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  1. #1
    Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    26

    Trying to get this setup figured out

    So I have a 2017 PT 190 Tracker with a 2017 Mercury 115 hp 4 stroke mounted through the first hole (top hole) that had an Mercury Black Max aluminum 13.5 X 23P prop on it. Well I hit a submerged log and broke an inch off the tip of one of the three blades. Normally I could run about 5900 rpm at 44 mph. I think that calculates to about 30% slippage, not good right? Understand, I never paid much attention to the boat set up until this happened.


    So, I took my prop to the prop shop to get this one repaired and buy a new prop as this repair was going to be two to three weeks as I was around 100 on the repair list. So he sold me a new, out of the box Laser II 13.5 X24P SS prop. I was told I would only lose a couple hundred RPM but should be fine. As it turns out I max out at about 5000 RPM and about 42 mph. I may have been able to trim a little more but it was getting a little squirrelly in my opinion.


    Everyone with this same boat seems to running around 21P and motor sitting on the third hole. Does this sound about right? I know I may be a little heavy with me, 270 lbs, 3 batteries, and an 8 foot Talon on as well. So my questions are, and please understand I’m just trying to learn here:



    • Is that prop even have a chance of working right for me or should I be looking at coming down on pitch?
    • What does raising motor up to third hole do for me?
    • Pitch go down if I go with 4 blade?
    • Did I calculate slippage?
    • The prop guy didn’t have a 23P but he may have a 21 or 22, which should I try trade up to?

    I’ll leave it there and I appreciate all your suggestions and advice.
    P.S.
    I took the boat out again this morning to try and run it again while trying out some different trim settings. At one point I was at about 4600 RPM and 40 mph but it was feeling really squirrelly on the back end of the boat and really poor handling.

  2. Pat Goff
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Seadrift TX
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    10,942
    #2
    Not sure if you want advice or answers.

    The right answer is a 21 lazer and go fishing. Paramount is your motor must run at the top of its rpm range.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  3. Member
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    Dec 2013
    Location
    Spring Hope,NC
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    7,252
    #3
    I would go with a Laser 2 21” and a 6” jack plate,then you can easily dial in engine height and the plate will improve handing and lift.

  4. Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2021
    Location
    Nancy, KY
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    26
    #4
    So what does raising the motor up do for the performance? Do you trim it up less because it’s up higher? Does it affect the steering and stability? Just trying to understand what I’m striving for. Props are expensive as well as taking it to a marina to have the motor raised.

  5. Pat Goff
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Seadrift TX
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    #5
    Time out.
    Setup for what YOU want out of your rig.
    Some want to squeeze the last mph out of it.
    Some just want a old fat guys boat that drives easy.

    Honesty at this point will get you correct answers.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  6. Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    #6
    What I’m trying to get to I guess is 5800-6000 rpm, 45 mph, and handles well, and maybe improve the fuel consumption as a little bonus. I was kind of getting that with the old aluminum 23P prop except by calculation it was above 25% slippage and had some vibration that this 24 P SS prop has not exhibited at all. Very smooth and quiet as a matter of fact.

  7. Pat Goff
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
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    Seadrift TX
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    #7
    Aluminum props are junk and do not need to be part of the discussion.

    21 lazer 2 with no changes should get you what you’re looking for. Everything will be better. Remember on a boat the faster you go the looser the boat will be in the water. Prepare yourself for that.

    Don’t change anything until you get the right prop.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  8. Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    #8
    Thank you Pat and everyone else who contributed to this topic. I will start with the prop and go from there. I do however want to get a bit of understanding on what the raising the motor does. I have read some post on this board about raising the motor to the third mounting hole. How does that affect the overall performance? Better holeshot? Better top end? Improved stability? Better fuel economy? Inquiring mind wants to know. I appreciate all the help I’ve received so far.

