Boat Setup, new prop?

[GraAlaMat77]

I just purchased my second bass boat and am about to sell my previous one. As for my question. What can I do in terms of getting more speed out of my boat. I figure that your answer is going to deal with props, becuase I think that the jackplate is giving me all that its gonna be able to. Also, two other side questions, is shooting a big roostertail bad, and will a stabilizer or whale-tail help my hole shot. It is not a long hole shot, but not a quick one either. In terms of the roostertail, mine is not overly huge, but definately present. Boat specifications are:

Boat: 1992 Ranger 391V Comanche
Motor: 1992 Yamaha Pro V 200
Prop: Predator - 4 Blades - 25 pitch
RPM @ WOT - 5300
Speed at WOT - 57.5
10" Jackplate
Propshaft is 3.5" below pad
Water guage psi - 14-17#

Load is a tank and a half of fuel and regular fishing gear for one person.

I appreciate any help you can give me. I have been doing a lot of reading trying to understand better the basics of what makes boats click. I look forward to hearing from you.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Skip the whale tail. It'll slow you down and mess with your handling. And look silly to boot. Your motor loves to turn 6,000. You're overpropped and not getting 200Hp out of it. I'd stick with a ventilated 4-blade, but drop to a 23 or so to get the RPMs up. RPMs=Hp when it comes to 2-strokes. You might even try one of Merc's HighFive props which would allow you to jack the motor up even further. But you have to watch that water pressure. Rangers are heavy boats. Holeshot isn't one of their strong points in general.

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

How does a 23" pitch trophy plus sound?

 

[Ron G]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Are you venting any now with your set-up?and how high can you trim?if your not venting or blowing out any and have good water preassure when trimmed out i would raise motor up until it vents then drop it down a little.we need to try to get all we can out of what ya got now then think about switching props.all these things are free and take a little time and testing.

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

I trim it as far as I can get it without it wanting to walk side to side, it shoots a big roostertail by this point and my water pressure is about 14# psi

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

I let it walk back and forth some, but not to the point of trimming where my prop is out of the water

 

[Ron G]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

The walking back and forth is chinewalking.you can drive it out of the chinewalking with some practice,basically you want to a balancing act and that will correct it.harder to descirbe how to do it,but alot times its short little jerks on the wheel,im surprised your actually walking at 57mph in a ranger.

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

yeah, i understand the chine walking, thats why I don't want to raise the motor anymore, I mean the AV plate is set so that the propshaft is 3.5" below pad. I figure I have two options for speed. Dropping to about a 23" four blade such as a trophy plus, or dropping to the same pitch three blad like a tempest plus. I know the three blade won't give me as much grip in the water, but it will give me increased speed. I know that my current prop is crap. So given the above info, what do you think, trophy, or tempest. I'm not gonna just run out and buy one, but any advice is handy.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Which one? That's easy. A 23 Turbo Lightning.

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Whats so special about that prop over the other two?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Design and technology. The Lightning has more bow lift, which that boat needs. It has a diameter of 14 3/4" so with your jackplate it will work just fine. The 10" offset will help move the lift point back some which helps too. And the Predator tends to add stern lift, that's why you have to use so much positive trim. Once set up right the rooster tail will be about even with the top of the hood. It should allow you a little more rpm to get the motor in the hp zone.

 

[GraAlaMat77]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

i really appreciate it Dhadley, you too Commander, and everyone else. If I drop to a 23" pitch, that should add an extra 400 rpms right? What speed should I expect the boat to run with the new prop?

 

[Ron G]

Re: Boat Setup, new prop?

Yea the lighting is the way to go...it will give you alot of what ya want listen to Dale he knows.
as the 4 blade goes i was running a 4 blade and the 3 blade turbo out performed it by a long shot.and sometimes raising the motor will actually help with the walking in some hulls.