Re: motor height question
The correct height for any rig is a combination of things. You have to take in account hull design, propeller type, prop design, balance and your specific designed useage.<br /><br />Take two identical flats boats for example. Both are the same brand, model and 20' boat. Both have hydraulic jackplates. Both have the same motor -- stock 2004 ABC 150's. Both are pad bottom stepped hulls with 2 lifting strakes per side. Neither are air entrapment hulls. <br /><br />Boat #1 is set up for tournament fishing. 2 guys, a full 30 gal livewell, 50 gal fuel and a release tank that will (hopefully) be full, another 30 gal water. Theres a trolling motor in the front with batteries (lots of nose weight). The biggest and heaviest of both. The trolling motor may get used as much as 6 hours a day so the batteries better keep up. There is a 4th battery to help keep up with all the pumps and other 12 volt gear. These guys want the boat to perform as best it can with a lot of weight in calm to very moderate conditions.<br /><br />Boat #2 is a weekend fisherman. Still 2 guys but they fish artifical bait so the weight of the livewell water isnt a factor. They never carry more than 25 gal fuel. The release tank will never get water in it as these guys are on the filet and release program. They have a trolling motor but its a bit smaller and lighter. The batteries are smaller too and in the back (less nose weight). If they use the trolling motor for a total of 4 hours, its a lot in one day. Since they arent running livewell pumps there is no 4th battery. These guys want the most speed with a minimum of weight. <br /><br />Lets further assume they both want 4 blade props. That simplifies things even further yet you can see how both would have totally different props. <br /><br />Now what if one doesnt have a hydraulic plate? The motor is in a fixed position on the transom. It may not be able to be raised high enough to take advantage of the 4 blade technology.<br /><br />What if one doesnt care about fishing or running in the flats or shallow water? But the other one is so he is very concerned about being able to jack the motor high enough, and still run, over those shallow spots. So now you need a prop that will still hook up running at a very high X dimension from time to time. The other isnt concerned about shallow water but he does run in what can become very rough water. Remamber, he doesnt have a hydraulic jackplate so he cant drop the motor slightly. The motor has to be positioned so he can still maintain control of the boat when it gets rough.<br /><br />Now, what if you still have 2 20' fishing boats but one is a pad bottom stepped hull and is an air entrapment hull. The other is a conventinal V bottom. No pad, step or air entrapment. 3 lifting strakes per side. <br /><br />Well, you get the idea. It comes down to defined usage.
