Driving my XB 2003

[big_o_tom]

Fairly new driver here, I got about 50 hours seat time. My best speed up to today was 84 mph for a split second with a 25 trophy at 7200 rpm,and that same day I ran 80 4 or 5 times. I have a 28 trophy on it now ( still haven't tried my 27), and ran 85 for a while at 6200 rpms.
I feel like this is the max for this set up(or close to it) as I didn't have much trim left and when I did trim up it would actually lose speed.
Today I was solo and was struggling bad at 65 to 75. I crammed everything I could into the left rear box then ran 80+ fairly easy. The boat is so sensitive to balance it's crazy. While running 85 the boat was pretty stable with a little bit of chine walk. When I would bump the trim up I could see the nose lift and then fall then lift and fall, is this what is meant by a prop being able to carry a load?

[K-DAWG]

The 28 trophy didn't work very well on my 2003 and they historically haven't performed on the same level as the 26, 27 trophy's. I think you should try the 27. It is supposed to be a much better prop than the 28. That may fix your issue with the trim.

[wbh1954]

The 28 trophy plus was best blade for me on that same rig.

[cajunrgfm]

You really should try a chopper et cut or ally cut in a 28 or 30 for more speed

[big_o_tom]

You really should try a chopper et cut or ally cut in a 28 or 30 for more speed

What is meant by "cut"?

[K-DAWG]

The first Lightning ET propellers were made buy cutting/trimming the blades of the mercury chopper propeller. So if you have a mercury chopper propeller you can send it to a prop guy and he can "Cut" it into a Mercury ET. I had a 26 that was cut and the blades slightly thinned by a guy in Florida named Rich Junker at Leading Edge Propeller. It was my favorite prop. Lee Sanderson is also a big proponent of the ET of a 2003.

[fishnfireman]

When I owned a 2003 -- had a Merc chopper that Dave Bostic of Hoss props had cut and worked..

[catfish123]

The Mercury ET props are a great prop for an XB2003 however I have always preferred a Mercury Chopper II or a Hydromotive Quad IV OT. The choppers just seem to me to have a better "grip" on the water and do not feel as "flighty" as the ET's. Top speed on my XB2003 with a 225X and a Merc 280 ROS was a bit higher with the Chopper II's than with the ET's.

[big_o_tom]

I ran my 27 trophy today. From what I can tell it's my favorite of the the 3 trophies that I have. I had a buddy with me so I don't have a top speed to compare with the 25 and 28 tropies. I put the 25 back on first and run it a day or so, didn't like it all. Then I put the 27 on after running a few miles with the 25 and it was unreal how much better it was.

[hirks]

I have been running a 27 trophy recently since I went to a stock gearcase and it handles good. I never ran this prop on a coned lower to compare though.

[big_o_tom]

I ran the boat today with the 27 trophy, 82 mph at 6200 rpm's was about the best I could do. I did 85 at 6200 with the 28 trophy. Fella at east tn propeller said the 27 looked like it had an allison cut in it. I thought it give me a few more rpm's which would mean more speed but it didn't.
I may raise the motor 1/8-1/4" that would put it at even with the pad.

[rickmayberry]

Looks like you are dialing her in!!!!

[GrandLakeGAR]

Stock 26 Trophy on my 2003/225X runs 86 at the 6850 limiter. My stock 27 Trophy will run about 90 at that rpm, I just don't hold it there long enough to get a accurate reading. I have had that prop since they first came out in the early 2000's, ran really well with my 280 back then too. Good all around prop in that pitch.

[catfish123]

Stock 26 Trophy on my 2003/225X runs 86 at the 6850 limiter. My stock 27 Trophy will run about 90 at that rpm, I just don't hold it there long enough to get a accurate reading. I have had that prop since they first came out in the early 2000's, ran really well with my 280 back then too. Good all around prop in that pitch.

Your numbers and mine with a 225X are identical.

[big_o_tom]

Catfish and grandlakegar what are your set back and prop to pad measurements?

[GrandLakeGAR]

14.5 set back and 1/4 below the pad. On my boat that seems to be the best conservative set up for speed and handling with both motors running a stock 20" Sportmaster.

[big_o_tom]

I have a 9" plate, I think that's where my set up is lacking a little. I also have an adjustable plate that with a very little bit of modify will go from about 5-9" that I need to put on the boat. Just a little skiddish about stacking plates.

[catfish123]

14.5 set back and 1/4 below the pad. On my boat that seems to be the best conservative set up for speed and handling with both motors running a stock 20" Sportmaster.

I was just about the same when I had the 225X. My setback was 14 inches and 1/4 below to even with the pad.

[GrandLakeGAR]

Allison stacks plates at the factory. Mine came new with a 9" set back plate on the transom and a 5.5" CMC hydraulic behind it.