  9. Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
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    346
    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by BruddahMidds View Post
    Thank you Pat and everyone else who contributed to this topic. I will start with the prop and go from there. I do however want to get a bit of understanding on what the raising the motor does. I have read some post on this board about raising the motor to the third mounting hole. How does that affect the overall performance? Better holeshot? Better top end? Improved stability? Better fuel economy? Inquiring mind wants to know. I appreciate all the help I’ve received so far.
    I'm not the expert here but to summarize your question, raising the height of the motor will create less drag, better speed and better efficiency. Raise it too much and you will experience a loss of control and water pressure will drop causing the motor to overheat. Too low and you create drag and you're less efficient.

    In order to set at the right height you need a water pressure gauge. From there you can adjust height until low water pressure becomes and issue or handling goes to hell. You can decide if that's worth messing with or not. There's can be a lot of money/time involved with figuring this out whether you get a jack plate or just move the motor up and down and then test from there.
    Triton 180DC---150hp Yamaha Vmax HPDI---Bobs 6" Hydro Plate---24 Tempest Plus---Ultrex---Lowrance Carbons

  10. Member
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    Jan 2005
    Location
    Red Oak Va.
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    10,597
    #10
    You have a tin boat and unless your boat has a pad you can't raise it any higher than the second hole from the top. Get the 21 laser II and be happy.

  11. Pat Goff
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    Jun 2004
    Location
    Seadrift TX
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    #11
    There are guys here have spent decades rigging out every type and brand hull and motor ever built.

    Then there’s the experts that give advice on what works on their own boat.

    Like told that iron boat has little to do with a fiberglass hull and proper for one is wrong for the other.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  12. Member
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    Oct 2018
    Location
    Royal,AR
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    71
    #12
    More than likely, you'll want to put your prop shaft at 4 1/2 prop to pad and a 21 pitch laser 2 prop. That's about all she'll do. The 24 pitch is just too much for a 115. My high output yamaha v4 wouldnt run one. Hole shot was terrible and rpms were low.
    Nick McDaniel

  13. Member
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    Jun 2013
    Location
    Fruit Cove FL
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    359
    #13
    Quote Originally Posted by mdtritn21 View Post
    You have a tin boat and unless your boat has a pad you can't raise it any higher than the second hole from the top. Get the 21 laser II and be happy.
    Listen to mdtritn21 and pmgoffjr. They know about this stuff.

  14. Member
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    Jun 2021
    Location
    Nancy, KY
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    26
    #14
    Thanks for all your advice, I will be looking into exchanging that 24 for a 21, thanks guys. I will repost my results when I get this done.

  15. Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    #15
    Well here’s the latest….I’ve found a 13 X 21 SS prop. Will the 13 in diameter over 13.5 diameter change your opinion of the 21 being the prop for me?

  16. Pat Goff
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    Jun 2004
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    Seadrift TX
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    #16
    What prop? If it's some POS generic, keep shopping.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  17. Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    #17
    Well that prop was no longer available when I called to ask if was not listed correctly but I have found one that is a 13.5 X 21 part # 48-74268-21 which appears to be a Mercury Mercruiser Quicksilver prop.

  18. Pat Goff
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    Jun 2004
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    Seadrift TX
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    #18
    NO.
    Dang dude, here's the list of props I'd consider putting on your rig, if it's not on this list, pass it up.
    Mercury Lazer II 21P
    Mercury small hub trophy 20P
    Powertech TRO4 small vents, 20P
    Any one of those three will seriously out perform anything else. Don't waste your money on a junk prop.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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  19. Member
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    Jun 2021
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    Nancy, KY
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    #19
    Thank you Pat, I found a used Laser ll that seller says is in excellent condition. Hopefully I can find a buyer for this 24P. Guessing it would work on a 150-175 hp

    139E2308-B673-4710-9555-3A22CF429704.jpeg
    Last edited by BruddahMidds; 07-30-2021 at 04:44 PM.

  20. Pat Goff
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    Jun 2004
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    Seadrift TX
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    #20
    It would work on a lot of motor/boat combos. Somebody will want it.
    Pat Goff

    Two degrees from center
    of nowhere.
    Smithwick TX.

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