propping a flats boat

[mikeym]

im in need of a little help. ive got an old 17' hewes (850-900#) with a '96 evinrude 150 with low water pickup, on a jack plate with a 5.5" offset. there are baitwells on either side of the motor, that act as trim tabs when running the boat. theres a 23 pitch ballistic 3-blade on it now thats a little beat up, and the boat wont run but 49mph at 5000 rpm. with the baitwells like they are, even trimming it out, a lot of the boat is still in the water, it runs very flat. the jack plate is set so the prop shaft is about 4-5" under the boat. the front of the prop is 32" off the transom, but only 18" behind the baitwells. i would think this should be a 60+ mph boat easy, what do you guys think i should try? thanks

[Dingie 2]

E mail or call Marcus at power tec props he is a Maverick/Hewes prop guru. Maverick/ Hewes boats have a great forum . www.maverickboats.com (http://www.maverickboats.com) You may be able to find someone with the same set up as you on the HMP forum,Marcus from power tec props uses the screen name funky monkey on the maverick forum.IM sure that he can help you. Joe Raimondo

[mikeym]

i havent played with the jack plate yet, would dropping the motor down a little, lift more of the boat out of the water?

[150aintenuff]

beat up prop.... good paperweight, NOT a good performer.. first order is to get a new wheel.... before you go adjusting the setup..

id look to a 22 or 21 trophy or even a 21 or 22 tempest.. 52 or 53 might be all you can get if it doesnt want to lift if it lifts properly 55 or 60 MIGHT be possible.... at 4" below your better off with a standard case, a cone is only huindering your speeds, especially if you dont jack the motor up higher than that point in the shallows...

[fountain1fan]

im in need of a little help. ive got an old 17' hewes (850-900#) with a '96 evinrude 150 with low water pickup, on a jack plate with a 5.5" offset. there are baitwells on either side of the motor, that act as trim tabs when running the boat. theres a 23 pitch ballistic 3-blade on it now thats a little beat up, and the boat wont run but 49mph at 5000 rpm. with the baitwells like they are, even trimming it out, a lot of the boat is still in the water, it runs very flat. the jack plate is set so the prop shaft is about 4-5" under the boat. the front of the prop is 32" off the transom, but only 18" behind the baitwells. i would think this should be a 60+ mph boat easy, what do you guys think i should try? thanks

ihi mike i have a a scout 162 sf flats boat with a 90 hp merc and i'm runnig 55+ so i know yours ought to be at 60 + easy you need a good prop . try bblads i know brett cant set you up right . he learned from the best DC

[mikeym]

the boat just feels suctioned. it feels like you are buried, and that you can trim it out and the boat will start to take off, but the boat doesnt ever lift. i think the motor is too far out of the water and isnt trimming the boat out like it should. im gonna ditch the jack plate tomorrow and lower the motor a bit, i think it will allow the bow to lift more when i trim it out.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I would try a GOOD prop first if it was me. I've got an 18 PRO-LINE FLATS boat, and can only pull off 49 with my current set-up. But my hull is a HEAVY SOB. I'll be trying a TROPHY PLUS next week to see if that helps. I wouldn't lower the engine down either unless your cavitating. Mine needs to go down some for my HIGH FIVE, but I hope it will work out with a TROPHY PLUS.

[afr]

the thing is probably full of wet wood or foam
to much weight
take it by the scales
you should be like 1200 on the hull 375 or so on the motor then 350 maybe on the trailer
i would think you should be well under 1800 lbs

oh yea beat up prop ??
we still need pictures to help you

[THEFERMANATOR]

My boat is the one that's heavy, he stated his weighs around 900 pounds. Mine is one heavy SOB, even have the PRO-LINE brochure listing the bare hull at 1450 pounds:eek:. But it rides like a bay boat, but runs almost as shallow as the light weight flats boats.

[mikeym]

i pulled the jack plate and mounted the motor all the way up on the transom. the boat sits a LOT better in the water and it lifted a little more out of the water. i picked up a few mph to just over 54, but still can only manage 5000 rpms. they list the hull as 860 pounds, motor at #370, im #240, 25 gallons of fuel(#200), and a trolling motor(#25?) up front is the only additional weight. the baitwells on the transom fill up also, so there another 100-150 pounds prolly. i feel like the boat is lifting as much as it can now without the help another prop, being the baitwells act like permanently down tabs. i guess i just need to drop down to a 21 3 blade or 20 4 blade. maybe a fresh prop that can turn 5500 will get me a few more mph?