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Bass Cat Boats.
1994 Pantera II with 1994 200 EFI Mercury:
1. Laying a straight edge flat against the bottom pad,with contour of boat, the center of my nose cone is 3 1/4-3 1/2 below the pad.
2. 3 of the 8 intake holes on each side of lower unit is plugged with allen screws.
3. At WOT and trimmed out I am reading between 5900 & 6000 rpm & have 12-13 psi on guage.
4. 68-70 mph
5. 48-825872 24P Tempest Plus prop……Is this a small or large hub?
6. 1800′-2000′ above sea level..
I would like to have less steering torque & smooth ride at 55-60 mph…and jump out of hole without having to trim up & down all the time….I am also concerned about water pressure..12-13 psi doesn’t sound right….
What do I need to do???…Lower motor,change prop,unplug holes & etc…????
Any help will really be appreciated & remember at 66 years old I’m not like Tom Cruise in the movie Top Gun. I DON”T have a need for speed!!!!!! I’ll leave that to you young folks.
VJ,
It is very difficult to beat a High Five for this rig and what you describe as your needs.
We set up alot of the Law Enforcements Rigs with High Five Propellers for this reason. They carry a load, run mid 60’s up , and have no torque. Any rookie officer (or Older) who has no real time in a High Perf. rig can drive them. And we have had to go out with a few to learn more on this.
They carry a load if they are needing to pick up some one or carry a dive team.
They are forgiving on the lower end for great handling. They can keep a wake in sight, and get out of the hole quick when they need to. Out manuevering many boats, and turn on a dime fo those PWC drivers trying them on.
We have Plenty of this exact combination running, and they all work well. Sure there are faster ones, though we believe in this set up for your uses in the mid 60’s age range also.
It will also pull your grandchildren up to ski some!
Give it a try!
BCB
Thanks for the quick reply….If I get a High 5 would you think a 24 pitch would do ???What about lowering the motor? Would that help increase my psi or is that necessary? Im reading 12-13 at WOT.
VJ,
I’m certainly not Rick or one of his team, but I’ve run Hi-5’s for years as a second prop, and they are right on with the advice. With the 200, I’d look at a 23P Hi-Five, (I’m not sure you can get a even pitch–Mine have been 23 and 25).
For me, you water pressure at WOT is OK, but on the boarderline–I like 15 pounds better. I’d try the 5 blade, and drop the plate about 1/4″–High Fives don’t run as high as a Tempest, in my experience.
You could also remove the set screws. For how you are wanting to run the boat, you don’t need them, and they could reduce water pressure.
Try the prop first, though, before you change anything else.
You will be amazed at the hole shot, and how easy the boat drives with a High-5.
Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Thanks for the reply Mike..Do you remember what the rpm was with the 23 & 25? Did you have a PII with 200 Merc???
Thanks
Jimmy:
Please post here how you turn out with the prop selection. I am an old guy (61) and do not enjoy wrestling the steering wheel of my P4. Like the old bull and the young bull on the hill—
thanks
jwt
Man Old is seeming younger every year!
Seriously though a P4 can be teaked to have no wheel torque by lowering the engine and dropping one inch of pitch on the propeller. You will compromise a tad bit of speed and have the comfortable rig you are after and the P4 was built for.
The P4 was built to accomodate the 50+ market and the ride, handling and comfort are there for this segment. It is a very large hull and weighs more than most in the 19′ range. So the weight, length and depth are all present which deter from speed.
BCB
JWT,,,,The P4 is a “different breed of cat”, and will pretty much run any prop you wanna try on it as Phil and I determined last weekend,,,,We settled on a 26p Trophy for overall performance,(Phil really wanted to run a 25p but none were available) and especially carrying the load i carry(both in tackle, and belly),,,,,,, the lift was much better with a much better feel for the rough water, and the engine seems to breathe better, and seems to make horsepower instead of just rpms,,,,,,the Tempest i was running was also a 26p, but seemed to have too much slip @ top end,,,,,,i had alot of help with my set-up with Phil there,,,,and he lowered the engine probably 3/8″ below flush on the plates and helped the torque on the Tempest,,,,,but we both liked the boat better with the Trophy on it, and i can now bump the trim down and drive the boat like youre supposed to be able to,,,,good luck, D.
D:
Thanks for the comments. i am currently running a 25 P Trophy. Tommy lowered it last week and the torque is much better to tolerable. I think my problem may be now is the tendency I have always had to trim all the way out which in this case creates a bucking bronko. Previous boats did not have the fire breather on the transom that I now have. I may have to live with more torque and raise the engine back up some because i am not making enough RPMs (about 5300) and my water pressure gage is pegged at 30 psi. I have talked Tommy into driving it and setting it up and I will try again.any inputs are humbly solicited.
jwt
Jimmy,
I never ran a 25 Hi-5 on my 200(1990 PII, with a 200EFI), but the 23p gave my rpms in the 5600 range. And strangely enough, that same prop on a stock 225 Opti never hit the rev limiter, and my tournament wheel was a 26 Trophy.
Keep in mind that a Hi-Five wants to run much deeper in the water, does not want to surface, and does not need as much trim to run the hull.
Hold like velcro in turns, and will plane the boat off in 18″ of water, loaded to the gunnels.
Cost me about 8-9 mph, but on spring days with 20 mph winds, fishing shallow flats and sloughs, it was definitely the best prop for the day.
Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Thanks Mike…Now the hunt is on for a 23 & 24 pitch High Five…I hope I can find someone that will let me run theirs until I see which one is best…I don’t mind buying a new one but I only want to buy 1…
Thanks again..
Contact [email protected] and see if they can help you to find one.
BCB
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