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I Bought new Basscat Margay with Mercury 150 Optimax Pro X/S. Dont have but about 3 hrs on motor; but not able to really open it up but to 4500 RPMs yet. It wants to wander around when on the pad at about 40 MPH.I have had about 10 Bass Boats in the last 40 years and never had this problem. This boat with the 150 should easily run in the mid 50s confortably. The center line of the prop shaft is even with the bottom of the pad. Im not sure if I should raise the motor to achieve a more confortable ride and better speed. I have used the figures on the internet and have a height of 15 1/2 inches from the floor of garage to the bottom of pad and 10 3/4 from the floor of garage floor to the center of the prop spline. Using these figures there is a difference of 4.75 and all I have read recommend a difference of 3 1/2. These figures show I should raise the engine at least 1.25 inches.Can anyone shed any light on this problem and tell me if my figures are right.ThanksJerry[url=mailto:jwbarger555@comcast.net]jwbarger555@comcast.net[/url]
http://basscatowners.yuku.com/topic/122 … ine-heightMargay hulls have a lower transom and they may require engine height for larger horsepower engines. They are a versatile package with a range of from 75 to 150 and thus set up will be varying for all those different applications. Please visit the proper way to determine engine height and then visit the actual engine height shooting for just under 24″ in height. This should get you in a zone to start tweaking. The recommended heights are broad and you will have to set up your load range. BCB
Hey Bass Cat: Help!Ive used measures as instructed on the site you pointed me to and everything looks good until I measure from the bottom of the shaft to the center spline of the prop. I get roughly 8.25 inches from the bottom of the anti-cavitation plate to the center spline of the prop. Do I have a freak lower unit?Thanks
Gonefishin, I went out with a buddy in his new margay Sunday also with 150 pro xs, it drove great until like every other basscat modele it was over trimmed. If this is your first cat you may not be use to the lower trim angle required to break these hulls loose and get on pad. I am not sure of engine height calculation on that boat but I noticed the jack plate was below flush. We ran 64 with 2 people Im 220 and my partner probably around 240lb. He is running a 24 tempest plus. He got 66 solo. The boat ran great anywhere around 45-55. I cant believe the performance of that 17″. As soon as we get a chance to get measurements we will.
Thanks for the reply choochoo.I was using the measure methods from Bass Cat and couldnt believe what they were.Transom is 17 to the offset step and 6 to the bottom of pad for a total of 23 which is standardaccording to everything on this site and everything Ive read. I measured for engine height andfrom the engine bracket to the cavity plate it is 20″. From the bottom of plate to the center splineof the prop is 8.25.Using the method to find the proper height in this case would be: 23 – (20 + 8.25) = 5.25 (prop centered at 5.25below the pad)These figures are roughly correct and the bullet (prop) is about 5″ below the pad.Ive raised the engine about 1.25 inches and will try this wk sometime.It sounds like your friend has the same boat, motor and prop. I would love to see a picture of your friends plate and height of engine if your could get it and e-mailto me. (thats a lot to ask; but Im desperate)Thanks and God BlessJerryjwbarger555@comcast.net
Hey Jerry. Will be glad to help you out. We are taking the Margay to the dealer tomorrow to get my goodies added. It was a handful at 66 mph with the hand throttle. Getting a pro trim and hotfoot added so I feel more comfortable driving at those speeds. It is hard to react to what the boat needs with one hand on the wheel and other trying to throttle and trim. We will be playing with set up when I get the boat back and give reports. Will see if we can get some measurements…..will need for baseline anyway. I would like to thank the great folks at Regal Marine for making this deal happen. They are also adding a stereo system, keel guard and interlinking my electronics. I think the boat has a little more in it. Will certainly find out! I am going to look into getting some of the wheels that come on the new Sabre. It will be one pimped out little rocket.
We do not pay any attention to the newer measurement people at using on centerline of propeller shaft. Everything we and the engine companies use would be from the actual engine height. Centerline of prop shaft or cavitation plate we have no record of, measurement with, or knowledge of as we do not use it.
Hey Vandy:You must feel like its Christmas. You need to put a pic on the board after the upgrade. Cant afford the extras right now. Just want to get the rig preforming like I think it should. Ive never bought a boat and had this problem and Ive had a few bass boats. (3 Rangers, Hydrosport, Procraft, Stealth DX200, etc) I would appreciat anything you can do to help. (Measurements, pictures, anything)Thanks and God BlessJerry
My 115ProXS is about the same height in relation to pad as yours used to be, about 5.25″ below pad.Im getting 53-54mph GPS with mine set at that factory setting. Mine doesnt act squirrely at 40mph at all. Where I notice a change in handling is if I try to overtrim (thought maybe I could get it up on pad at lower speed/throttle with more trim), and when the hull lifts out of the water at about 45mph and gets on pad. On pad, it wants to maintain a straighter path though will easily make wide sweepers with no problem.
The 150 would require more engine height than a 115. Smaller engines would need more depth on this hull which is why the Margay has a lower transom than other models.
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