please help - boat wont get out of water

[Texas Bassman]

18' 96 skeeter, 96 2.5L MERC 150, no jackplate, 20" 4-blade chopper

I am having trouble getting out of the water, the motor spins up to its rev limiter and the prop doesnt hook up. Once i feather the throttle I can get on plane and it has great response.

Besides changing props, what do i need to do to stop or reduce the the cavitation? My friend has a XB2003 Ali with a 4-blade mazco and it does not cavitate at all.

[SportJ-US-1]

If you are gonna run a chopper, you better learn to live with it. Cause that's how they work. Part throttle (3000 to 3500 RPM) until hook up and then nail it.

[whatsamerc??]

do you have low water pickups? the chopper props need to be run on the surface. if you don have a jackplate the moter is probably too low....benji

[tj309]

I doubt the motor is too low if you are hitting 5000rpm's on initial acceleration. A properly set up rig should hit around 3-3500 which is why when you back off on the throttle the prop does hook up. You might consider a thru-hub exhaust prop but if you can't hit 3000rpm you will have to drill ventilation holes in the prop to allow it to do so.

[pyro]

Over-hub round-ear props (only MERC props are actualy called "choppers" by the way), can actually ventilate worse out of the hole if they're not allowed to surface at all. You must have one of those mystery porps that someone sold a few of here recently. Your hull is not an XB. Forgetaboutit! Put a Trophy or Tempest on there instead, 21-24p range should be the ticket, much better suited to the average bass application. And most are already fitted with pluggable ventilation holes that can be used to fine-tune holeshot characteristics.

[Texas Bassman]

Does anyone think adding some cup to the prop or adding motor height will help?

I have 23" laser II - it works ok, but why does my friends XB hook up out of the hole with an oth mazco?

[The Big Al]

18' 96 skeeter, 96 2.5L MERC 150, no jackplate.

A Jackplate will help your boat a lot.
Skeeter is no light boat! They build a strong heavy boat!

[YELLOWXD]

Why would you bother running a chopper prop on a 60-65 mph boat. I have two friends with the exact same boat and they run good. Can get you some information but you need to get rid of that prop.

[MODXR6]

You shouldn't be trying to run a chopper type (over hub exhaust) prop on that hull to begin with. You got too much weight for that hp on that prop. Get yourself at least a 5" jackplate & a 24 trophy or a power tech tro4 24.
If you wanna try to emulate your friend's ally then get an ally cause you ain't even gunna get close with your skeeter.Skeeter's great fishin boats, had 8 of em & luved em all but you can only do so much with em when it comes to speed & then you hit a wall. Been there dun that got the t shirt

[tj309]

Props are the key - you are running a race prop and expecting ski prop results. You cant have ultimate top end and ski hole shot in one package.

[RB in NM]

As already said, that boat would be better suited with a small hub Trophy wheel.Work on setup, correct wheel for that hull, and accept the performance you get out of it.
Comparing a lighter ultra performance pad hull's (did not mention the power on it) performance with a similar prop iz apples and oranges.
The skeeter is a fine hull and the 150 suits the 18' well. You just need to locate a nice wheel for it, and perhaps a 6" jackplate later.
RB