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bobsquatch13.
Got Pantera III a month ago. 2001 Opti 200hp. First time on water after high pressure booster pump replaced, boat on plane faster than any of 10 bass boats I’ve had, ran great. Previous owner had a Stingray Stealth hydrofoil on, prop is 25″ Tempest plus with 1 vent open and 2 with large plugs and pad down to center prop shaft was 4″. Planing almost instant! RPM’s per gauge got to only 5290 during day. I didn’t like hydrofoil so removed it, removed the 2 large plugs so now all 3 vent holes open and raised prop shaft to 3 1/4″ below pad. Took rig out yesterday and impossible to get on plane! Even had my partner plus a couple heavy fishing bags up front and would not break over. Saw 5700 rpm’s before shutting down but did not even seem like it was going to plane – prop blow out and no way was boat going to plane, tried several times then idled rest of time out. Now considering reversing back to original. Cannot tell speed when I first took it out and got on plane instantly as speedo not working, nor GPS on graph. Obviously no speed yesterday. Shouldn’t have to have foil on, to me prop was too low when I got it? I had 25″ tempest + on 02 Classic and was very good, this boat little heavier but shouldn’t stop from planing at all! Anyone have any ideas before I put it back the way it was?
A Tempest needs some plugs or it will blow out, put them back in! A 24 Fury 3 or 4 will probably also run well, and it will help with the holeshot.
24 Fury – Set motor at 3 3/4 and adjust from there . — I agree that no ” tail ” should be needed . — Tried a Tempest on my 99 Classic — Didn’t like it at all . — Put it on my brother’s older Pantera / Mariner 200 Mag 2 . — He didn’t like it either . — Put the 24 Fury on and it’s a ” BEAST ” on either boat . — Fury comes without plugs , and Mercury says it doesn’t need them . — I have to agree , as it never offered to blow out on either boat , and the holeshot is AMAZING , to say the least !! — Top end is also good enough for this old fart . — We both run a bit heavy , and the Fury lifts quick and carries the boat effortlessly . — I’m all finished now . — ( My 2 cents worth ) — Mark
Hole shot with everything the way it was when purchased was phenomenal, just didn’t care for hydrofoil. Are you saying putting the 2 plugs or without the foil maybe put all 3 in might allow me to get on plane at current 3 1/4″ setting? BTW the 2 plugs I took out are the large ones.
BIGCATTER – just saw your post and agree likely the Fury better but are you talking about 24 Fury with 3 or 4 blades, I’m not sure myself if they come both ways? Never had a prop blow out like that did yesterday nor close to it. Thanks and thanks Mike.
Also are you talking about the newer “alloy” Fury’s – think those have double sets of vent holes but best left open? Plus you think the 24 better than a 25 on my Pantera III hull?
If you put the plugs back in it will most likely be fine. The Fury comes both ways, the 4 blade will probably give you a better holeshot. If you run the Fury 3, you will definitely be too high where your plate is now. I would not make such drastic changes in engine height all at once. If you’re low on rpms with a 25 Tempest, there is no way you should run a 25 Fury, it will give you even less. Make small changes, so you can tell what is going on.
Top speed not a problem for me as long as in upper 60’s but really want a very good hole shot. Will try it but hard to believe putting the 2 plugs back in will get this boat on plane as the blow out was something I’d never experienced before. I had raised the prop from the 4″ to the 3 1/4″ as 4 just seemed way too low? Ramp I use is 50 – 60 miles from here and long way to go if can’t get on plane again – though guess I could bring foil as pretty easy to put on, just have to put back on trailer. If doesn’t work will look at the Fury props but am going to have to put new T/M on too so lots of $$$$ going out, way more than I expected when buying boat – should have just bought a new one but at my age and health problems that didn’t seem like a wise decision.
With the Tempest I started with three blank plugs and brought a drill with a step bit, and drilled one at time until it planed pretty well. The PIII is a heavy hull and will never plane like a classic or P2 without help (the hydrofoil). Mine really likes the fury for hole shot and acceleration, over the tempest. There are some hydrofoils (like the Hydroplaner) that don’t look bad, and they are out of the water once on plane and don’t effect top end speed.
