****@dslextreme.com> wrote the following among other items.
I found that my 1984, 38 ft Ericson model, E-381 powered by a Universal 5432 was over proped with a 16 x13 prop and I was lugging the engine thus fouling the cylinders and making starting a bit more difficult. My cruising rpm was 1800 with a max at 2200 rpm. The previous owner must have thought he was running the engine easy when indeed he was overlading it and lugging it. I changed to a 16 x 10 three blade prop and the engine now cruises at 2400 rpm with a max of 2750 at 180 degrees (more in line with what the engine manufacture recommends). The higher rpm keeps the engine running cleaner and less fouled thus easier to start not to mention using all the power available on the power curve. Actually my mechanic advised me to run the engine at full rpm every once in a while to blow out the carbon and buildup which also helps noticably in engine starting.
