Looking for optimal setup

[Merc300xs]

Hello all checkmate boaters I'm new to the forum and have a few questions.
I have a 2000 (pulsare 2100 BR) with a 2001 (merc 250 pro xb) 25p tempest prop 10" bob's hydraulic jackplate mounted to a factory 6" manual jackplate. Total 16" of setback hitting 70 mph on gps at 6000 rpm jacked up and trimmed out. Starts chine walking at that speed. Love the all around performance of the tempest. Would like maximum top end without the chine walk if possible. Thanks for any help in advance.

Question #1 Does this engine have solid mounts and if not would that help allot if installed.

Question #2 Would a 27p tempest or 27p trophy four blade work well on this rig.

Question #3 If I took out the 6" manual jackplate reducing to ten inches hydraulic what would I get for results.

Question#4 How fast can I go with this rig?

Any requests would be greatly helpful.

 

[aaronmt]

Im preetty sure that motor has solid mounts, if it doesnt I dont think id pull the powerhead just yet being its still so new(good steering should keep ya straight). Your rpm sound just about perfect, a 27p will drop your rpms way to low. I would definately get rid of the tempest and try a trophy 25p it will carry the bow alot better reducing the need to trim it as far being that your boat is a bow rider it will help even more. 16" is to far in my opinion I think your passed wjhere its helping at that point id say get a 12" or just run the 10" , 16" will cause porpoising and ill handling (docking). I can guarantee you will like the tophy better, there smaller diametar revs quicker, doesnt shake and the 4blade lifts the bow alot more. Last summer I ran a 25p trophy on my 87 starflite 87 225 yamaha at 6100 and got 74.3, Im still finishing up the rebuild on the yamaha this summer and am looking to break 80 and ill still use a trophy. I think first thing id do is take the 6" off borrow a 25p trophy and head to the lake, set up and seet time are 90% of the battle , once you get those right mid 70's should be neer. Good luck Aaron

 

[Merc300xs]

Thanks allot, thats exactly what i'll try. I heard great results with the trophy prop on that hull. I'll have to pick one up and post back with the results. What type of mods are you doing to hit 80. Thanks again.

 

[KevinR]

I agree with Aaron get rid of the 6 inch plate and stick with the 10 inch of set back. I'm currently running a 21 BR Pulsare with 12 inchs of set backwith a CMC hydrolic jack plate on a Stainless Marine stand of box. 225EFI running a 26 Trophy for a best of 72 MPH GPS. All this was done at sea level. I have a Freind running a 18' pulse with a 225 EFI Bobs 10" jack plate with a 24 Brovo I with ventilation hole that runs around 75 MPH GPS. I love the trophy prop but his Bravo is a great prop to and does not chine walk at all at WOT.

Good luck set up can be a bitch sometime.

 

[aaronmt]

My yamaha was ported,different style carbs and pro-marine pistons should be about 260hp. Im hopeing for 80 but im waiting for a lower unit I bought last week but the guys mother in law died so hes been slow to ship it from texas.I was turning 6000-6100 last summer looing for 6800 this year. Aaron

 

[boatman4021]

Hold on! The TrophyPlus is no longer king of the mountain. For less money, I can get you a new TurningPoint Classic 4 blade. Pitch for pitch, they are faster than the Trophy, less chine walk, and they handle better. That 250 will turn a 27" 4 blade. Only problem is, does it have the standard prop shaft, or the fat shaft? As for set back, my last 2100 Pulsare had 12" manual set back with a 225 efi and a 27" TrophyPlus and ran 74gps at almost 1700' above sea level. I ran 13 1/2" on my 97 model with a 200 efi tricked a bit and hit 79gps. If the boat is not bouncing at 25+mph, leave both lack plates on the boat. With this set up, you can raise your engine higher and the more set back you have, the higher you need to be. Wildman ran one of these Classic 4 blades on a 2100 about 2 weeks age with a 225efi and said it was the best prop that he had ran on a Checkmate! Only problem is, no hubs for the fat shaft yet. boatman

 

[Merc300xs]

Boatman if the price is right i'll call you this week. How much and does it have vent plugs? Yes the 250 pro xb has standard shaft and the boat handles perfect at all speeds except for the chine walk while wide open. Thanks for the info.

