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FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:08 pm
by seaslug
I finished my boat a few months ago and I seem to recall other builders getting 30+ mph with their boats and was wondering if anyone has an FS18 with a 20hp and what is the top end speed. I have a new 20hp Mercury with the stock aluminum prop and my top end is 26mph, and cruise at around 21-23 at 3/4 throttle. Do these speeds seem about right, and will a different prop give me more speed? Thanks, Mike...... Also posted a load of pictures of the build in the Gallery, under Mike's FS18 build, but having trouble downloading my most recent pics. Eventually.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 2:42 pm
by jacquesmm
Tom likes to calculate props. It may be possible to get a couple extra mph out of that new 20HP. Maybe same prop specs but SS?

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 3:23 pm
by Cracker Larry
I have a new 20hp Mercury with the stock aluminum prop and my top end is 26mph, and cruise at around 21-23 at 3/4 throttle. Do these speeds seem about right, and will a different prop give me more speed?
Yes to question 1. I doubt it to question 2. That sounds real good. Do you have a tachometer? What is your rpm at full throttle :?:

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 6:55 pm
by TomW1
Your speed is going to depend on how much weight you have when loaded. Larry asked what your top rpms are at full throttle, we will need to know that also. Finally what is your current prop diameter and pitch. It should be something like 10 diameter x 12 pitch or 9 x 13 something like that.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:48 pm
by seaslug
Thanks for the prompt replies guys. The stock prop has 10p stamped on the side, and it measures 10" in diameter. Running alone with rods, a light cooler, 5 gallons fuel, one of those tiny batteries, I get 26 WOT, and with another guy the same weight 170 lbs. I'm getting 24mph. I'm not that concerned with getting more speed, just curious if this was normal for the boat and a 20 hp. and whether a different prop, jack plate, or trim tabs would make any difference. I don't have a tack at this time so unfortunately cannot provide that info....Larry, sorry to hear about you experiencing some sort of health issues. You're always a great source of information and inspiration to all the builders out there, and was hoping to meet you in Homosassa in October. I'm not listed as a participant, but intend on making the trip.... I still can't figure out how to post pics on the forum, but managed to load a ton of pics to the Builders Gallery under Album Title; mike's FS18 build. I would appreciate any feedback, comments etc. and will also answer questions if anyone is interested in knowing anything about the build process. Thanks again, Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 7:50 am
by Cracker Larry
Just go to your gallery, open the picture full size, right click on it and select "Copy IMG Location" Then go to the post where you want it, put your cursor there, then riht click again and select "Paste", or just type CTL V to paste. Then highlight the link and click on the box above that says IMG. It sounds harder than it is. Here are a couple of yours...

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Nice looking boat! Nice looking location too! Looks like home to me 8) Glossie Black would be jealous of your oysters :lol:

I think the speeds you are getting are very good for 20 hp. The one I built, my client put a 40 hp on 8O
Larry, sorry to hear about you experiencing some sort of health issues
Thank you. I've been real lucky over the years, been riding a nice big wave for a very long time. But every wave eventually hits a shore, and I can hear the breakers on the beach ahead.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 9:33 am
by RCC-SKIFFS
Killer work Seaslug! I recall you said you were Flagler beach area?

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 11:13 am
by Jeff
Really nice looking FS18!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 2:34 pm
by seaslug
Thanks for the compliments guys. And thanks for the feedback on hull speed, nd I can't imagine why anyone would want a 40hp motor on this skiff. Guess I'm not in as much of a hurry, and my runs to where I mostly fish are very short. Those Oyster bars, and there are a lot, are just north of Matansas inlet, around Devils Elbow, 10 miles south of St. Augustine. Most of the Oysters in Flagler Beach where I live have died off probably due to all the development, silting from all the big boat traffic, and being a long way from an inlet with better water flow..... Larry, thanks for the instructions, still couldn't manage, just a dumb old carpenter in need of some tutoring to bring me into this century.....Would it be ok if I sent some pictures to the order desk email address? Will that work? Thanks again, Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:44 pm
by Jeff
Mike, send your photos to the order desk or email them to me and I will get them up on your thread!! jeff@e-boat.net
Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 7:34 pm
by K2FS18
Impressive work. I really dig the hatches and the poling platform.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 10:22 pm
by seaslug
Thanks K2, Appreciate the feedback. More pictures soon thanks to Jeff helping out a complete moron when it comes to computers. The poling platform and forward casting deck were done by a young man named Zeke Williams in St. Augustine, zeke.joah@gmail.com. Great guy, with a good eye for design, and he's getting ready to start building the FS14 LS in Aluminum, so should be an interesting build to follow. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 11:24 am
by Cracker Larry
If you can just put them in your gallery I can easily post them from there.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:30 pm
by seaslug
Thanks Larry, I really appreciate your offer. I do have over 100 pics in the Gallery under 'mike's FS18 build' but not in the order I would like. Also Jeff said he would post photos if I email him, so I sent him a bunch more but haven't seen them yet. Someday I'll get some help with the computer, because I would like to document the build in order, start to finish, for future builders to have 1 more to look at for ideas that could help with their build. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 6:27 am
by Jeff
Mike your boat will be next on the main website. Sorry, it is a week late due to the scheduling of another boat!! It will go up early next week!!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2016 10:23 pm
by seaslug
Thanks Jeff, but no need worrying about being in a hurry posting my pics, I'm just thankful for your assistance. I'm sure you have plenty of other more important business at hand. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:43 pm
by bateau-webmaster
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Very nice build !