Prefer not having to drill 6 holes with the Hydroplaner, the one that was on here required no drilling of any kind – just didn’t like it. Also only got to 5290 rpm’s but that shouldn’t have been the foil? Not really wanting to buy another prop but may have to as don’t see how putting 2 large plugs back into this 25″ Tempest + is going to make it plane as it was really not ever close to breaking over. Previously to making the changes was extremely quick to plane, very strong mid range but not idea re speed as speedo and GPS was not working.
Bob, I hate you are having so many problems with your new to you PIII. 4 months ago I purchased a 2009 Sabre with a 2018 Mercury 150 Pro XS with 4 hours. Figured an older boat in good shape with everything working with a new motor… couldn’t go wrong. It took me until last Friday to get the motor working correctly. There was a 1/8″ piece if casting in the fuel pump that would clog the fuel flow “occasionally” so it would run ok then it would not idle at all. Went through 2 tracker valves before my mechanic found the issue. So with all that said I feel your pain. During that time I tried different props. I ran a Fury 3, different pitches of a Tempest Plus and a Bravo 1 XS. From everything you have said in this thread it sounds like to me you want good hole shot, good mid range and are willing to sacrifice top end. My recommendation for you would the a Bravo 1XS. This prop is ideal for heavy load applications with incredible hole shot and mid range but will be a couple mph slower on the top end. It also has 8 PVS holes for you to tune hole shot to your boat and load. They recommend to go 1 pitch larger than a Tempest or 2 pitches larger than a Fury. What concerns me is the rpm’s you are getting with the Tempest. You have to establish a baseline with a prop that gets out of the hole so you can establish the rpm’s you are getting with your current prop so you know what to do next. I would drop back to 4″, put enough plugs back in to reduce ventilation so you can get out of the hole to see what rpm’s you can achieve. Length of time to get out of the hole is not important now, you need to establish a baseline.
Agree but without the foil not sure just the plugs going to get on plane? Hard for me to understand what I did that would make the prop blow out that bad. I have had 10 bass boats and none have ever done that. Been a costly thing as getting the big Merc running with new booster pump and few other things done has been expensive. Also going to have to get a new trolling motor as this one never know if going to move when stepping on switch plate – did put new switch on, didn’t really do much for it, maybe not quite as bad but still doesn’t work at times. being around 17 yrs. old can’t put any more money into this T/M. But, need to get the boat on plane and really not wanting to go all the way back to the way it was. Don’t think a baseline can be established with the foil as doubt that would do much good. As originally purchased boat did get 5290 rpm’s (speed unknown) and planed instantly. Will try putting just the plugs in but will surprise me if that works – wouldn’t think you would have to move prop back down to 4″ but may have to do that too? I’ve had my other 02 Classic and couple Champions approx. same size with 200’s on them, had tempest + on them and they would only run right with plugs out? Did not stay with the tempest on them.
We would suggest a 23 or 24 Fury on the Pantera III model today.
Appreciate all replies – question here for BCB or anyone else. If I go to the 24 Fury, which recommended best the 3 or 4 blade and stainless steel or alloy (both expensive but alloy quite a bit higher I believe?) THANKS!
I’m running a 99 P3 with a 200 EFI. I just had a week of trying a 24Fury 3 blade and my 25p Tempest. The old one with the oval holes. Due to getting the lower unit replaced last month it required the tempest to get refurbished. The Fury I think is needing extra holes, no rpm out of hole. Mid and top were nice with a full load and a healthy driver, lol, I get 68.5 GPS. Threw the Tempest on last night with one plug in I get a great hole shot and 69 top end with empty wells and 68 full. Sorry I don’t know the height of the prop shaft but I’m getting 5/16” holes in the 24 Fury and will try that. I think it’ll fix my holeshot and top will be similar. Love my P3, had it since ‘06 and fished on it since it was a year old. I still enjoy dropping ole girl in the water and running around. Tight lines to all
They are all the new alloy and three blade is our suggestion.
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