97 201

[Jmyetich]

I'm looking at pulling the trigger on a 97 201. Boat is in great shape. 2 Helix 9s, new Fortrex, Talon, 200 Rude Vindicator, Detweiler hydraulic plate. Only issue is the plate has a bad pump and it's set about 4 inches below the pad. Current prop is a 24 Raker. Light load is about 54mph at 4500rpms. I know this is a heavy boat but I think the Rpms are low. Could it be the jack plate set up? Maybe just a bad tac ? Thoughts?

[Nightmare]

'95 w/a 200 Venom here. Run a bit over 5600 w/a 25 Renegade at 63 3.25" below pad - fully loaded.

You sound in the ballpark. I'd probably see your Raker around 3.5" or close. Being deep can knock a surprising amount of rpms and speed off.

A 200 on a 201 isn't gonna be a fireball but if the fishin platform is the important part to you, it gets the job done nicely.

If your concern is the low rpms, biggest issue I would concern myself with is checking compression. HP on that motor should be rated at 5500 w/wot @ 5000-6000. 4500 would be luggin' it.

[rchavis]

Speed down and rpm's have the engine check out ? should be around 65-68 ....check and see if the Talon aren't draging .

[Jmyetich]

Compression was 90-95 all cylinders.

[rchavis]

What does the prop look's like .Is speed by GPS . 4 below pad sounds good for a OMC motor as there gear case likes to be run deepr than Merc and Yam.
Hope the boat not water log and making it extra heavy .
The only other thing i can tell you do is a leak down test and was the motor up to temp . and the butter fly wide open on the carbs during the compression check ?
Something a mis and i cant put my finger on it .But 54gps is low ....i would be more happier with around 62 gps with the poles .
I have a older 1988 201 with a Merc 2.5 200 hp 6 inch plate and it runs 65-68 gps with a med load ,some thing in ever box and one tank of gas 24 gallons .
I running a Tempest plus 25 p @ 6000... I also run a Bravo 1 24p to 6000 rpms and it a tad slower around 62-63 gps has the mixer off and premix .

[Jmyetich]

Ran the boat last night. The motor is not lugging. The tac needle gets stuck at 3000rpms. Ran 56.6 with 2 people and 59.8 solo. No bow lift what so ever. The prop definitely needs re worked. The leading edges are in rough shape. Hole shot was good but could be better. No prop slip at all coming out of the hole. I think getting the prop worked and getting the jack plate issue taken care of would put it low 60s loaded and mid 60s solo. With the Talon on the back it sounds like that should be pretty close to where it should be.