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Want more speed

TruckinMatt

TruckinMatt

Member
I have a 90hp mariner on my 16ft Sportfire with a 22 pitch 3 blade stainless prop. I hit 43 on the lake today on gps. I dont plan on towing skiers or anything of the sort. Is it lack of hp or can I swap out my prop to pick up more top end? Any recomendations would be appreciated Thanks MATT
 
How heavy is the sportfire?
Im not familiar with ur hull but I think you should be able to get close or break 50 before needing more power. Raising the motor and a bigger prop should get u there :thumb:

Me and my buddies have gotten a Charger DL (18ft) with a stock 90 johnson bolted on the transom to about 55mph with a 24p raker (Thats sorta a guess since it was able to almost keep up with another boat on the lake we gps'd at 58mph)
Also a 16ft sidewinder with 90 merc and small ear 24p chopper just over 50mph with 6" setback. Playing around with a checkmate vmate now with 90 johnson
 
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I think it really depends on how much money you want to spend to get there- I only think you're going to be able to pick up 4-5 mph no matter what you do, and to get there you'll need to jack it up and push it back 4" ($200-400), and get a new prop that's all about top end ($200-300). So in the end you'd be looking at $4-700 for parts plus labor (or your time) to get to 48mph, and have a worthless hole shot.

Obviously this is all just my opinion as I'm not a setup expert, but it shouldn't be too far off. If it was me, I'd start looking for a 150+. Good luck with whatever you decide.

:cheers:
 
43 sounds about right for what I have seen. You could spend more than 500 bucks and only gain 3-4 mph. The 90 on there just doent have the grunt to get that boat up on top of the water.

IMHO, I would run it how it is. If you have the funds for more HP I would go that route. :bigthumb:

Matt
 
Honestly,More power would be the way to go! Even if your were able to find a few more mph. It would only take a weekend to become bored with the increase anyway.

I had a 89 sportfire with a 90hp inline 6 when purchased and about 45-47 mph was all it would do.Went with a rebuilt 150 inline and moved my speed up to 55-56.This is with no set up at all.Mota on transom maybe 1 hole higher spinning a s.s. round eared 21p.

On your set up do you have a tach? That 22p might be to much prop for your 90 hp mota.Try a smaller prop in pitch or even diam. and allow that mota to spin high into its correct rpm range.

If you go bigger stick to the v-6's.I had a few sportfires with v6 135 hp walk away from me when I was running the 150 inline
Good luck!
 
She topped out right around 49oo-500k, I dont know the diameter of the prop but it seems like a nice stainless unit. The engine is already moved up one mounting hole. I guess more ponies will be the best way to go. I guess I will keep an eye out for a used 140hp because thats whats shes rated for.
 
Oh man

Rating?!:sssh: Dont ask, dont tell! Put a 200 on it and let er eat....:banana: You'd hafta get yer pilot's liscense!
 
I don't know about scary... but it sure would be FUN!!
Honestly, I'd look around for 150-175-200 motors. If you can find a 175 or 200 for close to the same price, I'd go for it. If anything, you can just leave a little unused at the top end. (Although I promise you'd end up using it at some point!)
 
V6

Matt, my Sportsfire came with a 135 and after adding a jack-plate and a new Pro-Tour 23 pitch prop it would run 54 mph. After swapping the 135 for a same weight 200 the GPS didn't matter anymore if you know what I mean. I will tell you this, I was told by a reputable boat dealer to not drive a 50 mph ski boat at 70 mph. Was it fun, you bet. Was it easy, hell No ! I think you can find a happy medium with all the 2.0's and 2.4's floating around out there. Good Luck
 
HI guys
I had a 70hs merc on my mx-15 and alone was pushing 43-45 on a good calm day trimed out BUT I TOO wanted more (don't we all) i found a 16' glastron with a 115 on it boat originally owned by a older man and his family gave boat to neph 2yrs ago and never put in water he sold it to a guy whom i bought it off for 1100$ and it had a new galv sore lander trailer with it that alone was worth close to 1000$ so i swaped motors and sold rusted trailer, boat and motor for 1100 now i have a 115 for nothing and now runs a stainless 22p laser II prop, original check tabs and on the first day out pushed it around 60 but was way to windy to trim her out to fly, a nice cross wind almost took us out. BUt whole story is if you really want to larger motor they are out there alittle work and you can make some great deals. The day i bought the boat it was at the shop and had mech hook her up and run it great strong motor bought it on the spot. Craigslist has alot of boats and motors, probably close by you. I bought my prop off ebay for 189$ brand new dealers would have gotten 3-400 $ for it plus i had a very good friend helping me look also he is a memeber of this sight also. Go for the gusto go bigger
 
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Top
your right if aything is left over on the power side. Yeah you will use it. My fiance says that is a man thing. GO figure. Nothing better than floating on AIR in a Check!!!!!
 
Checkmate power up

If you go with a 135/150/ 200 v6 , install a 6" jackplate too , you will love the handling and speed you will get.

Steve
 
big power on a small Checkmate

I should add that I would not just bolt a 200 on a smaller Checkmate without setting it up right to be safe first. Solid motor mounts, tight dual cable steering, a jackplate and a water pressure guage would be on there before I put it in the water. From there you can get some setup tips from guy's on here that have done the same, Illmatic on here has done alot of testing with different motor heights and props on this combo.Set up right it is one FUN ride!!!

Steve
 
Good point about the SAFE setup.
I can vouch for how great the ride is in Buss' Predictor (formerly illMATTic's), I've been to 79, and it felt very stable.
 
Absolutly about the safety!!!! And Viper 1 the nicest guy you'll ever meet is helping me set mine up. now all im waitng for for is the duel ride guide steering set up and im all done. setting up motor and boat now while looking but without the duel set up you can definitely tell its squirrely and doesnt take much to break em loose.
 
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