Panga Importers/Builders

[sealark]

Originally Posted by xrispearo

This doesn't scream bias...
Nope, not one bit

Nope 50 years of experience just an opinion you can take it or leave it.

[Wood Guy]

If you really are at 2500 lb. dry, by the time you add fuel, water, dive gear, ice, tools etc, you will be over 3000. That's about one curb or pot hole away from a bent axle. If your 2500 lb. included all the stuff I mentioned, then a 1000 lb. safety margin is enough. If you are within 500 lb. of the max load for the rig, you might consider going to a single 5000 lb axle if you still want to avoid duals. There are lots of boat trailers set up this way, including one of mine.

[Capt.Gene]

Just to keep your build enthuism going strong, here is a trip report from yesterday on my Mimsa panga.
Seas yesterday were 2-3 all day with some bigger just to piss us off a little.
We were running 23 mph at our slowest cruise and 29 at times.
We had 4 big guys on board with dive gear.
We burned 20.5 gallons of gas. And I still have prop issues.
This boat is a 27' hull with a DF200A Suzuki, console,Ttop, seats, fully rigged

[SJ_Spearo]

My estimated breakdown is as follows:
-Hull: 800#
-Floor, Console: 300#
-Engine: 350#
-Fuel (24gal): 200#
-Gear: 200#
-Trailer: 1000#
-Total: 2850#

I figure the tongue would take a few hundred pounds so that would put me at around 2500# conservatively and I could put gear in the truck to reduce axle load. It's tempting to bump up to the 5200# capacity, but it incurs a significant additional cost. I feel like the 3500# capacity would be sufficient without putting the rig at risk.

[SJ_Spearo]

That sounds like a nice running boat. I'm looking forward to getting mine out with a full load and seeing how it does. When I was running it this past weekend I noticed that it was topping out around 4800 RPM and 33mph with a light load. Is it worth repropping the boat with a little less pitch? Maybe go 2" less to increase rpm to 5200? How will going from 4 blade to 3 blade affect this?

[xrispearo]

I would keep the four blade. Helps with docking such a long bow-light boat, when it's windy.

Props have bad resale value. I wouldn't experiment too much. Maybe borrow someone's

[Capt.Gene]

Originally Posted by SJ_Spearo

That sounds like a nice running boat. I'm looking forward to getting mine out with a full load and seeing how it does. When I was running it this past weekend I noticed that it was topping out around 4800 RPM and 33mph with a light load. Is it worth repropping the boat with a little less pitch? Maybe go 2" less to increase rpm to 5200? How will going from 4 blade to 3 blade affect this?

If it will not pull to the rev limiter with a light load I would be looking for a lesser prop.
I would see no reason for a 4 blade on such a shallow draft light weight boat

[Polespearo]

Pangs are run here in Mexico always with 3blade prop and single axle trailer in potholes and dirt roads that you can't imagine. You will be fine ... with everything always

[xrispearo]

I wouldn't dismiss the current four blade you have. I bet the cruise speed fuel economy is amazingly good. And likely the reason why the previous owner did that

[Capt.Gene]

I believe you need to prop that motor with one that allows it to rev up to max rated RPM.
I would want it to live a long and happy life.

[SJ_Spearo]

Here are some pictures. I will post updates as I make improvements.

[SJ_Spearo]

Here is the trailer damage. First order of business is replacing all the rusted suspension components with new 3500lb axle, hubs, and suspension.

[Capt.Gene]

Why the jack plate on the boat?
Does the hull need a motor with a 20" shaft, and the ETEC has 25"? "

[SJ_Spearo]

I asked the previous owner the same question. He said that the 25" was too long. Not sure how valid that is, but I guess it dont see any negative effects. Is there any good reason to remove it? I've never used a jack plate on any of my boats before

[SJ_Spearo]

I mounted the leaf springs and axle today. Took a guess on the axle placement and ended up with a tongue weight of about 420lbs. This is above the 10-15% figure usually recommended, but is it enough to make it worth adjusting the boat to bring the weight down?