like you said, not intended for top speed or anything but probably tons of fun with tubes and cruising for hours. One of our jet skis had the dream-o-meter showing 75mph and such, reality was like 65/68mph on gps. Plus anytime you jumped a wake the needle would fly all over the place haha.

[@Snipeuout69]

I would find a used 600sci and a xr drive, it should wake that little boat up

[@daryldecamp6295]

The inline Chevy 6 murcruiser would take it. I had a 77 sea star that would take many v8. All tourqe. Pull up 4 skiers in a snap. I have a mild 3.0 murcruiser in a 17ft searay. If it ever blows Were swapping to a inline 6. They were so very dependable and easy on gas. I never was a 4.3 fan. Had one I a truck it was ok, till you asked it to lug a camper around. Nice boat you have there. Remember what others say run it with drive down. Hard on many parts. Are you in the Mississippi? Water is up here and logs everywhere. Had to ground myself from river. One year I ripped my drive apart on a log below water. Want to talk heart failure lol. Hole in boat lower drive destroyed . Two weekends and I was back. Been boating since 78.

[@eclipser2004]

Thanks for the info on your log hit. Don't think about that much here.

[@jasongaskins6421]

Believe it or not, I put that same fin on my outdrive & LOST 7mph. Same motor, 18' bow rider, as well

[@aldognovvvaaa4558]

put the outdrive down !

[@egustafson]

aldonovvvaaa yeah way to fuck up your gimbal bearing and u joints

[@BigCS784]

He had it up to show the hydrofoil if it was all the way up the boat would have pointed toward the sky when he took off

[@MisterSnowman97]

planes real fast

[@winnipegjohnston]

Hi there, you're the second guy to mention the u joints... I'm fairly new to boating and would like to know what you're talking about?. Thanks so much. Cheers : )

[@erikb8877]

The shaft that sends power to the lower unit is turning whenever the engine is running regardless of whether it’s in gear. That shaft has a set of ujoints. It’s why many stern drive boats have separate trim/tilt buttons. The lower unit should never be above the trim limit when the engine is running unless lower unit/prop damage is certain. If you have to, keep it as brief as possible and as little power as possible. I just realized I’m 8 years late so hopefully you’ve learned by now.

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

i love starcraft boats! they are awesome!!!!!! my first boat is going to be a 1995 starcraft 1710 in red and white with 3.0 mercruiser, not nearly as powerful or fast as the 4.3 but they are bulletproof and last. unfortunately most starcraft fiberglass bowriders thet i see were i live are mostly outboards(i hate bowriders with outboards!!!), so finding the one i want won't be so easy, so i'm going to check all of minnesota(the state i live in, born and raised) and even wisconson and i will not rest untill i find the one i want, wish me luck!!!

[@hyceberg1180]

quelle est la conso de ce moteur ???

[@davidyork751]

you were doing 42 MPH and that's 67.5 KPH, my 19' 1980 OMC Stringer with a V8 GM 350 Hi compression heads 350 HP with a 4 blade prop will do 71 MPH and that's 114 KPH, little scary

[@davidfarmer1177]

Engine running and drive up??I dunno.....

[@Foxtucky]

I have the most fun in 18 footers..50mph is good for that 4.3L

[@eddieandreyev7975]

Mike Waisnor 4.3 as in 4.3 leters

[@mason-33]

Hello, what's the HP on this engine? Thank you.

[@oneeyedrone4293]

190 ish in this description

[@davedodge7761]

My brother your boat is faster in choppy water than it is smooth water

[@rayoliver34]

i had a 21 pitch on my 20ft kmv 2000dc 4.3 mercruiser and was running at 4300 rpm i dropped to 19 pitch and am at 4950 rpm i would try a 19 before A 17 pitch depending on your redline rpm.you wouldn't want to blow your motor lol.Also my boat weighs about 3800-4000lbs

[@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp]

I said the same thing he is gonna throw a rod real quick the way he is driving that boat

[@xxnickthegreekxx]

Is this good ish on fuel

[@keymcks6838]

We got the same boat

[@martinschubert5355]

NEVER put the trim so high and let run the motor. It can be damadged very much if you du that more than 2 itmes to long. That kosts more than 2000$ to repair it!!!!!

[@skmg2888]

Why is this?

[@DerAnstreicher]

@@skmg2888 weil es so ist

[@str8chillin18]

@@skmg2888 The U joints start to grind after they pass a certain angle. Speeds up deterioration.

[@keithrosser1707]

What year is your boat? I'm buying a 1996 stingray with the 4.3 mercruiser in it tomorrow. I can't wait to get my kids out there on the lake!!

[@winnipegjohnston]

It is a 1998 model year. Oh man, I love Stingray boats! Congrats on your purchase! Be safe and enjoy!!

[@pole_barn_builder]

Do you still own it? How has it worked out for you?

