Does this look to high or is it just me?

[crotalis40741]

I have been trying to prop my boat and was not sure how to measure the pad distance.
Does it look to high from these pics? The boat has a six inch jack plate.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Lack of info. what problems are you having?

 

[crotalis40741]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Lack of info. what problems are you having?

I have tried a 21 pitch 3 blade the boat wouldn't get on plain for blowing out, a 23 pitch 3 blade and it would get on plain
but could only get half throttle before it would over rev, a four blade 24 pitch and it was sluggish to plain but once on plain
was really fast but had a lot of vibration at lower speeds and is hard to get the tilt right for good water pressure. I am trying
a 24 pitch 3 blade next. I was asking if it looked too high because everyone talks about 3.5 inches below pad and I was not sure how to measure that.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

The "pad" would be inset up under the boat "transom". (The lowest point on the bottom where the drain plug is) That is where you measure from; not the back where the motor is mounted.

With boat on a hard level surface(your driveway?) measure the distance from the "pad" to the ground.

With the motor level, measure the distance from the prop shaft center line to the ground.

The difference is how far below the pad the prop shaft is. Put another way, subtract 3.5 inches from your pad to ground figure; that is your target prop shaft to ground figure.

Eye balling your picture; I'd say you are too high. It appears that your prop shaft is barely below the pad.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Have you tried experimenting with lowering your jack plate? Seems like the easiest thing to do.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Have you tried experimenting with lowering your jack plate? Seems like the easiest thing to do.

That is what he is going to do, after he takes the proper measurements. Set it at 3.5 inches below the pad and adjust from there. The jack plate makes it really easy.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

That is what he is going to do, after he takes the proper measurements. Set it at 3.5 inches below the pad and adjust from there. The jack plate makes it really easy.

That's why I asked. An afternoon on the water and all done. Maybe I think it's easier said than done.

 

[crotalis40741]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Thank you all for the input, I am going to measure it and and go from there. I am a novice and
am wanting to make sure I understand everything before I go changing things lol

 

[crotalis40741]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

I got the measuring done today. It is 2.5 inches below pad. I also took the boat out today and the 24 pitch three blade got me on plain well but I could only get about half throttle out of it before it would over rev. I am going to drop it another inch and retry the boat before I go looking for a 25 pitch prop. I am not sure if one inch will make that big enough difference.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

1" can make a big difference and unless you have a really light and fast hull 2.5" is really high. You should be in the 3.5" area to start out with.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Do you have a tach and gps speed? If it was I, I would lower it all the way down. and UP in 1/4 inch increments until you find the sweet spot. Iwould not keep changing props untill you figure that out. MY .02

 

[crotalis40741]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Do you have a tach and gps speed? If it was I, I would lower it all the way down. and UP in 1/4 inch increments until you find the sweet spot. Iwould not keep changing props untill you figure that out. MY .02

I don't have speed but I have a tach, I am lowering it as soon as weather permits. Thank you for the input

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Does this look to high or is it just me?

Borrow a hand held GPS if you don't already have one, for MPH speed.