 

[WILDMAN]

I got one of the turning point props. No vent holes, but it does'nt need them. Much easier to drive over 70. I recently put a 250xs on a 21BR with a 26 Trophy. It ran 81.8 mph.

 

[xsive]

Question #1 Does this engine have solid mounts and if not would that help allot if installed.
Yes it has the same mounts as the 250XS. What kind of sterring does your boat have? Dual cable or Hydraulic? Could need adjusting or bleeding.

Question #2 Would a 27p tempest or 27p trophy four blade work well on this rig.

Either would likely work well, but I think the Tempest is better than the Trophy. I suspect your limit in speed is due to your motor hitting the limiter. Below, is the info for your motor from the service manual on the rev limiter. Despite what some people are telling you 6000RPM is not a good RPM for that motor, you are over reving and gaining nothing. Merc 3.0l's like to grunt. Max RPM for that motor is 5800. Prop it to 5500-5600 for max power. As well, on a Pulsare you will not find a better prop than a Tempest Plus. A Trophy Plus will not give you as good of top end as the big blades of a Tempest hold the water better and carry weight better allowing you to run higher engine heights and therfore less gearcase drag. You can tune your holeshot by varying the size of the vent plugs. As well, how much trim are you running. Ideally your motor should run perpendicular to the waters surface and throw a roost not much higher than the top of the motor if you are, you're losing speed. How high is your motor? (Propshaft in relation to the pad) If your motor is too high it won't carry weight and if it's too low it will induce chine walking.

From Merc Manual...
Over-speed protection in the event engine RPM exceeds 6000 for carb models and 6100 for EFI models. This is accomplished in two stages. Initially timing is gradually retarded to reduce RPM to 5900 for carbmodels and 6000 for EFImodels......

Question #3 If I took out the 6" manual jackplate reducing to ten inches hydraulic what would I get for results.

Probably, a better set up. 10" should be adiquate for that boat with that motor. I bet you get a lot of bow rise when planning and almost dunk the motor if you chop the throttle quick.

Question#4 How fast can I go with this rig?
Should be able to run an honest 75-78MPH at any elevation to 1500ft above sea level.

 

[Merc300xs]

Yes I do have sea star hydraulic steering and i'll check for air in lines. I have plenty of adjustment with the bob's jackplate and i've tried every height/trim combo and no more than 70mph gps with that prop. Engine tag says 5800-61000RPM. I heard rev limiter kicks in at 6250RPM. Hole shot is excellent with plugs in, top end is no different with plugs out. I think a new prop is in sight.

Wildman is talkin my tune at 80mph!

 

[Mark]

You probably want to at least try it with less setback, but it is not likely to be the problem. Another great prop is the Powertech TRO4. I would go 26" as it will run like a 27" Trophy but with better lift and better grip. You could probably find one used on Bassboatcentral.com.

 

[INXS]

You probably want to at least try it with less setback, but it is not likely to be the problem. Another great prop is the Powertech TRO4. I would go 26" as it will run like a 27" Trophy but with better lift and better grip. You could probably find one used on Bassboatcentral.com.

I use the PowerTech TRO4 and though I have no gps#s I can say that it gives great lift. I also have the Bobs hydr. j-plate.

 

[Merc300xs]

prop choices:

#1 Trophy 27-28p

#2 Bravo-1 27-28p

#3 Turning point classic 27-28p

#4 Power tech tr04 27-28p

Will I still be able to pull a skier at those pitches? And will I still chine walk switching to a four blade? They say 270hp at the prop should be enough power. What does everyone think I should get for a prop. My 25p tempest pulls skiers no problem. Thanks