1854 prodrive boat w/ Stock 08 36hp prodrive.......Alright.. So I realized my boat was getting slower and slower and finally decided to do something about it. I put 166 hrs on my prop and realized it was getting worn. I get my new prop and compare and there is very little difference in the two.
Question 1: Will an eighth of an inch make a significant difference?

So then after noticing little difference between my new prop and my old prop I am scratching my head???? So I decide to take the boat to the dealer and let him give it a tune-up and go through it. I have always done it myself but maybe he can do something SPECIAL(plus i was busy). He then talks me into a mikuni High performance carb kit.

Question 2: How will this carb run in 3 degrees and pouring rain?
Everything else is stock on the motor.

Question 3: Is there anything else that needs to be done along with this carb? Exhaust? Etc.

Now mind you... I dont need speed. I want to carry a load. I want a reliable motor. And i want it as quiet as possible

Fire away.............

are u sure its the motor and not the bottom of your boat? whats the condition of the hull?

Well with a carb kit i would suggest going with some type of aftermarket exhaust, maybe a marsh mellow or bps or what have you, it doesn't matter. You'll appreciate the peformance. All these lawnmower motors are very cold natured but it shouldn't make a difference in 3 degrees, just make sure you have plenty of fuel going to it and choke it and let it run on choke till it gets good and warm and go hunt!

I was told there wont be a choke anymore after the carb is installed???

all mikuni's have choke (all carbs, do have them. It is the nature of Carbs), I run two on my toy motorcycle (CB750 hard tail) and those have a choke each.

True about chokes, they all have them, but the Mikuni comes with its own so you won't need your stocker anymore, they provide one with the kit that mounts to the brackets that come with it

If it were me, I would put the Iron Mountain heads on your motor first with an exhaust like the marsh mellow. Then if you still want more, add the Mikuni.

x4 on the heads. I did everything a little backwards cause I didn't know about this site yet. The guys on here at least a few really know their stuff. Also if ya go with the heads another option that I and a few guys on here have done is just take your stock heads to a local machine/engine shop and have them buiold them almost the same as the Iron Mountain heads. It will save you a few hundred bucks and if the shop isnt busy alot of turn around time also.

X5

Go with the exhaust and headwork first. You should be able to get your heads port & polished, decked, and valve job for under $300 from any competent speed shop.

If it is 3 degrees the good news it won't be raining.... the bad news is that it will be snowing!

I agree on the head work and exhaust.

i am just wondering but why are you guys insisting on head work and exhaust first? I am running the mikuni now with port polished intake and BPS single crossover and getting the performance i was looking for without any problems, just curious why pushing the heads so much?

Most bang for the buck!

But in oreder to do the heads the right way you'll need ss push rods, valves, springs, the whole nine yards right, which could be in the upwards of $800 right?

SS valves are a good idea, but not absolutely necessary. Shim the springs for a dollar. Stock rockers and rods are fine.

Thanks for all the help. I am very much inclined to do all the work myself and have a great friend who runs a machine shop. Where can I find all the info on what and how this head work needs to be done?

Also I meant to say was hunting in 3 degrees and pouring rain (not the same day). Will it be ok in those conditions?

What do you want to know?

shave em .030

Do i need rods shims, etc or will just shaving the heads do it? I want a RELIABLE MOTOR.

Also ..From looking back and reading others comments, I see no debates over exhaust. Will they all acheive the same thing? Why so many different ones? Sound? Looks? What do I need on my motor is the question.. I dont want to be loud. I cant be alittle bit louder than stock and be ok but I dont want to be heard for miles. suggestions?

Springs shimmed yes. 120 thou.

Exhaust, don't think you're gonna beat marshmellow for quiet...

If you saw no performance gain from your prop change you probably have something else going on (like leaking vavles). Do your headwork but focus on the valve job. If you haven't pulled the heads yet, have a leakdown test done.

I agree with DB8, I put a new prop on while back and seen no real gain. Found out the stock exhaust valves were leaking. Thats when I had a valve job done and a the heads and springs. It made the biggest difference from all the other mods. well that and the cam

Just do it all at the same time, You'll see the best performance with a mikuni with your heads and stuff done, they perform better with the carb. Your stock carb will work with the head job but it won't let the mods perform to their full potential because the stock carb can't feed enough fuel, therefore i say do it all at one time and don't look back, you'll be very impressed. It will work though with the stock carb, but not to its full potential.

Well guys I know yall will probably chew me up and spit me out but here we go.................................
Mikuni installed today and I definetly feel the low end torque. I also changed all plugs and fluids and prop. Im now by myself getting 27MPH completly empty. Add a 225lb person and got 25.5 to 26. At best performance i was turning 4100 RPM's. This is still with stock everything!! Will order Q muffler tomorrow.
Is this right?
Do I need to change to a different plug with this new carb?
What next..Heads?
Everyone says to know when not to overdo mods. Do I stop now or what?

Just read cast and blast review and it really threw me. Same rig but he is 6" wider and is running better than me STOCK!!!! Whats going on?With the new prop and carb i picked up 3 MPH and still gettomg beat with another stock motor.

The hull is a 2010 with maybe 15 HRS. Also wanted to add that the only way to get top speed with 2 people was to sit my buddy in the back with the battery. Right beside me.

thanks for all the input. I should have mentioned this in the first post and keep forgetting to type it but the bottom of my boat is slick as glass still. That was the first thing i checked before getting on here. I still wanted opinions form the guys who have been through this already for reassurance.