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Tagged: Hole shot
CB_SabreFTD18.
I have a 2008 pantera classic with 200 hp mecury optimax. Only has about 40 hours. Hole shot is terrible although runs great on top end–a little over 70. Has standard jack plate from Bass Cat and 26 pitch tempest plus. Hole shot hasn’t been a big deal since I fish alone mostly but have partner more lately and would like to improve. Has anyone used a transom wedge like the TH Marine 5 degree wedge to improve hole shot? What is recommended?
Adding wedges isn’t standard practice on Bass Cat boats.
What is your WOT RPM’s?
I am running a 24 Fury 3 on my 2016 P2, Dual Consoles and Twin power poles. Holeshot is very quick with or without passenger. I get 71.8 mph at 5700 RPM.
I know OLDTIMER Runs either a 25 or 26 Fury 3 on his Classic.
Right. I’m a fan of the 3-blade 26p Fury. My typical load is me + son + dog -> 400 pounds or so. Factor in fuel, plus reasonable tackle and such and we don’t have any hole shot issues. I am running at 2.75″ PtP for reference on a manual jack plate. Also easy to get on the trailer. Have tried lots of others (tempest +, trophy, etc) but none provided the same (a) hole shot, (b) cruising speed / efficiency and (c) top end…
Note that I am running a 2014 Pro XS 200, which is the “real Pro XS” (post 2012 somewhere was the break point). Prior to that point, the 200 Pro XS was a 200 Optimax with different cowl decals. Somewhere in 2012 (IIRC) Mercury re-designed the 200 and went to the higher fuel/air pressure injectors, carbon fiber reeds, etc… So that might make some difference, I am not sure.
Thanks for help. I am definitely going to change prop. Still not clear about Tempest Plus vs Fury. From what I have read, for same rpm, Fury should be 1″ pitch lower than Tempest Plus, ie, 25 Fury =26 Tempest Plus. I am having trouble understanding that since the Fury is a 14 inch prop and the Tempest Plus is 14 5/8 inches. Seems the equal pitch Fury would turn more rpm than the Tempest Plus??? I am only turning 26 Tempest Plus about 5200-5300 rpm (on the factory tach) and top speed on GPS around 72—probably a little less with the hot water around here right now. I set transom height by raising in 1/4 inch increments engine until I started getting slippage out of the hole and then dropped back 1/4. I haven’t measured PtP but it is probably in the 2 1/2 to 3 inch range. These numbers would indicate I needed a 24 inch Tempest Plus to get to 5600-5700 rpm. Following the 1 inch less rule, that would mean a 23 Fury. My boat is not loaded heavy but has 1 power pole, Ultrex on bow, and large Optima batteries (3x about 75 pounds each). Does that sound right to you?
I don’t have the luxury of testing props so need to get it right.
I have an 07 Classic, same motor but without Ultrex and shallow anchor. I’ll tell you the old Classic is sensitive to weight. I noticed a difference just going from a Maxxuum 74lb to Fortex 80. As oldtimer mention, this hull and the PII like the Fury 3 blade. I run a 26 but I’m in the NE (Lake Champlain), I’d think you’d be better off with a 25P with the extra weight. A least with a Fury out of the box. A worked 26 or 25 could make a big difference. Motor height is important but don’t go to deep. I’m old school and work off the plates (starting at even). Right now I’m running 1/4″ above even. Took care of chine walk but I lost 1-2 mph. I may drop it 1/8 and see what happens. Yes, 1/8″ on these hull can make a difference. BTW, I ran the Trophy Plus 4 blade 26P the boat came with. Speed and handling was very good but hole shot wasn’t very good. It jumps out of the hole with the 26P Fury alone and is pretty fast with two, extra tackle, full live wells.
ptankers:
Thanks for help. I am definitely going to change prop. Still not clear about Tempest Plus vs Fury. From what I have read, for same rpm, Fury should be 1″ pitch lower than Tempest Plus, ie, 25 Fury =26 Tempest Plus. I am having trouble understanding that since the Fury is a 14 inch prop and the Tempest Plus is 14 5/8 inches. Seems the equal pitch Fury would turn more rpm than the Tempest Plus??? I am only turning 26 Tempest Plus about 5200-5300 rpm (on the factory tach) and top speed on GPS around 72—probably a little less with the hot water around here right now. I set transom height by raising in 1/4 inch increments engine until I started getting slippage out of the hole and then dropped back 1/4. I haven’t measured PtP but it is probably in the 2 1/2 to 3 inch range. These numbers would indicate I needed a 24 inch Tempest Plus to get to 5600-5700 rpm. Following the 1 inch less rule, that would mean a 23 Fury. My boat is not loaded heavy but has 1 power pole, Ultrex on bow, and large Optima batteries (3x about 75 pounds each). Does that sound right to you?
