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3.0 vs 2.5l 225 vs something else? on a checkmate Exciter

S

SaskExciter

Member
Hi everyone! im new to the site, but have had checkmates in the family since I was 8. I'm looking for more speed out of my 1986 18'6 checkmate exciter. I'm also concerned about hole shot and low speed manners (porpoising etc).

I've currently got the exciter set up with a good running mercury 175 efi, 5 1/2" manual jackplate, dual cable steering, and stock lower unit which gets good pressure with the prop just below the pad where the boat seems to drive the best/fastest. With just me in the boat and no gear I'm getting up to 63.5mph gps at 5800 rpm with a 25p laser II. The boat is pretty easy to handle at speed with this set up. Some slow speed porpoising but nothing major. I feel like im pretty much as fast as I can get with current power. I've played with height and props a bit but can't seem to beat that speed.

I'm looking for opinions on what I should do to get my desired performance. Id like 70+ gps, acceptable hole shot, and have decent low speed manners. I don't want to sacrifice drivability for a couple final mph, but will have a separate prop for water sports.


I think Id like to step up to a 200 or 225hp merc. (Stick with what I know) hydraulic jack plate would help I'm sure. What do you guys think? Would a 200 do it or do I need a 225? Would a 3.0l be too heavy and cause bad low speed manners? Would a 225 promax be just what I need? Should I consider trying to get more power from my 175 efi? How about a pro max powerhead on my 175 mid and lower? Will good tight dual cable steering be ok or is hydraulic required with the added power?
I'm open to all opinions and experience with similar setups. Thanks in advance!
 
I think you're doing pretty well on current speed, I've seen right at 61 on two different hulls with a carbed 175 (Eluder and Enchanter.)

I would think with more power you are going to want hydraulic steering and a power jackplate.

I think you might see 70 on a good day with a 200, while a 225 will ensure it comes easy. The weight difference between the two motors is negligible (like 10-15 lbs.)
 
I would go with a nice stock 200 2.5L if you can find one. A 3.0 will be much heavier and use way more gas.

Stay with the 5.5 setback. Any further and its hard to stay below 40 mph.

200hp, 26P turning 6000 rpm should get you there. :bigthumb:

I was getting 76 mph in my Predictor with a 200 and a 26P LaserII and 5.5 setback. You SHOULD be able to do that or close.
 
Thanks jumbofordman sounds like I'm pretty much dialed in with the 175 @ 62-63 mph gps. It does feel like I'm at the limit with current hp.

Thanks for the info on the 3.0, I've never run one and although fuel consumption isn't going to be a huge factor why burn more than I need to! The 2.5 feels like it's got plenty of torque on this boat, and even as is with trimmed all the way in and a 19p high five prop on it's tough to pull my girlfriend tubing at 25mph without porpoising. (That prop is left over from another boat but does it ever rocket me out of the hole!).

I have tried a 27p laser II on the boat and get the same speed as the 25p just at lower rpm. The 27 seems to carry the boat better but it's way worse out of the hole of course.

What do you guys think of swapping a promax powerhead onto my mid and lower? Am I just further head to buy a whole motor and sell my whole
Motor? Big outboards are hard to find around here!
 
The 26P LaserII props have a smaller hub with larger ears. It WILL out perform the 25 and 27P Lasers.

As for the engine... Powerheads seem to be easier to find and cheaper all around. The job is not hard to swap them out either. You can hold on to your 175 for a while just in case there are any unforeseen issues with the new one.

A 225 Promax will put you close to 80 if not past. A 200 will be 70+ for sure with a low running prop. If you coned it and jacked it up, and run 28-30P Hoss Triton or Merc Chopper you will be 80-90 mph.

Once you start going 70+ you will get a lot more torque steer with the dual cable. Hydro steering or at least a torque tab will help.

This is all from my first hand knowledge by the way.



Good luck and keep us posted. :thumb:
 
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I have a 79 exciter. It has a 5" plate on with with a 2.4l merc laser 220.

With a labbed quick silver 26p it would run mid 70's with 1 person. Holes hot was pretty poor and cruising below 40 wasn't very good eother.

I currently have a 23p trophy plus. Holes shot is pretty quick and will still run me into the 60's. I can't cruise much slower than 32ish though. Also if it's not glass she gets pretty bouncy. She will turn that prop to 5kish no trim.

I just picked up a turning point express 19p 4 blade to try. I'm hopeing to be able to cruise nice at or below 30. Holeshot should be excellent. This should bring be near 6k rpm no trim.
 
Hi, thanks for the informative replies! Much appreciated! I have pretty much decided against a 3.0l for problems cruising at low speed. I have 5.5" set back and a 2.5l 175efi and It's not tooooooo bad now but I don't want it any worse. I'll probably try and get my hands on a 26p small hub prop for now and search for a good 200/225 powerhead or whole engine over the winter.
I actually have a coned lower unit for that motor, and I have a water pressure gague already. It's just a spare from a 2.4 I used to have, and with 175hp is only counterproductive, but if I found a promax powerhead it could potentially us that lower unit.
Hydraulic steering and a hydraulic jack plate are also on my wish list.
 
Wildman78, I have used a 19p high five with my set up for skiing/tubing and being a general yahoo on the lake for a few years. With my 2.5 175 it tached to 6000 no trim at about 52.5 mph in a serious hurry. It holds a plane pretty well until 26-27mph or so, accelerates like crazy and really holds in the corners. I have no experience with the type of 19p you mentioned but my 19p high five on my exciter is a LOT of fun. You will enjoy!
 
I happen to have a 26p small hub laser 2 that I bought for my predictor with a 150 that I would sell. I recently bought a starflite with a 225 opti and the laser 2 doesn't work very well for that boat.
 
Thanks! I'm away from home (and the boat) for a few weeks now, and I've got a shop that allows prop testing. I'll try a 26 when I get back and if I like it better than the 25p I'll mesage you for sure. How much do you want for your prop? And fo you have any idea what shipping would cost from Iowa to Saskatchewan?
 
Alright, I'll get my hands on a loaner as soon as I can and let you know. It's going to be at least a couple of weeks yet unfortunately. Thanks.
 
Still away from my boat so I'm Just spitballing here but what do you guys think of a 2.6l yamaha to repower an exciter? I'm pretty sure it don't want the weight of a 3.0l merc on an exciter, and a promax would be fantastic but they are pricey and non-existent around my parts. Correct me if I'm wrong but these yamaha 225's wouldn't weigh much more than my 2.5 175 efi right?
Anyone with some experience with the yamaha 2.6's and mercury efi's would you trade a newer efi merc for a yammi with 50 more hp? Or am I crazy to give up the joys of a fuel injected 2.5?? Just looking for any opinions on this one!
 
Displacement isn't really a good indicator of weight. For example, a 2.4 or 2.5 Merc weigh LESS than a 2.0. Best bet is to do some research online.
 
A quick search shows the 3.0 merc would weigh about 460lbs the 2.5 efi on there now is 408 or 416lbs (can't remember exactly) and the carbed 2.6 yamaha is about 425lbs. I just don't want to deal with more low speed porpoising.
 
Yea any 2.4/2.5 merc would be fine as far as weight but the only version of one of those id really be interested in repowering with would be a 225pm. That'd be my first choice! I'm just trying to think of all the options out there that would give me 225(ish) user friendly hp and not weigh my transom down too much.
 
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