help with pickle fork

[bakerpickle]

I own a 1989 baker custom pickle fork. 2.4 merc with about 260 hp. low water pick up and a merc 24p prop. It runs 77 mph on gps @6400 rpm. I need help determining the propshaft hieght I should run. I was also concidering a 30" cleaver. Can anybody help please? and I know that I cant spell

[inspectorlance]

Im sure an expert will be along soon. Sounds like a nice boat. With that motor ya should be able to pull more RMP's. something is wrong. where is your prop shaft compared to your pad now ?? what prop ??? What gear ratio ? Just asking these questions so a real expert can have something to work with.

Lance

[bakerpickle]

prop is a merc 24p. gear ratio I do not know. prop shaft is about 3 3/4 inches BELOW the pad. I hope this can help someone.

[bakerpickle]

anybody out their that can help???

[Steven]

or eliminator? low profile type? need a pic. im not one to give advice but my 19 lib likes to run higher than that. 1/2 - 3/4 in below does decent on mine. maybe even higher for top speed only. i tried the non nosecone deal because i dont run much over 80 mph with a stock 200 merc. it dont work at all for me. i need to run higher and that means i must have a cone and lwp. i've read over and over that under 80 is better without a cone, but thats not right for mine. it dont work at all, and torque steer is less with the higher mount too, supposed to be the opposite. i've bought and sold 10 or 15 props and i always go back to the yamasyles because they bite good with a high mount. i really like my ron hill 5 blade drag. its got lots of bite and is a great all-round lake prop, 81 gps first trip. i had a little cup added to the tips since, and it has better overall lift than before. am i rambling here? thats fast for 24p, mines a 28

[bakerpickle]

I have pics @ hotboat.com. Go to image center listed under bakerpickle a few to look at. Can you pick a prop once you see the boat? what do you think about the propshaft hieght? The boat looks like a early Daytona. Thanks

[Steven]

raise it up. what prop are you using? nice boat i think you need more pitch. maybe someone else will help with suggestions, i dont want to give you bad info.

[sosmerc]

We need more info. You said the engine was "about 260" and a 2.4. What mods have been performed to the engine, and what was the engine before mods were performed? From this info, along with gear ratio and more details about the hull, we can start making educated guesses about proper rpm to shoot for and what props and heights to get you there.

[bakerpickle]

Ok I went to a marine shop and had one of there machanics look at the motor. He said that it was a "200 block but it is a Mercury strickly racing motor". That did not give me a whole lot of info. Like what was the base HP and WOT for this motor? It has an EFI that is hard to come by. He also stated that the gear are more than likely "stock". I now know the prop Is a big ear 24p chopper. My propshaft hieght is still the same @ 3 3/4 below the pad. The after market stuff consists of lightned fly wheel, some sort of up graded exhaust and nose cone, low water pickup. The hull is a 22 foot pickle fork, not a whole lot of info about the hull sorry. Any help would be nice I am tying to reach 80 mph!!!

[rock]

Start raising the motor a little at a time. Should see quite a difference. I ran my Daytona just above the pad and my STV above the pad also. Have fun and be careful.
Rock

[bakerpickle]

Thank you do you know anything about 200 Merc racing motors? What do you think of a 28p chopper for my boat?

[rock]

I think you will probably want to look at something like an ET or Yamaha. Choppers create bow lift and on most, not all, tunnels you need to lift the tail .
What do you want to know about your motor?
Rock

[bakerpickle]

Factory HP and if you know the WOT. Will this bout make it in the 80's? I have pictures at hotboat.com go to image center then under bakerpickle. Please tell me what you think..Thank you for info

[rock]

Post or PM your serial number. I can't tell for sure what the motor is from the pics. Boat looks like it might be fairly heavy. Do you know the weight?
Rock

[bakerpickle]

The serial #ob290286 and model #1924912bh High Performance. 20" mid RH CLE gearcase with 1.87 gear ratio. I got all this from the Mercury web site. What does CLE stand for? The weight of the boat I do not know. If anybody could help with the weight sure would be nice. Thank you