Advise needed

[styler]

2004 Stratos 285 pro xl 150 opti

I finally have the engine hitting on all 6 and good spark and purchased a Tempest Plus 24P
Prop is like new and untouched.
I also installed a 6" manual JP
I started at 3 3/4 PTP and Im up to 3" PTP now. Best I ever got was 60.4 MPH at 5400 rpms one person 1/4 tank fuel no water in live wells fishing seat taken out this was at 3 1/2 PTP
That was on a cool morn
Not really much change as I worked the JP up in 1/4" intervals.
Today at 3" PTP I got 59.4 @ 5400 RPMs hot day and lake conditions not to good.
any of these settings Im getting decent to good hole shot but chine walking at top speed and today chine walk very bad. could not drive through it.
with my wife, and seats we got 58.4 and 5300RPMs
Im at a point where full trim I can gain RPM but loose speed and water pressure. so I cant see going up unless yall say go up a little more and not trim as much.
Ive yet to get over 5400 RPMs
Go down a to a 23? look into prop work? call it good? I just feel like I should be more in the 5500 to 5600 range and 63-64 ish mph
Last thing the boat handles well at slower speeds and I can turn around pretty tight when backing off finishing the run.

[21XDC]

23P Tempest plus for a 3 blade... 22P Bravo1 FS or XS for a 4 blade. Or Marks Razor4 XL. 1-3 mph slower, But better all around.

[styler]

Thanks Mike Are you saying the 23 Tempest will be slower also?

[21XDC]

I think the 23 tempest is the best fast choice. I wouldn't run my motor at 5300-5400 rpm at wide open throttle mo matter what speed. These other big diameter 4 blades would make a better choice all around at the cost of 1-3 mph.... But that is just what I would do if it were mine.

[1Holeshot]

OP your Stratos is too heavy to run a 25 Tempest Plus with a 150 Optimax. A 23 will increase your rpms roughly 300-400 and give a better holeshot. The chine walk issue will require more seat time and is an indication that you are over steering your boat. I think there is a sticky up top with advice on how how to drive your boat without chine walk. I know I had to learn when I got my first high performance bass boat.

Not it sure you will see 63-64 mph with your hull and 150 Opti but time will tell.

[styler]

Thanks Guys I guess its time to start looking for a 23 tempest. may try a 4 blade in the future too. now i need to sell the 24 this stuff is fun ...err yeah fun my wife loves me buying props.. lol

[styler]

I spoke with Mark today. He thinks he can make it work better for me so Im sending it his way. If it still dont work I'll be looking for a 23 . He said the Tempests 24s are more like a 25 out of the box and blueprinting it will get it closer to where I need it.

[styler]

Ok guys one last question here hahah not really im sure there will be more.
So I ended up going to a 23 Tempest +.
Im at 3 1/2" PTP and I can get 6000 rpm if I over trim.
Best speed I got by myself ,light load is 58mph and thats was at 5600 rpm.. may have got more speed but I ran out of room.
I can trim on up and increase rpm and start getting some speed gain but also start losing water pressure.
Call it good ? lower the JP 1/4? or raise it a 1/4?

[21XDC]

For top speed, Run as high as you can while maintaining safe water pressure, good bow lift and w/o "Over trimming" Anytime rpms go up and no speed is gained, It's just slipping.

[styler]

For top speed, Run as high as you can while maintaining safe water pressure, good bow lift and w/o "Over trimming" Anytime rpms go up and no speed is gained, It's just slipping.

Thanks Mike. Ill try going up a little then . 1/4" increments. Right now bow lift is great.

[styler]

Well going up any more was a no go. Losing water pressure in the turns and having to play with it way to much to keep pressure. No speed gains.
So I've reached the max. I went ahead and dropped it to 3 3/4" PTP.
3 1/2 to 3 3/4 is where I'm gonna have to live.
I guess from here if I want to eak out any more Ill need to have Mark do his magic to that prop.
Thats not off the table but for now Im done and am going to turn more of my attention on fishing.
I appreciate all you guys help. Especially you Mike.

[21XDC]

Lighten the load, run it hard in the Cooler weather. 8^)

[Russ661]

I think the 23 tempest is the best fast choice. I wouldn't run my motor at 5300-5400 rpm at wide open throttle mo matter what speed.

Please explain your reason for not wanting to run that rpm at full throttle. Thanks

[21XDC]

Your motor should always be able to hit the max rpms. It's better performance all around with a load, heat of the summer and holeshot. taller pitch props can lug on holeshot, with a load and the heat of the summer.... Most don't run at full throttle for long periods anyway... Just have the printout on your motor and see how little a motor is run at upper rpms.