188vs prop help!!!

[Jrbassangler12]

Hello everyone and thanks in advance for the help and advice. I have a 2006 Ranger 188vs.
With a 6” Slidemaster jack plate. It is powered by a 2010 Mercury Optimax with a 23p tempest plus prop. Water temp is 51 degrease. Ever since I owned the boat it seems like the rpm’s are fairly low. With the water temp we have now the motor struggles to make 5200 rpm. Boat does 50 and that’s it. I’m not in it to go fast just looking to tune my boat properly. Would I be better off going with a 21p tempest prop?

[Iowabass3826]

I have the same boat with no jackplate running a 21 tempest. Boat hits 54-55 but has the best hole shot on the water. For that reason I've never pursued messing with it.

[cwilt]

How deep is your motor? Seems to me you need to raise it up some. I think you should be around the 55 mph mark. How much weight you got back there ie; tallons, batteries and tackle.

[Jrbassangler12]

How deep is your motor? Seems to me you need to raise it up some. I think you should be around the 55 mph mark. How much weight you got back there ie; tallons, batteries and tackle.

Not sure on how deep the motor is I didn’t get a chance to measure that yet. I have 3 group 29 batteries and 2 10’ power poles in the back. The back of the boat is pretty well empty.

[Jrbassangler12]

I have the same boat with no jackplate running a 21 tempest. Boat hits 54-55 but has the best hole shot on the water. For that reason I've never pursued messing with it.

I think I need to get the rpm’s up with a 21p Tempest plus. The hole shot isn’t terrible but I think a 21p would help it get up out of the hole and get the rpms up and the speed. The rpm’s stay around the same in the summer nothing more then 5200.

[kadas]

I have that same boat with a 23p prop except mine has a 175 merc on it. JMO but you might get 3 to 4 MPH out of her with a different pitch prop but truthfully the boat with a 150 on it is pretty much done at 55 to 56 mph according to Ranger when I bought mine new. I was told 55 to 56 with it trimmed and jackplate at optimum adjustment and the 175 would get 60 to 62 with everything adjusted correctly. I went with a 175 and they were pretty much on with figures. The boat is not the fastest on the lake but if you are like me and have a pretty good hole shot and you should with the jackplate I do not know if it is worth the money for the couple MPH. I know the boat is a fantastic fishing platform and that is what I was after when I bought mine. Just my thoughts. Good luck

[jc2bg]

I had a 2008 188VX with an Evinrude 150 H.O. and it would run 58 mph at 5600 rpm, also running a 23 Tempest. From what I’ve read, there’s not much performance difference between Mercs and Rudes of that era, so I’m thinking the dual poles is what is hurting your performance (I didn’t have poles). Dropping down to a 21 pitch seems like a wise move to put some zip back into your rig. Might even run a little faster on top end, getting the RPMs up into a better power range.

[bill duffy]

I have the same boat with a 21P Tempest. I agree with every body as I get 55-56 with Rude 150 HO. I love this boat because of the fishing platform and quality.

[Jrbassangler12]

The poles are new to the boat. Even without them I couldn’t break much past 53mph and 5200rpm. I think with the dual poles a 21p tempest will be a smart move. Love the fishing platform and the way it handles!

[bassnut1]

i live pretty close to you, ihave a 188 also 150 merc. I run a 23 Tempest plus at about 3 3/4 below pad, no power poles. runs 54/57 0n a good day at around 5400 rpm. Before you go and purchase a 21 prop, I have the one I replaced with the 23. If you can find some time in the next week or so I could meet you at Blue Marsh and try it out. it would only take a few minutes to swap the props and take a short run.

[Jrbassangler12]

Pm sent