Mirage Setup

**Peter J** · 11-24-2008, 05:14 PM

I'm changing from a 20" to a 15" mid. I purchased a 20=15 setback plate from hydrodynamics. I also have 2" bobs spacer plates. Has anyone tried this and should i install the 2" spacers? Any advice/opinion would be great..

**RNM018** · 11-24-2008, 06:47 PM

What model Mirage are you running . On my 3 seater , I went from 6 " set back with a 20" mid , to 10" of setback with the 15" mid .A ski Racer 4 seater may like something differant . But I did it with the jack plate , not spacers . If your using a Factory 15" mid , keep in mind you've already got 2" added in the the clamp bracket . Rich Martin 018

**Jay Smith** · 11-24-2008, 07:06 PM

Rich is correct about the 2" built in set back on the OEM 15" mids. I have raced most every hull designed Brad's ever built ( I was sponcered by Mirage while I was racing ) and that sure seems a long way back on the transom on one of his hulls. IMO The CG would be such that the hull would sure be bow light with that much angle in the fulcrum toward the rear..If your going 10" on jack plate + 2" built in set back AND use spacers I think you be too far back.

Be careful air entrapment hulls with too much bow lift ( set up wrong ) will end up getting ya wet if your not careful....

my .02!

**Peter J** · 11-24-2008, 07:41 PM

My boat is a 93 Ski Racer (4 seats).. I was running a bobs 6" hydrualic plate. The new plate is a 7" manual setback. So with the extra 2"(15"mid) and the 1" extra from the plate I have a 3" additional setback from before! What I think I'm hearing is that is plenty already..My boat was from Georgia orginally from a guy named "WILLIE BILLUE" anybody remember this boat? I will still be running my R.A. worked 280,I don't know if it will make any more speed but I like the look of the 15" mid with the motor sitting lower. Thanks,Peter.

**stoker2001** · 11-24-2008, 09:19 PM

with ski racer and 15" mid i would go with 9" hydrodynamics jack/manual winch type
they are feather light but strong as hell
Brad collins would rig them this way back in 1996-97
My 97 Jaguar river racer even came with one from kaufman,TX (less motor)

**Jay Smith** · 11-24-2008, 09:52 PM

Now IMO THATS the ticket !

Jay

**Peter J** · 11-24-2008, 11:21 PM

I contacted HYDRODYNAMICS and the fellow there told me that on his MIRAGE boats the Jackplate he found to work the best was 7" of setback. He made this one for me, it is the cable type manualy ajustable (rachet). I was just wondering if anyone thought the extra 2" spacer plates would be of any benifit.Jay you said it could tend to get a little wet "over". Now I am more confused than before. I should have 9" of setback or 7" ??

**gearcase** · 11-25-2008, 12:14 AM

We were going into towerpark last sat saw you going bye. We were on the Genuine Draft. Was that your race motor or river motor?

**Peter J** · 11-25-2008, 12:42 AM

Must have posted incorrectly. I live in B.C. Canada. And my motor is off my boat swaping mid and setback..

**stoker2001** · 11-25-2008, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Peter J

I contacted HYDRODYNAMICS and the fellow there told me that on his MIRAGE boats the Jackplate he found to work the best was 7" of setback. He made this one for me, it is the cable type manualy ajustable (rachet). I was just wondering if anyone thought the extra 2" spacer plates would be of any benifit.Jay you said it could tend to get a little wet "over". Now I am more confused than before. I should have 9" of setback or 7" ??

since you have the fourseater,throw on the 2" spacers with the 7" setback and you will be fine
I personally drove Steve Ards Ski racer with drag motor at 120mph on stalker radar and it handled like a dream with 9" setback and 15" mid

**stoker2001** · 11-25-2008, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by gearcase

We were going into towerpark last sat saw you going bye. We were on the Genuine Draft. Was that your race motor or river motor?

It was my only motor,detuned with 26cc heads
we were hanging most of the day with the DLB gang
catch you next time

**warren pender** · 11-25-2008, 01:50 PM

I have done it all with a 1990 ski racer. I completely restored mine in 2005 and ran a 12'' magnum from Chuck and a stock 260. The boat would get up and air out quick and required that you run a slight amount of negitive trim on the big end. The boat was flighty but fast. I then bought a 15'' offshore 260 and a 9'' jack plate from Chuck with 3'' of drop to run the 15" on a 20'' transom. This allowed a total of 11'' of set back which seemed to be a good combination. I then cut the transom down to allow a normal jack plate with out the drop built in. At this time, I was advised to run a 7'' set back which yieled a total of 9'' setback. My experience is that my current set up is to wet at slower speeds and I'm going to run 1'' spacers an inch at a time to see if I can get it to free up some. When I find the most appealing set back I'll have hydrodynamics build me a new plate. I'm of the opinion that a 9'' in set back with the offshore mid will yield the 11'' in total. I feel like this will be the best combo for me. Good luck , hopefully I can save you from a jack plate collection as vast as mine.