Checkmate pulse 186 with 150, is 10 inch set back too much ?!

**2brothersracing** · 06-27-2021, 12:54 PM

Running a checkmate pulse 186 with mariner 150. Ordered a bobs 10 inch fixed setback. Motor is currently at the middle height setting. Have to overtrim boat to get maximum rpm. The bobs set back provided 1.5 lift, figured the setback will give me the lift and rpm. Am curious if the 10 inch setback is too much or good to rock and roll. Thanks guys 🤙🏻 Appreciate any input. Getting 5600-5700 without trim and about 56mph. Looking to gain some rpm and top end with some adjustments

**4Speed** · 06-27-2021, 06:30 PM

I had a Baja 186 (closed bow) with a 2.0L 150 Mercury... probably close to your Pulse. I added a G-Force tuner, Boysen 2 stage reeds and had the heads machined to I believe 32 CC (so it would still run on 87 octane) and would get mid 60's @ 6,100 RPMS with a Tempest prop modified a little by Rich Booger. I had a Land-n-Sea jack + 2" Bobs spacers for a total of about 7" I still had to trim a little. I though about adding more but ended up moving to a STV. I don't think 10' would be to much. My Baja when jacked up with trim wanted to chine walk a little but it was EASY and fun to drive.

**4Speed** · 06-27-2021, 06:34 PM

If going from 0" to 10" be sure all your cables are still the correct length with no issues turning from hard port to hard starboard and full up & down on the trim.

**Pulse186** · 06-27-2021, 06:52 PM

what propeller

**4Speed** · 06-28-2021, 03:56 PM

Mercury Tempest, I believe a 25" pitch as I had a hydromotive 4 blade Intimidator Quad IV O/T 24P and when I went to the 3 blade I went up 1". I started with a 23P Laser II but that became 2 small.

**bbezok** · 06-29-2021, 06:43 AM

Welcome to the site with a wealth of knowledge and wisdom......I have a Pulse 185 (open bow) heavier version with a 2.5L 200. Found some information on the Checkmate Forum stating these models like between 10-14" of setback so I think you're right on provided all your rigging allows for it like stated above. Last season was running 7-1/2" of setback and tried a few different props, best was a 23 Trophy (67.3 gps) as it really stabilized the boat at speed much better than any 3 blade but found I still had to trim more than I liked to get the bow up. Made a few changes over the long winter, now have 13-1/2" of setback but haven't run it yet, hopefully this coming weekend.

**Pulse186** · 06-29-2021, 07:59 AM

According to posts by people who own the pulse they do run better with at least 6" of setback and sometimes more. My motor is on the transom 4th hole up. Running a 24 pitch 4 blade Trophy. Without a ton of trim my boat runs about 53 at 5600 rpm. I might be off a bit on the numbers though.

Would be nice having a bit more but not going to change anything, have a new boat on the way so all done changing this one.

**staylor** · 06-29-2021, 03:50 PM

Like 4Speed posted, I also ran the similar Baja 18 ft rig- I had the open bow version which had a bare hull weight of 1050 lbs which I think is a bit lighter than the C-Mate 186. I ran 2 different motors, starting with a 140 Evinrude V-4 crossflow on a Land & Sea jack plate which only had 2 inches or so of set-back. With a Ron Hill modified OMC V-4 chopper in 23 pitch I hit 54 mph. With an OMC V-4 Raker in 22 pitch I ran 53 mph. The boat ran pretty nice with this set-up, so of course I went bigger to a Evinrude 175 V-6. This motor was a bit of a "moose" and the rig sagged pretty heavily at the transom with the plate, so I took the plate off and ran it 3 holes up on the transom. Best top end was 63 with a modified Turbo II prop, which looks a lot like a present day Tempest. With either motor, rig ran pretty nicely with just a trace of chine walk when trimmed for max speed.
Doug