86' 20vt Shadow Bass Boat w/ 92' 200 Merc.

[Boone4]

I've purchased my 1st tunnel V Bass Boat and I'm looking for guidance regarding prop selection. The motor is sitting on a manual Jack plate and has an aftermarket lower unit with nose cone. The Transom has been re-done as well as flooring. The motor was just rebuilt with a new block and she runs good. I'm 6'3'' 290lbs and with little fishing gear I had this last Saturday I was only able to get her to do 55. The current prop is a 25 Pitch Laser II. The former owner said it would do 74 as is with him but that guy was 5'1'' 160lbs. The owner before him said he had this same boat and motor combo with a different prop and it ran 84. I'm looking for a good all around set up and a prop that will raise the bow up on the tunnels. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Brad

[KIRCHNER]

I HAD a shadow vt with a 220 2.4 with 2 persons it ran 75, running a 26 merc chopper. had good bow lift but be carefull when u back off at w.o.t. your rig should run faster than 55. i cant remember the RPM. A TROPHY should work good also.

[Boone4]

Based on the Homework I've done it looks like a Tempest Plus or a chopper would be a good option

[KIRCHNER]

Based on the Homework I've done it looks like a Tempest Plus or a chopper would be a good optionGO with the chopper. if you can find a solas scorpion, they are fast with super lift , thru-hub big diameter tons of lift works great for me.

[Merc 2.5]

What kinda rpm does it turn now? I'm with yall. Sumthin dont seem right unless it's really heavy , how deep/high u runnin that prop?

[Boone4]

The current prop is 25P Laser II and from what I understand they work best with runabouts and ski boats. The boat ran 55 and was turning the mid 5k range for RPM's I understand that the Laser II prop doesn't provide much lift at all. I'm not sure what the boat weighs but I can tell you that you can lift the boat and trailer by the tongue with one finger. My local Mercury dealer is a pro staffer for Mercury and he's going to let me use his personal Tempest Plus 25 pitch prop. I know other guys with the same boat and HP engine are having good results with the Tempest Plus 26 Pitch. I don't have the most knowledge of Manufacturers and styles of props but others including Kirchner recommend a Chopper. The Lightning ET prop under Mercuryracing.com would qualify as a chopper style correct?

[Merc 2.5]

1st off. Laser 2 imho not that great of a prop , tempest is gud prop and will notice a big difference, merc et prop has little less lift than a chopper prop , but et prop faster on a lighter boat that dont need as much bow lift ,and they r used with low water pick up lower. which u say u have nose come I assume lwpu also , the lifting boat on trailer dont say much. Could b trailer is balanced that way(more weight on rear) definitely try tempest and report back, I'd be lookin for bout 6000 rpm

[ultrafast]

The boats are light. But they are filled with foam. If its waterlogged the boat will be heavy. When i replaced my stringers i used the newstyle foam. It has been discussed before to add a drain plug in the aft of each side to check.

[ultrafast]

Heres mine not a bass boat but same bottom443648

[Boone4]

The boat hull is the tunnel V and there are 3 plugs in the hull. One plug for each tunnel and one for the center V. I never thought about checking to see if the insulation is water logged but that could be the issue. I'll report back once I run her with the Tempest Plus 25 Pitch.

[ShadowFlier]

I had a 88' with a 2.4 200. A 24 ET was the best all around prop for it. I got it to 74 gps at 6300 rpm's. Sounds like your motor is buried in the water.

452846

[rgsauger]

How much setback on jack plate and how high is your propshaft to pad? You should be even with the pad or 1" to 1.5" above.

I run a 26 Hydromotive 4 blade on my same rig.

Laser II props SUCK out loud!!!!!!! PISS POUR prop for our boats. Mine came with one and it was a PIG. I sold it to a guy for like $50 so he could have a spare. I picked up literally 10 mph just playing with props. At 55, you are not up on the final pad yet. That happens around 62 to 63 or so and that's when things get FUN!

[86shadow]

I'm currently in my sixth Shadow 200vt. Best i ever ran was with a 28p Lightning ET but be careful surfacing that aftermarket lower, you might break a propshaft and lose a $600 prop. JMO, Jim B.

[Pulsare2400]

GO with the chopper. if you can find a solas scorpion, they are fast with super lift , thru-hub big diameter tons of lift works great for me.
I have a brand new Solas 24p Scorpion (supposedly turns like a 25 - 26P Tempest with excellent bow lift if you need one.