94 procraft setup help?

**Rickeyo** · 03-08-2022, 11:41 AM

1994 procraft 200 DC (20 ft) hauling 30 Gallons of fuel, 5 batteries, 2 guys and full tournament loadout, 200 Mariner Magnum (same as merc black max 200 chrome bore mid-late 80s motor oil injection deleted, rest is all stock on it) currently running a laser II 24p prop off of my skeeter with a 150. Im running 5800 rpm WOT at 49-50 mph fully loaded, comes out of the hole great. Raised my jackplate a half inch (manual 10" jackplate) and only change i noticed is more prop spray, water pressure still 15 psi on top. Im thinking i need to go to maybe a tempest? I should be seeing low 60s i would assume with this boat but im far from that right now. Should i lower the jackplate? Or maybe raise it even more? I don't really know my pad to center of shaft length, but like i said waterpressure is still good, but if i turn hard at WOT i can feel the motor coming out of the water. I gained maybe .5 mph by raising it that half inch. Where do i go from here? Motor absolutely screams and runs amazing, just no speed, also thought i should be seeing more like 6100 or 6200 even with the 200, im fine with 5800 but my 150 mariner magnum will turn this same prop 5600 rpm, at 48 mph basically same speed. Help?

**OnPad** · 03-08-2022, 07:26 PM

I explained why your laser prop wasn't a good choice in your bass boat thread.
Even with a good setup, I doubt your going to see 60mph packing all that weight around, especially if you have water in the livewells.
My best guess is your going to want to run a 21- 23 pitch prop that has a 4 3/4" hub and a 14 1/2" diameter.
That should put you in the mid fifties, with proper setup, and a good running engine.
If you want to see 60mph+ your going to have to ditch 2 batteries, half your fuel, livewell water, and as much weight out of the front compartments as possible, which would allow you to run a 25p prop.

**Rickeyo** · 03-21-2022, 11:09 PM

Originally Posted by OnPad

I explained why your laser prop wasn't a good choice in your bass boat thread.
Even with a good setup, I doubt your going to see 60mph packing all that weight around, especially if you have water in the livewells.
My best guess is your going to want to run a 21- 23 pitch prop that has a 4 3/4" hub and a 14 1/2" diameter.
That should put you in the mid fifties, with proper setup, and a good running engine.
If you want to see 60mph+ your going to have to ditch 2 batteries, half your fuel, livewell water, and as much weight out of the front compartments as possible, which would allow you to run a 25p prop.

A 21-23p would only help my holeshot wouldn't it? Thought more pitch = better top end? The hole shot is great, i want more topend and am willing to sacrifice holeshot performance for that, i have a buddy with an astro 20 ft DC almost the same exact boat its a 95, and he is hitting 63 mph 5 batteries, full fuel cell with his 175 and a 26p...

**OnPad** · 03-21-2022, 11:32 PM

The deal is, laser props are small diameter, thus having more slip. You add in the small diameter barrel and you lose transom lift, plus spin alot more on take off.
My estimates are going off of a 20 champion that I had a 1995 2.5L carb motor on, running 4 batteries, empty livewells, half tank of fuel, would turn a 25p tempest to about 5600 at 60mph.
From what I've found is diameter of prop makes a big difference in your slip #'s so a 23P tempest would be faster than a 24P laser in my opinion. You won't know till you try some different props. Try to borrow some from friends or club members to try.