Sabre FTD

[whitey]

I have a 2018 Sabre FTD with a 2-stroke 150 HP Merc Optimax. I am not getting any bow lift and only hitting 5000 RPMs and 43-45 mph with or without a passenger. I have a lot of weight on the nose, including an Ultrex, a 360, a Garmin 106sv, a Helix 10, BBT mount, and Garmin FFS. I am unsure of Jack plate height and had been running a 24p Tempest Plus, then switched to a 23p tempest plus with the same results. The console transducer is mounted on the transom near the plug on the boat itself. I would like to keep all of the electronics I currently have on the bow, so does anyone have a recommendation on if this is most likely a prop issue or something mechanical with the engine? Thanks in advance.

[bassfisher444]

It's a heavy nose issue, that boat isn't designed to have that much weight up front, not to mention it is underpowered, do you have lithium batteries in the rear as well?

[whitey]

I have one lithium for starting/electronics and 2 AGM for trolling motor.

[gmosborne187]

Too much weight on the bow. You need to drop your motor deeper.
I have an Ultrex, 106SV and livescope, I had to drop somewhere around 4.25" P2P and give it more trim to get bow lift.
23P Tempest plus, 150hp merc.
I do have dual blades in the back helping counterbalance the bow weight.

[basshole51]

I had to go to a prop with more lift on my pantera classic to get more bow lift. Fury 3 and Tempest plus were not doing it. I ended up with a Solas Scorpion and it s almost too much lift. Might be worth trying.

[drainplug]

Let me say, I am by no means a “how to set up guy”, but 43-45 mph with a Tempest plus 23p, sounds like more than a weight distribution issue. Have you had the motor checked out?

[PMantle]

I ended up with a Solas Scorpion and it s almost too much lift. Might be worth trying.

While I have never used one, I see this prop mentioned in almost every thread where bow lift is a problem. There must be something to it.

[catdude28]

Although a Classic, I got a lot more bow lift when I went from a 3 blade Fury to a 4 blade Bravo FS. You can try some of the recommendations mentioned above like jack plate height and weight distribution, and, if still no result, a properly pitched 4 blade prop will likely help.