Bob's coned lower unit or CLE??

**JUPITER PULSARE** · 04-03-2014, 08:46 AM

Looking for some thoughts and ideas for my 28' Checkmate with twin 200's. I'm currently running 24" of setback, 18" centers, Mercury DAH 26 pitch choppers with Bob's nose coned lower units. Prop shafts are about 1.5" below the bottom when running a straight edge directly in front of the gear cases. With current setup I'm consistantly seeing 69-72 mph. If I switch to CLE gear cases will I gain, stay the same, or lose speed. It would be nice to polish up some CLE's and slap them on and not deal with epoxy flaking off the Bob's units.....

**FUJIMO** · 04-03-2014, 10:24 AM

www.Sterndrive.cc Being very cost conscience(hmmm...clearing throat) & liking long warranties...you know, like the rest of us... You could buy two new aftermarket gearcases. Contact them regarding the lefty. They retail at $845.00 a piece, but dealers will treat you much better. I would entertain running them as-is, as a test, initially. After dropping your motors a hole or two, it will drop your rpm's about 400ish, if your prop pitch can deal with that(?). But bow lift is improved, etc. Ideally...two(2) brand-new Merc CLE housings would be great. Personally, I do not care for cones on a saltwater boat. My .02

**TooStroked** · 04-03-2014, 01:20 PM

I have a CLE on my boat and love it. As you said, no worrying about aftermarket epoxy or paint peeling off. I suppose you could strip and polish one, but you'd be out there polishing every day to keep up with the oxidation from salt water. Up here though, hmmm ....

As for gaining speed, I've always found that the more setback one runs, the further up one can / has to go. That said, it sounds to me like you're running pretty conservative on height right now. How's your water pressure? Have you tried going up any further? As you already know, further up means less drag and (generally) higher speed.

**JUPITER PULSARE** · 04-03-2014, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by TooStroked

I have a CLE on my boat and love it. As you said, no worrying about aftermarket epoxy or paint peeling off. I suppose you could strip and polish one, but you'd be out there polishing every day to keep up with the oxidation from salt water. Up here though, hmmm ....

As for gaining speed, I've always found that the more setback one runs, the further up one can / has to go. That said, it sounds to me like you're running pretty conservative on height right now. How's your water pressure? Have you tried going up any further? As you already know, further up means less drag and (generally) higher speed.

I'd have to swap to 20" mid section to run higher. I chose to go with 25" mids to keep the motors out of the water while idling and coming off plane...

**TooStroked** · 04-03-2014, 02:56 PM

Originally Posted by JUPITER PULSARE

I'd have to swap to 20" mid section to run higher. I chose to go with 25" mids to keep the motors out of the water while idling and coming off plane...

In that case, I doubt you'd gain much from going with the CLEs. Besides, they're getting pretty hard to find these days.

BTW: Nice Checkmate. I have a soft spot in my heart for the brand having owned one for many years.

**fastdonzi.** · 04-03-2014, 05:24 PM

If you have to run a lot of Positive trim there is a Point where a Bobs cone is more Hydrodynamic (Whereas a CLE will have the Bullet pointed down) but other than that CLE Looks Cooler.. And I Like That

**mrcrsr** · 04-04-2014, 06:32 AM

i would run a cle, stronger internals

**HStream1** · 04-06-2014, 06:18 AM

And if you polish them you will loose MPH.

Originally Posted by mrcrsr

i would run a cle, stronger internals

**perfmarine1** · 04-06-2014, 08:09 AM

CLE's are no longer available from mercury. Will have to be sportys or used. Unless you are getting blowout I would stay with stock. Cones will slow you down unless you are running on the surface.

**FUJIMO** · 04-06-2014, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by perfmarine1

CLE's are no longer available from mercury. Will have to be sportys or used. Unless you are getting blowout I would stay with stock. Cones will slow you down unless you are running on the surface.

Yup...x 4.

**JUPITER PULSARE** · 04-06-2014, 09:43 AM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

Yup...x 4.

I would have to find two used matching CLE cases. I'm using the Bob's for the low water pickups..with the motor height I'm running I don't think stock lowers will work..

**FUJIMO** · 04-06-2014, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by JUPITER PULSARE

I would have to find two used matching CLE cases. I'm using the Bob's for the low water pickups..with the motor height I'm running I don't think stock lowers will work..

You know too much...and already knew what you were going with, huh? LOL

Keep us abreast of your progress.

**perfmarine1** · 04-07-2014, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by JUPITER PULSARE

I would have to find two used matching CLE cases. I'm using the Bob's for the low water pickups..with the motor height I'm running I don't think stock lowers will work..

Yea I missed the with Bob's coned cases. I don't think you would gain anything with the CLE's ,but the epoxy repair.69-72 is pretty good for a 28' checkmate with twin 200's

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