I'm working through the jetting issues on my new set-up and hope to have the engine dialed in across the rpm range shortly. I'm starting to think about where to go with set-up in terms of prop and outdrive. (I know the alpha drive is close to expendable at over 300 hp...).
I've read on here that a lot of times these boats do beter with bow lifting props That being said, even with a 23" laser 2 and healthy v6 in mine, it was starting to feel a little squirrely as speed got into the upper 50s. seemed like it would hit max speed with the drive trimmed out to the point where the very rear end of the hull was dug into the water and it felt kind of "loose" or floating on the rear part of the pad. A couple of other posts especially some of big daves indicate that for a bigger engine in this hull, some stern lift or a more neutral (lift) prop might do better... It turns out that I may have gotten lucky with the prop I borrowed for the engine break in.
We hit 75 (gps) at around 5200 rps and were still accellerating when we had to slow down to cross a wake and were coming up on some other boats. I'm pretty sure this prop is a Hydromotive Intimidator quad IV in 29". It was stable and handled really well has plenty of holeshot to pull skiers and boarders out of the water no chine walking or even feeling of instability... at one point coming across some rougher water (lots of boats on the river where we were playing this weekend) In fact it cornered REALLY well and felt stable as could be...
A couple of things...
the engine builder suggested that I stay with the 1.84 gear, and that performance may do better there. I need to stop back by the shop and dropp off a couple of things and take him up on the offer to borrow a couple of props to try from him. I also think that another hydromotive in a higher pitch, maybe 31 or 32 would be worth trying depending on what he comes up with. I got a sense that he had several possible options in mind for me to try when we last spoke so I'll have more props to try either way. I read some articles on outboard set-up that said that around 60 mph and above, props with a pitch of 2x diameter perform best... if that's the case, the current gear ratio is probably about right... have a 1.5 ratio upper I can swap in, but am not sure I will want to do that at this point...
The biggest thing that seems to be a limiting factor is the 7+" dimension from the bottom of the pad to the propshaft... I know alpha ss outdrives are scarce and expensive... where do i ideally want the prop shaft height on something like this? I'm checking into finding a shorter drive or may even try to shorten the "spare" I have....
Any thoughts or experience that might be of use?
I've read on here that a lot of times these boats do beter with bow lifting props That being said, even with a 23" laser 2 and healthy v6 in mine, it was starting to feel a little squirrely as speed got into the upper 50s. seemed like it would hit max speed with the drive trimmed out to the point where the very rear end of the hull was dug into the water and it felt kind of "loose" or floating on the rear part of the pad. A couple of other posts especially some of big daves indicate that for a bigger engine in this hull, some stern lift or a more neutral (lift) prop might do better... It turns out that I may have gotten lucky with the prop I borrowed for the engine break in.
We hit 75 (gps) at around 5200 rps and were still accellerating when we had to slow down to cross a wake and were coming up on some other boats. I'm pretty sure this prop is a Hydromotive Intimidator quad IV in 29". It was stable and handled really well has plenty of holeshot to pull skiers and boarders out of the water no chine walking or even feeling of instability... at one point coming across some rougher water (lots of boats on the river where we were playing this weekend) In fact it cornered REALLY well and felt stable as could be...
A couple of things...
the engine builder suggested that I stay with the 1.84 gear, and that performance may do better there. I need to stop back by the shop and dropp off a couple of things and take him up on the offer to borrow a couple of props to try from him. I also think that another hydromotive in a higher pitch, maybe 31 or 32 would be worth trying depending on what he comes up with. I got a sense that he had several possible options in mind for me to try when we last spoke so I'll have more props to try either way. I read some articles on outboard set-up that said that around 60 mph and above, props with a pitch of 2x diameter perform best... if that's the case, the current gear ratio is probably about right... have a 1.5 ratio upper I can swap in, but am not sure I will want to do that at this point...
The biggest thing that seems to be a limiting factor is the 7+" dimension from the bottom of the pad to the propshaft... I know alpha ss outdrives are scarce and expensive... where do i ideally want the prop shaft height on something like this? I'm checking into finding a shorter drive or may even try to shorten the "spare" I have....
Any thoughts or experience that might be of use?
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