2.4 Mercury high elevation set-up

[fordjunky]

I bought a 1990 barefoot sanger out off CA. It now lives at around 5000 feet in CO.

The boat weighs about 1500 lbs.

It has a '90 mercury 175 on it.

I am not looking for max MPH, I care about out of the hole power and good top end.

I know I will need to re-jet the carbs. I was planning to rebuild them at the same time. I figured I would also put some reeds in it while I am that close.

Does anyone have advice on how many sizes to go down on jets?

Also looking for advice on props. It currently has a high five 21p prop, would stepping down to a 19 be a worth while expense?

thanks for the advice

[hsbob]

stay with the h5 to start with, but add a pair of doel fins. they really reduce the hole shot and will not reduce max mph. look into the merc manual and follow they,re jetting rem.

if you dont have a jack plate get one. that worth as many as 10 mph.

also we need to know the speed and rpms

[fordjunky]

doel fins will reduce hole shot?

I am looking for as much hole shot as I can. I will give up mph for pulling power.

I ordered a 19p highfive.

[Dave Strong]

The manual says 2500-5000' main and vent jets .002" smaller if no vent jet don't install one, idle.002" larger. 5000-7500' .004" smaller main and vent, .004" larger on idle. 19 highfive for sure, doel fin probably not needed on that hull.

Dave

[fordjunky]

thanks Dave, that is exactly what I was looking for.

[hsbob]

not to argue, but the doel fin add so much hole shot reduction in time that they are worth it. if you go to the old hydrostream racing site you'll fin almost all boat had a fin of some sort.

the doel fins are cheap [40] and easy to install or remove.

another thing to try is increasing the compression ratio. you'll have to use high test gas. jays machine does this work and you should ask about o-ring gaskets. its my opinion after lossing 5 1988 to 1996 motors to blown gaskets and having run my 2004 200xs [o-ring motor] with out that issue for 11 yrs.

[Dave Strong]

A well designed hull will not benefit from a doel fin. They were made to help poorly designed hulls work better.

Dave