I don’t have the luxury of testing props so need to get it right.
Ptanker
I tend to agree with you on the Prop pitch comparison. Maybe Oldtimer can chime in. If your running 5200-5300 with a Tempest 26, you would need to drop to a 24 Fury 3 to pick up top end RPM and hole shot speed. Keep in mind, if you get the 24 Fury 3 and hit the rev limiter, you can always have it worked.
I believe the Classic is lighter than my PII, So a 25 Fury 3 would normally be ideal. With the older Optimax engine as compared to the ProXs on Old Timers, you may need the smaller pitch. Just my thoughts.
Ptanker, the reason you drop a pitch from a Tempest to a Fury is the Fury is made with X-7 alloy which is stiffer than the material used to make the Tempest. Also the blades on the Fury are bigger even though the Fury is a smaller diameter. With the Tempest plus, have you adjusted the size of the PVS plugs in your prop to ventilate more to help your hole shot?
A little more performance data. The fastest I have seen my 08 run is 78.5, right at 5850 RPM. Which seems to be the point where the rev limiter begins to meddle with engine performance. That is cold dry air. I’ve run it recently and with air temps over 95, ditto for humidity, we were able to hit 72, at 5500 RPM. That is with the usual 400 pounds of me + son + dog, nearly full tank of fuel, etc. In cold air, with all of us on board, we generally see 74-74.5. I did not run by myself, so I am not sure where the speed/RPM would be, unfortunately, but clearly in summer temps horsepower drops.
And with a 2-stroke motor it can be a double-whammy. Too much pitch can drop RPM levels, which can drop the engine out of its optimal power band, which then loses more power and more RPM. The solution for the Summer is to prop down a bit to at least get rid of the second whammy and get the engine back into its power band. Albeit spinning a lower pitch prop. But now all you lose is the speed caused by the reduced pitch. With my motor running 5500 right now, that is right in the right ballpark, as the 200’s are 5750 RPM max, with the rev limiter getting involved at 5850. We don’t run WOT very often so it is not a big issue for me. Nice thing about the 26p is the 50 mph or so cruising speed at 4K rpm…
I just bought a 08 classic. I have a 200 opti on it. I’m running the jack plate 1.5 above even with a 25 tempest prop. It will run 66. Do you think a fury prop would be better?
I’ve got a Sabre 175 ProXs. I can’t imagine getting speed or any type of handling running 1.5” above flush on the plate. I run a 25 Tempest to 68.9 @ 5890 rpms (Smartcraft) with 1/2 fuel, solo, in 95 deg heat in SE Texas. Hole shot is 3 seconds, and I run it 1/8” below flush. 24 Tempest is 68.5 @ 5910 loaded for bear with 3/4 fuel and livewells full a couple days ago in blazing temps. 24 Fury will run 69.6@5860 in this Summer heat with 1/2 fuel, solo, in the same heat. I run all the props at 1/8-1/4 below flush. The 24 Tempest hole shot is 2 seconds, and the 24 is a tad slower. Choppy to rough water ride and handling is way better with a Tempest on my boat. Try yours at flush before you switch props. I have 3 medium exhaust plugs in both Tempest props. The 24 will blow out on hole shot if the plate is above flush with only me in the boat. Your 200/Classic should be faster than my Sabre 175 with a 25 Tempest.
Thanks. I’m going to move the jack plate flush today. I’m fishing a tournament on Conroe tonight, hopeful I will see an improvement
FishingApe:
Thanks. I’m going to move the jack plate flush today. I’m fishing a tournament on Conroe tonight, hopeful I will see an improvement
The 25 Tempest is magic on Conroe on my 18 footer. Your 19 footer should be much better in the rough stuff. Send me a PM if you want to try my 24 Fury or tuned 26 Bravo 4 blade.
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