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:04 pm
by Cracker Larry
VERY NICE! Very well done. Better than nice. That is fantastic 8)

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:17 pm
by Marshall Moser
Gorgeous :!:

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:26 pm
by tcason
That is ART - not boat building!

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 1:30 pm
by poleposition
Really extraordinary work--you should be justifiably proud. What type of wood did you use for your rod holders?

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 2:25 pm
by Jeff
Beautiful work!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 10:56 pm
by seaslug
Thanks everyone for the compliments, and a very big thanks to Jeff for posting the pics for me. I have a lot more pics in my gallery under, 'Mike's FS18 build' if anyone cares to look at more details, and I'll be happy to answer any questions if I can be of any assistance with someone's build.....the rod holders are African Mahogany, the only wood I purchased for the build. The gunnels are 3 layers of 5/16" Clear fir, the 4th is 3/8" rock Maple, as well as the in walls which are 3/4" x 1.5" left over from some display racks I built 15 years ago for a friends eyeglass store. I'm a hoarder of wood, so I never get rid of a good piece I might use somewhere down the road. All of the cleats, the gunnels as mentioned above, as well as most of the framing came from two 11' 2x12's, clear fir found in the garage of a 60 year old house I did a major remodel of a few years ago. knew I would use them for something, someday. The most straight grained, knot free, light as a feather boards I've ever had the pleasure of working with. The inside gunnel cleats were just 4 lengths, ripped on an angle to fit the hull perfectly, and notched into each bulkhead. Bent like rubber, held mostly in place by the notched bulk heads, almost needing no clamps. The rear hatch frame was milled from a left over 4"x6" Cedar beam from a pergola I built about 5 years ago, and the 2 forward hatches were from left over 4"x4'" Cedar posts. The hatches are 2 layers of 3/8" ply, glassed, with some of the maple making the lip around the hatch. There are some other pieces of re-claimed wood here and there also, and I still have more if I do another build..... I still haven't taken good pictures with everything finished, but one of these days.. Thanks again guys, Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 7:50 am
by Cracker Larry
I looked through all your pictures, and all I can say is WOW :!: :!: I'm pretty dang good, but I'm not that good. That is a damn fine piece of boat art right there!

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:57 am
by seaslug
Stop it Larry, you're making me blush. I really appreciate all the feedback, but what I really want is for other potential builders to have another build to look through for ideas etc. That's how I made the decision to start mine, by reading through other peoples builds, and I read a lot of them, and I took notes for months prior to ordering my plans. This was my first build, but I've been a carpenter my entire adult life and have done some wooden boat restoration work, plus working on my own boats over the past 30 years. So I didn't come into this project totally green, plus I own every tool needed for this kind of work, and if I don't have a tool I need, I buy one. Pays for itself on the first job is the way I look at it. I built my strong back on December 5th and was pretty much finished in 3 months, other then small details, and that's while re-modeling houses. I don't sleep much. Thanks again everyone. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:58 am
by Jeff
Mike, take a look at the main website BoatBuilderCentral.com as your boat is our cover boat for next week!!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 4:42 pm
by Cracker Larry
and if I don't have a tool I need, I buy one. Pays for itself on the first job is the way I look at it.
Me too :D

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2016 10:41 pm
by seaslug
Jeff, my mom always said I'd be famous one day, or was it infamous? Damn, can't remember, too long ago. Front page, pretty cool, thanks. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:31 am
by Jeff
Mike, really good looking boat, getting a lot of looks!!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 1:23 pm
by Jeff
SeaSlug, Jamie put your FS14 LS build photo on the main website today!!! It is really looking good!! Jeff

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2016 8:53 pm
by seaslug
Thanks Jeff and Jamie, I really appreciate the help, and loving the look of this boat.

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 12:58 am
by Eric1
This is a Beautiful Boat! Really like your layout!! 8)

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 7:53 pm
by seaslug
Thanks Eric1, Really appreciate the compliment, and I'm glad it's you and not me sanding the hull you're building. You're doing a beautiful job, but man that's a lot of work. Look forward to following your build all the way through to the splash. Mike

Re: FS18 speeds with 20hp

Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2016 9:05 pm
by Eric1
It's a task but it allows my mind to ignore life for a while. I'm honored you are following the build.