[@traviswagner9822]

There goes that outdrive. Running it while up. Very bad.

[@MrCutLawnCare]

I only get 32mph out of my 3.0 MPI Might be time to upgrade to a 4.3!

[@pole_barn_builder]

Did you ever do it?

[@MrCutLawnCare]

@@pole_barn_builder No Sir, ended up having a lot of problems out of the 3.0 MPI and sold it w/ 350 hrs. Now have a 2020 suntracker 22 tritoon with merc 150

[@austinbrotherton3333]

Wtf is a kilometer an hour, shit my head hurts now

[@1337Tactikal]

Ya, eh?

[@kevinl.7487]

You should Trim your boat down. Basically you set the trim so the boat starts to porpoise ,then trim down with a tap of the button until you stop porpoising & that’s the perfect trim setting for your current load configuration. Remember weight will change trim angles.

[@jasonclark775]

If you had the right prop on it, you wouldn’t need that “hydrofoil”

[@thebigmann25]

Goodby u joints

[@integr8er66]

It looks like you have too high pitch prop, RPM's at WOT should be 46-4800 rpm. Over loading the engine will cause knock and damage, and you will not get optimum speed/HP. Prop down 1 size. And lower the darn outdrive before yoh start it

[@Aggie1286]

what did you do wrong?

[@stephendraper5127]

Learn how to use the trim button bud

[@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp]

LOL YOU ARE SO RIGHT HE IS ALSO GONNA THROW A ROD AT HIGH RPMS

[@dickritchie2596]

Ahh……

[@whosurdaddyds650]

the lower pitch u go is for the hole shot. the higher pitch u go is for top speed. thats y bass boats run 22'' to 24 pitch prop. Guess u dont own a boat or u would know that. i would try a 4 blade 20 or 22 and take that hydrofin off if u want more speed.

[@brycelundeen9284]

Put the trim down and Don't slam the brakes!!!!

[@glennmanchester1568]

I bet 48 or so

[@MrOffshore]

Shouldn't run that boat with the outdrive completely up...even in neutrel, it's not good on the drive.

[@robertduklus6555]

you never got close to 50 mph/80 kmh

[@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp]

Hey buddy the way you are driving you are gonna throw a rod going over 4,000 RPMS not smart I am marine Mechanic I have the same motor you will throw a rod but with mine i have turbos and don't ever trim up or down at high speeds

[@12oclockmayhem]

Ondrej Jordan that engine is not going to throw anything. sounded like he trimmed it out just right (unloaded the engine) and stayed well within the engines happy spot. I have ran a pair of 350's @4600 for 18 miles, and a pair of 502's @4000 for upwards of 10 miles. that's what they're made for. any marine mechanic should know that. he should also know that the engine must be able to tolerate a 10,000 rpm spike in the event that the boat jumps a wake. 4800 should be easy work for a stock 4.3.

[@chrispotter3324]

Throw a rod? Why? Because reasons?

[@robertmoore119]

Not sure about marine spec 4.3l, but with normal ones, the rods are rated for 7k.

[@zyenathalous]

you should consider a different career. a real mechanic would know better than to make that statement.

[@dericksharpeye]

You are already in the water and your drive is still all the way up. Learn and read things about boats before owning one...

[@fischb22]

Derick R nah, he wants to go and learn how to pull the lower unit, and replace the u-joints

[@alvinsongalvin2627]

what the hell..... only showing off your boat.....

[@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp]

WAIT UNTIL HE THROWS A ROD

[@chrispotter3324]

Holy shit. You two brainwaves are hilarious.

[@jonsmith7667]

@@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp I am curious why you would think he would throw a rod, he is slightly over-propped and that demand over time causes extra strain on the bottom end but not a ridiculous amount. If anything he may spin a main bearing but only after a lot of hours. I have owned a lot of boats and these little 4.3s can run under load in that 3500-4500 range all day long for a lot of days especially if running a good oil and changing it regularly. I recently bought a boat that was mistreated and the owner froze the block. He did however have a record of changing the oil with a good brand 5w40 synthetic from day 1. He had a 21 pitch with the fins to get it out fast and over 1000 hrs on the boat. When I tore the motor down the bearing wear and cam wear was minimal for the time and abuse so I doubt this fellow will throw a rod driving like he does.

[@zyenathalous]

@@THEGMDOCTOR-co9vp he'll die of old age first.

[@aldognovvvaaa4558]

some people are so dumb!!!!!!!! lol

[@dylansvarietyshow5470]

Power Trim system “Trailering” feature allows the operator to raise and lower the drive unit for trailering, beaching, launching and low speed (below 1200 RPM engine speed), shallow water operation. Straight out of the Mercruiser manual ;)

[@kylec.5462]

Yeah I know!!!!! And you're probably one of them

[@Snide01]

@@kylec.5462 he is