Boat Setup: Jackplates, Props/Pitch, Top Speed and RPM

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nick Berto on February 11, 2009 at 7:40am

I too am curious of all this. Good topic. The previous owner of my boat was telling me all sorts of this and i didn't quite get it.

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on February 11, 2009 at 8:01am

To measure prop to pad height, you take a straightedge and put it on the flat side of the pad of the boat. Make sure the trailer is level with the jack, then try to get the motor level. The difference between the pad and the tip of the nosecone, which should be in line with the propshaft is the measurement. I'm not a expert, but tuning is done on the water by making 1/4 inch adjustments with your jackplate until speed increases but water pressure starts to decrease. If you don't have a water pressure gauge, I wouldn't mess around with this. Most common measurement would probably be 3.5 inchs below on most boats. I think thats where I have mine set.
Heres my setup: 05 BassCat Sabre. B&B 23 Tempest plus 3 blade (mark croxton on BBC is the man) 3.5 inch below pad, 05 Merc XR6 carb motor, 5800 rpm hitting limiter in winter, 64.1 best GPS.
I sure would like to try the new Fury props, I have heard good things.

Those are real world numbers for my boat. When someone comes here and claims 80 with a Ranger you can call BS ;)

What are you running Swine ?? If someone knows their stuff they will need to know your setup before they can give advice.

HERES'S A GOOD LIST OF TIPS. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/supertips.htm

Permalink Reply by Daniel on February 11, 2009 at 10:28am

I have a 201 Champ with a 200 Merc EFI on a 6" Rapid jack jackplate
With my old Yamaha 25M prop I was 65-67mph
With a Tempest 25p A45 I have seen 70mph but normally run 67-69
Im pushing 6000 rpms with 24 psi water.
Half gas tank empty live wells and just me solo.

Im looking at trying 26P props to get my rpms down and speed up a little on the top end even if I have a slower hole shot.

Permalink Reply by NickBarrFishing.com on February 11, 2009 at 9:32pm

2007 Legend LE-186 with an 07 Optimax 150
18'6, 95 inch beam and a 10 inch manual Jackplate
Merc Tempest Plus 23 Pitch
Best Speed 63.5 MPH in Early spring on Lake Sam with 5800 RPMS with a light tournament load. I believe I am running 3" under pad cant really remember.

Day in and day out I can run 58-60 with a full tournament load. On this side of the mountains.

Boat is for sale by the way, if anybody knows anyone in the market for an 18 footer, give me a ring

Permalink Reply by Buck Brunner on February 12, 2009 at 10:29pm

Thanks for all the replies.

I have a 2007 Triton TR196, 200HP Optimax, 25 Tempest Prop, and running at about 62-65MPH top speed with 3/4 tank of fuel, passenger, and full boat load at 5500 RPM, 25-30 PSI water pressure at top speed.

Seems that the boat should be faster, maybe 70-75MPH.
I might raise the jackplate one click and see how she runs. Chine walk starts at about 60MPH, but that is expected with a Triton hull I guess.

Since water pressure is 25-30lbs at full speed on my current setup, then I would imagine raising the motor one click or 1/4 inch would maybe give more top speed and still maintain decent water pressure.

The holeshot is awesome though, planes almost instantly, so don't want to lose that, but I guess you give up some holeshot for top speed?

Motor is approx 6 inches off bow (Stock jackplate from dealer), So I can only raise or lower the motor for now.

Permalink Reply by Chris Blandi on February 13, 2009 at 9:07am

If its at stock setup I'm sure you can go up with no issues. Your water pressure is great, so thats good. I'd go up 1/4 inch at a time and see how it works out. You shouldn't lose hole shot by raising the jackplate, unless you go too high haha.

Permalink Reply by Aaron Christel on February 13, 2009 at 10:22pm

Swine, on the Tritons, chine should start a little higher in speed. Those boats like the motor higher, and with your water preasure, you should be able to go pretty high. I was with a friend in a 21x/250 pro xs combo last week. He had a lot of chine above 60 also, so we raised the jack about an inch and it nocked most of it out until 70+. Motor hight is critical on a Triton.

1986 Ranger 373V, (17'10", 90" beam) 150 Merc XR2 (rebuilt last year) 24" prop
Full load, 2 people, 3 1/2 inches below the pad, 18-20lbs wa presure, 56.2mph gps
Lowrance HDS5, Eagle 480, Minn Kota Maxxum 74 w/ built in transducer

I want 60!!! More tweeking, 25M, and a light load should get me there... Those old Rangers are heavy and slow :( But it looks nice and fishes great :)

Permalink Reply by Ronald Hobbs, Jr. on February 17, 2009 at 9:32pm

I have drove 4 different models of tritons 4 different models of Rangers, 2 different models of Skeeters and 2 different models of stratos and 2 different bass cats. Some are faster some are slower. All of them had there limits. Saying this all of them drive different require different setups, and all had one thing in common they got me around the lake.

The most important rule is to learn to drive your boat first. There is no need to go out there and change jack plate heights or props if you don't know how to drive a high performance boat. There is no need to go out and get a different prop than your boat dealer set you up with. These are usually factory recommended props and your boat will perform the best with these props. If you decide to raise your motor your water pressure should never ever drop below 20lbs at full throttle. Newer motors have low water pick ups older versions have the old stadbye systems. The newer versions allow you to raise your motor higher and still get good water pressure. Bow lift, hole shot, props, there is not enough time in the day to talk about all these.

All boats chine walk. The remedy for this I believe is just knowing your boat and learning to drive it. Know your boat and become on with your boat. Just like your fishing rods it should be an extension of your arm.

p.s. the boat doesn't catch the fish the fisherman does!

Permalink Reply by Mike Stahlman on February 17, 2009 at 10:50pm

This is a good topic.

I have played around with my boat for a while. I finally got a good setting and prop. Boat is a 2005 ZX-250 with a T-1 Prop Blueprinted from Marks Props. GPS was 76.0 on Sammamish on Feb 3rd pre-fishing for the tournament coming up. I have a 27 pitch prop also.

I had 3/4 tanks and about half gear in the boat and I was by myself. Add another guy and some gear and probably looking at 73.5-74.5 or so. Anyone looking to get there prop repaired. Marks Props is the Poop. He does really good work.

I was reading the prior posts about chine walk. I had a problem with that in the past and Mark M helped me out a bit. Raising the motor got rid of it. I had a tiny bit at 76mph but it was easy to drive out of. It was way worse until I raised the motor.