Set up Question: How do you know.....

[Cormac]

I have been dialing in my 21 foot bassboat (1640 pounds) with 10" plate, 225 Optimax, 25" Trophy and am now a little confused. If I have a roster tail higher than my cowling and if I raise the engine any higher I slow down. If I go any lower I also slow down. My question is How do you know if the engine is too high (causing the rooster tail) or not enough setback like needing another 2" of setback (better balance and easier to lift the bow).

[Rickracer]

.... you could use more setback. If your roost is higher than the top of your cowl, you are probably using some positive trim. How are your slip numbers? RPM vs. Speed with the motor lowered and higher? :cool:

[Cormac]

I use all the trim available. I get to my fastest speed then run out of trim. Thinking that there was still more rather than adding trim extenders, I added 3 SST washers for a test and picked up more MPH's. I was a cooler day though. I think I am around 10%, 70-71 MPH and Rpm 5600 to 5800. I think I lose 1 MPH going up or down 1/4". Thanks for any suggestions.

[Rickracer]

...your best speed should come at neutral or just slightly positive. I'd add the 2" spacers and see what happens. It may take a little more than that to get the most out of your rig, but it should definitely be a step in the right direction. :cool:

[350cavi]

Yeah, I would sugguest either adding 2 inch spacers, or just buy a new/used 12 inch jackplate. But I honestly think that going to a full 12 inches will be the better bet for that boat, I mean with the weight and all being said, 12 inches should be good

[Superdave]

all being said, 12 inches should be good

That's what she said....
SD

[350cavi]

....yeah, AROUND...!! lol

[big D]

what make boat is it??what water press.?have you tried any other model prop?

[150aintenuff]

you sound as if you need a little prop work on the trophy to maximise lift and a slightly larger setback( 12-15 ") to neutralize the need for 16* of possitive trim to lift the bow 5* or so to get maximum speed. add 2 inches and see if speed peaks before trim runs out or if it is still climbing at full trim. if so send your trophy off to a recomended prop builder such as DAH or Chuck Boger and let them work their magic on it and that should gain you some more. realalisticly it should be running around 74-76 when totally dialed in and the prop is perfected in every way at or near 6K

[Reese]

I agree with what everyone has said...the only thing I say is that sometimes, even though more setback would appear to help your trim situation, you may find that it will have the opposite effect hurting both top speed and holeshot.


If your pad isn't wide enough...more setback will only cause your stern to dig deeper in the water at both ends of the speed spectrum.

The other thing to consider is that very few transoms will be happy with 15" setbacks...how is your boat normally rigged from the factory?

[Cormac]

It is a Legend bassboat made in Arkansas. A relatively new boat. It is essentially the old Hawk hull. I guess you could say it has some similarities to Champions and Cobras. I have plenty of water pressure as it has the factory low water inlets on the lower unit. The factory rigs them with 10" plates. I have tried a Tempest 25" and required all the trim again for max speed. I think I am 3.25" below the pad. I have the 2" extensions to try but have not gotten around to it yet (or the dealer has not). I run the boat fairly heavy in tackle up front and do not want to change that. I am hoping the additional setback will ease lifting the front, and I have also heard that you can have too much setback. I spoke to the factory and they were experimented with a 12" plate and the fact that they were trying a 12" makes me think they wanted more lift. They suggested a bow lifting prop like the Tempest and that is how they rig thier boats. They also said they had some potential handling concerns on hard turns. with the 12". I am thinking since I am running it fairly heavy, it has its work cut out just lifting. I know it would be faster with less weight up front, but that is not how I plan to use the boat and I just want to maximize its potential and efficiency for the way I run it weight-wise. All input is appreciated. Thanks.

[Reese]

Legends are nice looking boats...some look more like speed boats than bassboats.

I understand wanting to run the boat like you want...but top speed is affected much more with weight added to the front 1/3rd of the boat compared to the back end. If you can compromise a little you might find more speed gain from any setback or prop work...and it's free.

If the factory is trying out a 12 maybe there is some room for improvement...but I seriously doubt it's much more than 1 or 2 MPH at best. The problem is that most 20-21' bass boats come with 10-12 inch pads which work best with 8-10 setbacks. Strokers have 14" wide pads and use about 15" setbacks.

Adding more setback increases the load placed on the pad...if the pad is not wide enough to support this new load, your transom will actually dig into the water at speed. You may have gained bow lift but now you also have a higher angle of attack. Both of these cancel out and you don't gain any speed.

I would try out the spacers, but check your 0-30 mph time before and after....what ever little speed (if any) you gain at the top end you may loose even more at the bottom. BTW I think 3.25 is a very good engine height...I wouldn't change it.

Good luck with the setup.

[progression22]

I had the same problem with myboat. I come to find out the trophy is too small in dia. The trophy is 13 3/4 and it's to small of a blade to carry the boat that high up out of the water. Try a Mazco RE4 and it will get rid of that problem. The Re4 is 14 1/2 dia.

[blkmtrfan]

Progression 22, so you are using a Mazco RE4 :cool: (I know where I can borrow one, but I think it will be too much pitch), What pitch and what height do you run your propshaft?, thanks

[progression22]

I haven't pick my prop yet, I still have to try a few odd ball props before i choose what i will stay with.

[blkmtrfan]

Joe (Progression 22) I am not trying to steal any of your race secrets, I don't think I will trailer 3000 miles to race in GSB SOB this year, ;) but I do want to play with my set up a little more. I also think that I may have jacked up my motor too high (right now it is even with the pad, 12” setback & 7” notch). Did you really like the Mazco better than the trophy? If diameter is a big contributor, I wonder how a Bravo I 4-blade might work?


Anyway just trying to consider all the options. I do think the SOB setups are fairly similar (size and weight) to some of the bass boats (other than the V-pad to flat pad difference).



I do find it interesting that Reese thinks that 3 1/4" below is a good height, I thought that would be a little too low :confused:

[Tampa Cat]

Cormac

My experience with the RE4 in general has been that it planes and carries a load well and gives very good top speed with really good bow lift ,all while jacked high and holds a lot of trim.This prop is going to have some steering torque jacked and trimmed like your setup but you may be able to avoid some of that set back.I suggest you try a Ballistik,huge trim power,little steering torque,runs good at 3 to 4 inches up. It may not be a fast set up prop but you not setting up a fast boat with all that weight in the nose.

[progression22]

You should come down here, it would be a great time boating with you. Right now i am about 1 1/2 above the pad with the prop shaft. When i went 2 inches the bow fell do to the dia of the prop. The best speed with the trophy was 88.9 with 3 big guys in the boat or by myself. I really don't want to say how fast i went with other props yet bec i still have to hand out some beating. But to answer your question yes a larger dia prop will increase the top end and you get can stay 2 inches above the pad with the prop shaft. Then you can start going up with the motor heigh. Perfect height i was told was is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches above the pad. You are in the same boat as me bec i am going to start trying all different props when i get the boat back. I found one very odd prop that i will try in a couple of weeks and io will let you know how i made out.

[blkmtrfan]

Thanks for the reply Joe, Sounds like you have you motor pretty high, I didn't think you could go that high with a trophy...


Maybe, after you put some other SOB's on the trailer, you would be willing to share a little more of your secrets ;)

I really do hope to come out to NY some day, and if so I will definately look up all of the LI guys :cool:

[progression22]

you are very welcome, as soon as i whoop jerry i will tell u everthing. What setback do u have? To go that far up, you have to have at least 12 inches

[blkmtrfan]

Joe I have a 12" setback and 7" notch, thanks again Scott

[Lars T]

Picking up an old tread again..

Progression22 - any updates?? ;)