Eat, Sleep, Hunt & Fish
2010 Tracker Tournament V18 18' 3"
Mercury 115 ProXS 4Stroke Mercury Spitfire X7 Prop 21P
Minn Kota 80lb Thrust Ultrex.
6 inch CMC Pro Hi-Jacker
Humminbird Helix 10 DI G4N W/FFS @ Bow
Humminbird Helix 9 DI G4N @ Bow
Humminbird Helix 9 SI G4N @ Console
Smartcraft Merc Monitor (Basic)
I think I would move.
2016 Ranger RT178 white
75 4S Merc, VesselView Mobile
Simrad Go7, Baystar hydro, SpitFire X7 17p
So going with a hydraulic micro jacker.........on a RT178. Had to order he boat so hopefully I'll have it in a month.
2013 Pre-Johnny Ranger RT 178
115 PRO XS
Due to the increase of ammunition prices... There will be no warning shots
Honda certified Master technician 33 Years
Went with the same underpowered 25 ETEC as I have now. The new one came with an 8 year warranty though. Got all these horsepower restricted lakes in the area that are great bass lakes and don't allow speed boats. If I leave them I'll have a glass rig for big water. Game plan is to have a tin rig for the restricted small lakes and a glass rig for the big lakes in the area....one day maybe....
2013 Pre-Johnny Ranger RT 178
115 PRO XS
Due to the increase of ammunition prices... There will be no warning shots
Honda certified Master technician 33 Years
If your going to get another 25 Hp. Tell them to not weld the trim tabs on the bottom of the hull.!
I've talked to quite a few guys at my home lake that have RT178s with 25s. They average around 21-23 mph depending on weight. Some as high as 25mph. So yea, it will get the boat on plane. My current 2016 175 TXW will even plane out, I just can't get any sort of speed out of my hull. Tracker makes a great riding hull but it isn't meant for any sort of weight and a small outboard IMO. I'm sure the 175 is great with a 75hp on the back.
You could have got a 75 and just replaced the 7 with a 2
Oh it's all been tried before so IDNR is pretty up to speed on catching sticker/cowl swappers. The ones who are smart find the old 3 cylinder 2 strokes and mod them up to 40 horsepower. Those old motors are a rare find around here anymore though.
Ebishop on here used to run a small outbaord on his pt175 until he upgraded. I dont recall if he had planing problems or not. I second what mr c said about not getting the tabs welded on the hull bottom since there will be zero lift with a 25 and you dont want any extra resistance and those create more than you think.
Roy
2020 Triton 18 Trx
Mercury 200 Pro XS V8
Bravo FS 24P Prop
Atlas 6” jp
Dual Humminbird Helix 10 MEGA SI
Minnkota Ultrex.
I will ask the dealer about contacting Ranger on the trim tabs.
No one has asked the most important question. What color did you get?
I don't always tell people where I fish, but when I do, it's a lie.
Went with the white. I have a black boat now that I'm trading on it (they let me keep my current boat until the ranger comes in) and it gets ridiculously hot in the summer.
Question on trim tabs.....wouldn't they help to plane the boat out better (stern lift) considering a small outboard? I asked about building it without them and they are getting back to me, but didn't know if it would be worse to NOT have them on with a small outboard.