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gdsjr77.
Hello all, I have a 2001 Cougar with a 250 Pro XB. The current setup is exactly the way it was when I bought it 2.5 years ago (from these boards). Slide master 6″ jackplate, Trophy Plus 4 blade prop, 26p. At one point I was getting blow out, but after playing with the vents that problem is solved. I have been driving the boat since I bought it with no complaints, but its the first bass boat I have owned. I recently have taken some friends from my club for a ride and all have said the exact same thing….that the bow of my boat is WAY too high. In comparison, one friend has a 2013 Cougar and claims that he cannot get his bow as high as mine is all the way down. I have been researching as much as possible, but Im at a loss on my next step. Its either adjust the jack plate, or try a different prop? Im sure everyone wants to know WOT specs, but honestly I havent really been able to get them. I actually afraid of turning too many rpm when at WOT. Water pressure is steady at 15. If I can figure out a way to post a pic of my jack plate from my phone I will. Thank you in advance for any help. Keep in mind….my experience is limited to the last few years. Thanks, Glen
Everyone is concerned about getting the most out of a boat but I say if you are happy then I wouldnt change a thing. Once you get to the point of being completely comfortable with running it, then you might be able to tweak it to run faster. A 2001 is a totally different animal from a 2013. How heavy a load are you carrying in the front compartments?Jim EbarbMany, LA (Toledo Bend Lake)2004 Cougar/ 225 OptimaxHumminbird Helix 12 Chirp SI on BalzOut Mount at bowLowrance HDS 7 at bowHumminbird Helix 12 Mega SI on Ram Mount at ConsoleLowrance HDS 8 in dash at console
The front compartment simply has all of my tackle for the day. No more than 25 pounds. 6 rods and the other compartment has a spare life jacket, lights, flares, oar and ropes. Pretty much minimal stuff. The reason I am looking to tweak the setup is that the first year I was on nothing but lakes. Ever since I have been fishing big water (Upper Chesapeake and lower Potomac) both of which can get pretty rough. Im looking to get the bow down in order to help the ride quality in rough water. Im sure it doesnt help that I switched last year to a 36v trolling motor, and the additional battery is in the rear. I have debated moving them up front just to help balance?
gdsjr77 wrote:The front compartment simply has all of my tackle for the day. No more than 25 pounds. 6 rods and the other compartment has a spare life jacket, lights, flares, oar and ropes. Pretty much minimal stuff. The reason I am looking to tweak the setup is that the first year I was on nothing but lakes. Ever since I have been fishing big water (Upper Chesapeake and lower Potomac) both of which can get pretty rough. Im looking to get the bow down in order to help the ride quality in rough water. Im sure it doesnt help that I switched last year to a 36v trolling motor, and the additional battery is in the rear. I have debated moving them up front just to help balance?By the same token , when you went to the bigger trolling motor you added weight to the nose , albeit not a lot . — Ive never been on BIG water , but my experience has been to simply trim it down a bit to get the nose down a little in rough water , which Ive seen plenty of on Bull Shoals and Fork . — 4 blade is good , as it provides whole boat lift , whereas 3 blade lifts the bow a bit more . — I would NOT move batteries forward , as it could turn you into a submarine if youre not careful . — Id much rather it be nose high than low in big waves . — Ive speared a couple , and its not pretty . — Hoss
Thanks for the advice. I hear ya on spearing the wave, its no fun. Keep in mind, I say its big water……The upper bay is around 10 miles across in most places. Its not the great lakes, but it can get rough. I did not know that the 3 blade created more lift than the 4, so that may not be an option? I really do t have anything to compare by except for the other boats in my club. All of which feel the how is way to high. Some felt that since I bought this boat from someone that fished mostly smaller lakes that the setup was for speed and not necessarily rough water? Right now, with two full tanks and a rider……5k RPM has me running 52-53 mph and 5500 RPM has me around 60 mph.
Trim down? Not completely sure what youre trying to accomplish? Based on what your friends tell you youre too high with bow lift? Maybe their boats dont have enough bow lift. Most setups are based on top end speed and adjust PVS plugs in the hub of the prop for hole shot.
I had simply accepted the handling characteristics of my boat to be what they were until I had a few people ride with me and recommend that I make some adjustments to get the bow down. The only reason I am looking to adjust the setup is because Im told it can be better? I guess I am simply gonna have to go out and adjust the jack plate up and down until I get it right or change the prop?
Again, not sure what you want to accomplish. It sounds like to me that some seat time is needed for you. Once you learn how to drive then there will be NO handling characteristics to worry with. With that said, I wouldnt change a thing until you can drive it wide open throttle for miles. In addition, too much trim will make it harder for those less experienced to handle at wide open throttle.
How is the hole shot and steering wheel torque loaded?
Hole shot is good. Not if I follow the steering wheel torque question? When under torque (or launch) Im typically not turning the wheel so I cant say there is any torque? And Im sorry if the last 3 years is not enough seat time for you. I am si my looking to improve the handling on water that often has 10-20 mph winds and wave big enough that you cant stay on plane.
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