I have a 1998 Ranger 491VS with a 2006 250hp Yamaha HPDI with a 25P Prop. I am maxing out at about 64mph at 5200-5300 RPM. The boat does not have a jackplate on it. I am looking for setup tips to hopefully get to 70mph. If I add a jackplate, what is the best size for the boat? What would be the best pitch prop for this setup? 3 blade or 4 blade?
Thank you
I had a 487vs. Good hull but not the fastest. Had a 6” plate Yamaha 200 ox. Low sixties and everything I tried was just a little bit up or down. Most will say a tempest is the faster prop. I’ve heard their isn’t much difference in a 6 or 8 plate
It needs a plate either a 6" or an 8". I think anything over a 6" plate would void the boats life time hull warranty if your worried about that. With a 25" prop you'll have to get it to turn 5800 rpm's to get 70.
Since the 491VS already has a 15" setback built in, i don't it would need a very big jackplate. I used to own a 461VS with a 12" setback. I ran a 6" plate on it with good results.
6 inch plate and gotta get those rpms up..
Per Ranger, the max jack plate is 6". I currently have a 6" and am considering dropping to a 4" when I get a new jack plate in a few weeks. I have a 225, because in 1994, the max HP was 240....
1994 Ranger 492VS
2004 Optimax 225 - 0T920364
6" Hydro Dynamics Manual Jack Plate
24p Fury 4
24v 47" Lowrance Ghost / Lowrance HDS
1994 Ranger 492VS. I wanted the Yamaha 200 Pro to which Hydro-Tec did their magic got the engine to 240 hp (boat was rated for 245). I added a 4 inch hydraulic jack plate not so much speed as for shallow ramp issues. I did not see any increase with speed with the jack plate addition. It did a help in others areas, but not speed. Prop--Yamaha 4 blade 13 3/4 x 24-----66-68mph. Slight increase in speed with the 3 blade Yamaha---67-69mph. Never broke the 70 mph barrier. Good sound hull, rides like a dream, and solid both fishing and riding in rough water.
Had several jack plates over the yrs. Never noticed anything different with a 4 or6” plate. Had rig setup pretty good with a manual plate and switched to a 6” hydraulic. Picked up maybe a 1 or 2. Biggest thing is trying different props. Find the sweet spot real fast
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