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Bertram31.com General Bulletin Board
Re: Cummins 370's or 330's?
Posted By: Vic Roy In Response To: Re: Cummins 370's or 330's? (jp)
Date: Wednesday, 22 February 2006, at 9:51 p.m.
Well, the B31 was designed in the late 50's. And well designed as we all know. In the era that she (yes, buys, the boat is, and always will be a "she" vs. an "it" for lesser vessels) was laid out, the flat bottom boat was the only way to get any speed out of a boat her size. Flat bottom boats pound. Ray Hunt came up with the lifting strakes that made the deep vee hull rise up and go. Now, what speed was he designing her for? Top with the original gassers of about 33 kts, cruise of 22. Over the years we have come up with all sorts of repowers, now the diesels up to near 400 hp a side that we can fit in her, so the envelope is being pushed. My experience is that the B31 performs best with diesel power of 250-300 hp a side with 21" dia. props thru 1.5 gears, maybe 2:1 with high rpm Yannies.
To me it's crazy to try to make the B31 into a go fast boat, the hull just will not go that fast and retain control. As others have said, the lifting strakes just lift it too high vertically and it gets chine walk in a breeze or turn. My view is the prop pockets are a diaster. Defeat the purpose that Ray Hunt designed. Again, be happy that you can have a solid old boat that will cruise 24-25 kts in comfort and last forever, don't get greedy.
UV
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