First Impressions

[Coach185]

Took my Stratos 185 out yesterday and as I am new to bass boats /outboards I'm slowly feeling my way around it. My last boat was a 20' Ski Sanger with 300hp V drive. Totally different beast from my 2003 185.
The hole shot on the 185 took a little getting used to, but I think I have that under control. Pretty cool how it jumps up on plane so fast and the power of the V150TLRB Yamaha is impressive. I can only imagine what a 250hp and up would do.
The Yamaha has a Mercury Marine Tempest Plus SS 25 pitch prop. In the mid 4000 rpm range im cruising at about 50mph. Haven't run WOT but was wondering what she would do. Think I'll wait until I am more comfortable with the handling of the boat.
So far I am really impressed with the power and ride

[JR19]

If new to bass boat style hulls it might take several trips to learn the feel of the boat and how it responds to rpm and trim angle...regarding hole shot trim ALL the way down and give it full throttle. If the set up (prop/prop to pad height) is correct the bow should rise and break over pretty quick. Most bass boats have a 5 second or less hole shot. Once the bow breaks over and you feel the prop hook up and starting to pull you can ease out of the throttle some. Once she gets to going SLOWY start giving it some positive trim until the bow rises. Being your new to bass boats slowly work you way through the rpm range and find the correct trim angle for each rpm range. Once you get everything mastered it should be a 60 mph ride...50 mph sounds high for 4000 rpm. If that speed was buy the speedometer then note that boat speedometers are notorious for being in accurate. GPS is the true way to measure boat speed. I have a similiar size boat/motor and its a 70 mph ride buy the speedometer and a 60 mph ride buy GPS.

[Coach185]

JR19 you were spot on about the rpm's and mph. Took it out today and checked with gps. 4000 rpm hit 40 mph. 4500 hit 45 mph, 5000 rpm hit 50 mph, 5400 rpm hit 55 mph. Chickened out at that point, lol. But I still had throttle left in the pedal.
Taylorsville lake was perfect for running a boat, not so much for fishing.

[Coach185]

JR19 you were spot on about the rpm's and mph. Took it out today and checked with gps. 4000 rpm hit 40 mph. 4500 hit 45 mph, 5000 rpm hit 50 mph, 5400 rpm hit 55 mph. Chickened out at that point, lol. But I still had throttle left in the pedal.
Taylorsville lake was perfect for running a boat, not so much for fishing.

[JR19]

JR19 you were spot on about the rpm's and mph. Took it out today and checked with gps. 4000 rpm hit 40 mph. 4500 hit 45 mph, 5000 rpm hit 50 mph, 5400 rpm hit 55 mph. Chickened out at that point, lol. But I still had throttle left in the pedal.
Taylorsville lake was perfect for running a boat, not so much for fishing.

That's very close to how my rpms relate to speed at 4000, 4500 and 5000...@ 5600-5700 I am 58-62 pending load, cool or warm weather and running conditions. Now here is what's going to freak you out if your new to bass boats like you said in your original reply...once you hit around 57mph or something close to 60 and you have a lot of lift in the bow you will experience chinewalk. I don't know your experience level so you may or may not know what chinewalk is. The first time it happen to me I had no idea how to control it. Once someone showed me how to make steering corrections to prevent it I learned pretty quick how to keep it under control...no two boats are the same. I can control my chinewalk but my neighbors TR196 with a 200 Mercury is a beast that I can't control. I have only tried driving it a few times above 5500 and it is a beast. As for my ride I could drive it at 60 and control the chine walk good enough you would never know it was happening unless you were watching my hands on the steering wheel.

[Coach185]

Took her out today and tried out the refurbished prop from Marks Props and my new Trick Steps.
Saw some improvement on my performance. 4,000 around saw 42mph. 4500 saw around 47mph then at 5000 I was seeing 55mph. 5500 rpm I was seeing 58mph and then the chine walk started. Not ready for that yet, lol.

Feeling a bump in my steering when turning left. Not like before when it was a sharp tick, this time more like a solid bump. Seemed to get a little better the more I trimmed up, but never went away. No issues when I turn right.. Maybe time to change out the end caps and seals.

Trick steps are great. I'm not as nimble as I used to be so the support and access are great. The middle step on the trick step is dead center with my bumper on my 2014 Z71 4WD chevy. I jack knifed it in my driveway as a test and it comes pretty darn close, so I need to be aware when backing and turning too tight

[mactlman]

have you checked ptp number yet? might help chine walk if too low?

[Coach185]

.

[Coach185]

Mike, there is a separate post on Prop to Pad measurement in this section that you commented on, lol

[mactlman]

Mike, there is a separate post on Prop to Pad measurement in this section that you commented on, lol

sorry see that now!! try coming up a little bit 3.25 or so sometimes a 1/8 or 1/4 will really help i spent hours dialing mine in before, next boat will have a hydraulic plate!

[Coach185]

Probably not going to move anything on it until I master driving it, lol. 60mph on the water is a lot faster than I need to go. Once I get pass the chine walk shock I'll think about performance enhancements
Cheers

[tdt91]

often the chime will get better with a better set up. can't hurt trying.

[Les Young]

The 185 is a great boat. I bought one new in 2003 myself & really liked it. I added an 8" plate to it & when it came in dealer put it on & i went to the lake. That trip was a little different in the handling department because i trimmed her up like usual & just about lost it because of trimming so quick. I figured out i was getting it out of angle by trimming up as quick as i was & then done it a little slower & it never done it again the whole time i owned it. It was one wild ride for a few minutes though.

[Coach185]

Took her out again today. Cold and no wind. Getting more comfortable with adjusting trim to increase speed. Hit 62mph on the gps , not sure on the rpm's as I was pretty pumped at seeing 62, lol. I know I wasn't at 6000 rpm's and thinking 5800.
I kept trimming up expecting some chine walk, but didn't feel it. I know she had more in her but I ran out of the straight run I was on.
Happy Camper

[JR19]

Took her out again today. Cold and no wind. Getting more comfortable with adjusting trim to increase speed. Hit 62mph on the gps , not sure on the rpm's as I was pretty pumped at seeing 62, lol. I know I wasn't at 6000 rpm's and thinking 5800.
I kept trimming up expecting some chine walk, but didn't feel it. I know she had more in her but I ran out of the straight run I was on.
Happy Camper

Sounds good...if you recall a few weeks ago I said you will get more comfortable with more seat time. 62 is a solid speed for your combo. One thing I will add is I don't know the max suggest rpm for a 150 carburetor motor but I would bet at 5800 your are turning it about as hard as suggested. Right now your at the point where you will learn something about how it handles just about every trip. Enjoy your new to you ride and be safe...Merry Christmas

[Coach185]

Thanks Gene, I have learned alot in the past couple of months and everytime i take her out I learn a little more. Coming back to the dock yesterday I found that she purred at 5200/55. Very smooth.
Have a great Christmas
Cheers

[bassinman215]

62 is fast for that boat. I can do 61.5 with mine (2009 285 with 150 Yamaha, worked 23M) under ideal conditions. Never chine walks, but I get some porpoising in the low-mid 50's unless it's trimmed high.

[Coach185]

I have been very happy with my 185. I was surprised at the 62mph on the gps and think my refurbished Tempest Plus 25 had alot to do with the 62mph. My PTP is 4.250 and no plans to move it toward the 3.5 recommended. Like I told JR19, its cool that she goes that fast, but I'm a 40mph kinda guy. Though the 5200rpm @ 55mph was pretty smooth
Cheers,