project pontoon and newbe needing advise

[douglasnc]

Hi everyone, New here and new to pontoons.Just bought a 93 Crest Savannah, 25' with a 3.0LXfour banger.Out drive(upper end) was bad and furniture needs recovering,but for $2900.00 I guess thats not too bad with a duel axle trailer.No prop! so I need some abvise on where to start on picking one out.Think rpm's need to be between 4200-4800 @wot.Bought a new upper unit and mated it with the old gen2 lower after replacing everything but the gear's themselfs Then found the bellow's were bad so will be replacing them and shift cable this week end if all goes well.I see lots of nice pontoon's here and mine aint one of those but it's a doable project that I aim to finish so I can take my wife out fishing again.Hope to get some advise from you folk's so I don't mess this old gal up too much.First thing I need is to get a idea on where to start with props. appreciate any advise, and thanks so much..Doug

[Texoma Toon]

Welcome to the party! There are several guys here doing projects! I am sure one or two will chim in.
Good luck with it!

[PlaynDoc]

sounds like you've got yourself a handful of work to do.... but, so far, it sounds like you're not a newbie with a wrench.

i can't help you with a prop; it was all i could do to get my outboard 115 propped right - i think.

[Bamaman]

When you replace the bellows, just make sure that you use the Mercruiser bellows sealant. It's black and greasy stuff, but it's the only sealant on the market that'll work.

I never had good luck getting the big bellows sealed up. My older MC1 unit didn't have much of a lip on each end of the bellows for a hose clamp to grasp well. If I had it to do over, I would have got a good marine mechanic to whip out that minor job.

The penalty for leaky bellows is that you can get some water in your transom. I stored my old Aristocraft in a marina not knowing a bellows was bad. The marina operator came out one morning and found my boat sunk. We got a tarp under it, pumped the water out, rebuilt the alternator & starter, cleaned the fuel system and ran it a few more years. Marinas have a responsibility to keep a close eye on every boat--looking for water intrusion. I now prefer not to leave any boat in the water.

[redbeard]

Welcome to the forum, good luck on your rebuild lots of good help here, just ask.

[Paublo]

My experience may help a little with your prop question. My boat is similar, a 24' Playcraaft Tritoon, with a 4.3 L, Alfa Gen 2 Merc outdrive. Mine came with a 14.75x17 SS prop that worked well but I thought that the rpm maxed out a little low. So I bought a 14.75x15 SS and that raised the rpm a little but didn't seem to help in power, take-off, speed, etc. With your 3.0 L I would start with a 14 to 14.75" dia and a 15 pitch. Good luck.

[douglasnc]

Thanks for the big welcome guy's.Had a shift bellow spring a leak and almost sunk my 97 2050 bayliner a few years ago, so I know like you Bamaman; they'll go down fast...lol Glad you were able to get her up and fixed. Those seals and oil pan gasket's on the Mercruiser's must really be good! My pan was completly submerged up to the top of the harmonic ballance wheel, and no water entered the block.Learned alot about working on them during this time as I couldn't afford to pay a pro.Manual's are great teacher's.Thanks to Paublo for you'r advise on the prop.Had a 17 foot run about a year ago with a 3.0 that had a 14.5x17p on it...Wasnt sure it work though pushing a big pontoon.Sounds about right from what you'r useing on your's with the 4.3...Thank you,and Merry Christmas to all

[tuned]

Welcome aboard, mate. From another builder.
It sounds like you are going to be in the water before me.
Of course at this moment I have no water, just 14" of ice so far
As far as propping, you are going to be pretty experimental for a bit, like me. Hopefully you can find a decent prop shop that will let you swap out several until you get in a decent range. The guys that I work with will let me take out lots of used aluminum ones until I am happy. I usually keep that one as a spare and then buy a stainless to run with.
Crest makes a nice boat. I'm sure you'll love yours.