Mercury 150 H.P. Inline

[77STREAM]

I am looking for any information on finding a 4" setback manual jackplate for this motor. I only need about 4" of travel. I have a 1977 Hydrostream Vector. The usual jackplates will not work due to the power trim being outside of the motor bracket. Changing to a new motor is not an option this year! I have been looking for 9 months, and nothing! I would also consider having a custom one made if anyone out there can, or has done this. E - mail info to Liberty291@aol.com, and thanks in advance!

[Raceman]

First of all, I'm not sure setback on a Vector with an inline is worth the trouble.

There are some other issues that you'll have to address besides power trim width. The clamp bracket on the engine has more than 4" of thickness, excluding the amount that the bolts stick out the front. If it's 73 - 74 model engine, the plastic T handles are going to make this even worse. If it's a 75 through 77 engine the hex type bolts will be easier to work with. Even so, with only 4" of setback you're gonna have to mount the engine high enough that the bolts are ABOVE the transom of the Vector, or either notch the top of the transom. If you mount it where they're above in the down position, the transom height is gonna be too high even at full speed, let alone trying to get the boat on top. Remember, an inline is already 3/4" shorter than a std length V6 and a Vector has a higher than 20" transom already. It's been a long time since I rigged one, but it seems like it's about 22 inches stock. You'll also have to deal with the fact that the transom bolts aren't going to screw into the clamp brackets far enough to mount the engine to just the thickness of the plate, however that can be easily fixed with some type of shim on the inside of the plate, even something as simple as a piece of 2 X 4.

Back to the question, I think you're gonna have to have at least 5, but probably more like 6" of setback to not have a top of transom/clamp bracket bolt interference problem. As far as making a plate, any manual plate with a solid piece of 3/4 alum. mounted to it would solve your trim issues, but I think you're gonna be disappointed in the effort and expense vs the result.

Incidentally, unless you're trying to get the motor WAY below the stock transom height to pull skiers or somethin' like that, there's no way you need anything like 4" of travel. You're going to find out that very much above the stock transom height with an inline is counterproductive. I put a 1500XS on one of mine one time, which is EXACTLY 4 " shorter than your engine and it didn't work well at all. Even though it'll run higher with the setback than with mine which was bolted directly to the transom, you still won't like that much height and water pressure will likely become an issue also, unless you're going with low water pickups.

I'd recommend that you run it like it is, and if that doesn't scratch your itch plan on upgrading to a different engine next year.

[77STREAM]

Raceman, thanks for the reply. I didn't mention the year of the motor. It is a 1977. If I decide not to go with the jack plate, what would be the proper propshaft height, and prop combination? The Vector has a step up at the back, so would this measurement be from the very back of the boat, or from the lowest point of the bottom of the boat? Sorry for all the questions. This is my first Hydrostream and my family will, from time to time, be in the boat so I want to make it safe, as well as have fun by myself! Everything is stock on the motor. I am hoping to go with a new motor next year but do not know if funds$$ will be available, so I may be stuck with this motor for a couple of years, so I am trying to squeak everything I can out of this setup! Also do you know of anyone around Southeast Michigan who could set this up properly? Thank you for your advice!

[Fulltilt]

If you can bring it up this far, I've heard that Water Wonderland in Mt. Morris, are some of the best in MI. at setting up hydrostreams. Their phone number is 810 686-1050.
Dar

[crazy horse]

Water Wonderland is where my Viper came from.:D I run a Bobs plate that I cut down to 2-1/2 of setback (I wanted as little as possible). I run my XS high enough that the clamps aren't a issue but they can be if your not running the prop shaft even with or above the bottom, Or there abouts.

[Fulltilt]

Crazy horse,
I called Water Wonderland a couple of months ago about riggin a viper I was thinking about buying, but when I got to the part about a inline 150 the guy I was talking to said " Oh no, that would be too much motor for a boat that size!". :eek: :eek: :eek:

[crazy horse]

I don't think Water Wonderland does much High performance work anymore. In the seventys they setup some of the fastest outboards in the state. I think all the guys that used to run fast boats are long gone from there.

[77STREAM]

Crazyhorse, that setup is exactly what I am looking for. Did you rig it yourself or did Water Wonderland do it for you? If you did it yourself would you consider doing another! That picture shows the detail taken in setting your inline up the right way. What type of numbers do you get with this? I'm only 1 hr South of Davidson. I saw another post from there, but wasn't sure where you were. I appreciate the picture showing all the workings. If we could work something out I would appreciate it, and would make it worth your while $. Let me know here (on the board) or you can e-mail me at MICHIGANCHARGERS@aol.com . Thanks for the help, and any other helpful advice from anyone is appreciated!

[sho305]

My dumb question: Could you elaborate on the V6/inline setback on a viper/vector? Seems simple to see the inline is I think around 75lbs lighter, so simple mind would conclude the inline could have more setback and be the same to the hull.:) Does the higher V6 speeds make a difference? Does the I6 handle better than the V6? I assume with V6 speeds and common LWPs you have a greater need to raise it higher, I was just thinking more setback was not as bad with the lighter motor particualrly on the vector:confused:

[crazy horse]

77STREAM, Yes I rigged it. I rig 1 or 2 boats a year when I have the time or if work slows down. Water Wonderland set it up with the 74 short shaft 30 years ago but it's been changed around some sence then. I wish I had time to rig one, I like doing it . Summer is real busy for me work wise. One of the guys on this board talked me into cutting his jackplate and setting it up for a inline . I told Joe as long as he didn't need it right away I'd get to it if it was here in the shop. I don't live to far from you, I'm about eight miles west of Fenton about two miles north of Linden. sho305, My viper was balanced PERFECT without the jack. I hated to install one but I wanted to screw with these speedmasters and after talking with Raceman, He had the best luck with them running a little deeper than the stock cases. I still wanted to run my stock case so I needed a way to move the motor down about a inch or so for the ssm (still testing them) and could raise it back up to run my stock case. Even mounting it only 2 1/2 back changed the way it handled. I moved my seats forward a inch and changed spacers behind the steering wheel and now it's balanced pretty close. My hulls real light it has all the weight in the back and the engine is as light as it can be also, I was hoping it wouldn't but I thought it might make a differance. On a stock Vector hull I would think the lighter engine would make less of a differance.

[sho305]

So maybe it would be highly likely that a V6 and/or jack equipped vector/viper has weight moved forward to balance it then; that is where the difference comes out?

Any conclusions on the speedmaster testing....? My 'stream will have to wait until next year:rolleyes: