New basscat owner!

[Pantera.03]

Hello just purchased my second bass boat and my first basscat the boat is a 2003 pantera classic and I've had it about 1 month and love it so far! Have some questions

So this boat has a mercury optimax 175hp with a trophy 4 blade 24p prop and 6" Manual slide master jack plate.
The best i can get out of the boat is 64mph on my GPS. Does this seem about right? What I will say is the boat has smart craft gauges so I cannot over rev it. When I approach 64mph if I trim up anymore I begin to sound the alarm for the rev limiter. I'm not sure about the jack plate position I haven't touched it. At 64mph though I'm definitely in top of the water and can kinda feel what I believe is chine walk. From reading around most of these boats are doing 72-75 with the 200. Would I be off 10mph with a 175? Even have seen some with a 150 claiming 66mph gps. Anyways thanks for any feedback and help and glad to be here

[CB_SabreFTD18]

If your motor is strong, I’d guess you’re capable of upper 60’s without too much tackle. I’ve got a 2018 Sabre with 175 Pro XS 2 stroke. Your boat weighs about the same as mine. A 24 Fury (3 blade) will do 69.5-69.8 @ 5850-70 rpms (Smartcraft) depending on how much gas is in my tank in the Summer with only me. I ran a 24 Tempest last week to 68.5 with about 25 gallons of gas & livewells full at 5910 rpms. All these numbers are at flush on the jackplate or 1/8” below flush. It sounds like that 24 Trophy is a bit too small. Most people like a Fury on the Classic. Yours should scoot with a 24 Fury without hitting the Limiter. If you like the Trophy, then try to borrow a 25 pitch.

[Pantera.03]

If your motor is strong, I’d guess you’re capable of upper 60’s without too much tackle. I’ve got a 2018 Sabre with 175 Pro XS 2 stroke. Your boat weighs about the same as mine. A 24 Fury (3 blade) will do 69.5-69.8 @ 5850-70 rpms (Smartcraft) depending on how much gas is in my tank in the Summer with only me. I ran a 24 Tempest last week to 68.5 with about 25 gallons of gas & livewells full at 5910 rpms. All these numbers are at flush on the jackplate or 1/8” below flush. It sounds like that 24 Trophy is a bit too small. Most people like a Fury on the Classic. Yours should scoot with a 24 Fury without hitting the Limiter. If you like the Trophy, then try to borrow a 25 pitch.

Yea I was thinking about trying to Barrow one. Motor is very strong and had its services done by boat works its entire life. Yea I was thinking the 4 blade was robbing 2-3mph up top. I'll see if I can find a 24p fury

[Ben Danbleume]

Need info on the rpms you are turning and Prop to pad distance. I think you'll top out around 68 in the real world.

[Pantera.03]

Need info on the rpms you are turning and Prop to pad distance. I think you'll top out around 68 in the real world.

I'll have to figure out the prop to pad. As far as rpms go out 64mph if i trim up more I hit the limiter which is 5750rpm

[Pantera.03]

I'll have to figure out the prop to pad. As far as rpms go out 64mph if i trim up more I hit the limiter which is 5750rpm

Well been a while but finally got around to measuring p2p and its 3.25"
24p trophy plus
Top speed 62 maaaayybeee 63 if perfect conditions.

[Cajunhunter67]

I believe you could bump up to the 24 Fury 3. It would get you off the rev limiter and gain a couple of mph.
Hows the hole shot with the Trophy? The Fury may slow the hole shot slightly.

[Pantera.03]

I believe you could bump up to the 24 Fury 3. It would get you off the rev limiter and gain a couple of mph.
Hows the hole shot with the Trophy? The Fury may slow the hole shot slightly.

Hole shot is good unless gas tanks full and livewell full and partner then it slows down some. Something worth noting is at WOT and top speed I cant turn left unless i back out of the throttle. Which from researching some sounds like I should start by lowering the engine .25"

[lpugh]

Hello just purchased my second bass boat and my first basscat the boat is a 2003 pantera classic and I've had it about 1 month and love it so far! Have some questions

So this boat has a mercury optimax 175hp with a trophy 4 blade 24p prop and 6" Manual slide master jack plate.
The best i can get out of the boat is 64mph on my GPS. Does this seem about right? What I will say is the boat has smart craft gauges so I cannot over rev it. When I approach 64mph if I trim up anymore I begin to sound the alarm for the rev limiter. I'm not sure about the jack plate position I haven't touched it. At 64mph though I'm definitely in top of the water and can kinda feel what I believe is chine walk. From reading around most of these boats are doing 72-75 with the 200. Would I be off 10mph with a 175? Even have seen some with a 150 claiming 66mph gps. Anyways thanks for any feedback and help and glad to be here

I have owned one of those and my best friend still has 95 with a 200, with the 175 I would highly recommend a 24 Tempest plus with only one large pvs plug in it. Expect it to run 66-68 under good conditions at lower elevations depending on loads, about 3.25 P to P. 200Hp would run 68 to 70 tournament loaded, That boat will run the best at far less than full trim up. Try to set up so in perfect condition running light it bumps the limiter
Dont take too much stock in to many of these claims, 66 with a 150 is doable with perfect conditions and proper setup, takes about 10 hp for every mph of gain
If fury prop is used it would need a 23 P. I would not recommend a Fury unless you are willing to drop another 300 in to it and have it reworked by Ronnie Gilbert, In stock form the Tempest is a little better

[Cajunhunter67]

Hole shot is good unless gas tanks full and livewell full and partner then it slows down some. Something worth noting is at WOT and top speed I cant turn left unless i back out of the throttle. Which from researching some sounds like I should start by lowering the engine .25"

You set the JP up with the amount of left steering torque in the steering wheel. You definitely need to lower it. You want to have slight left torque in the wheel while running WOT and properly trimmed. If its feels loose and the boat response is sloppy, raise it.
I usually do 1/4 inch movements.
This may also lower your RPM's slightly at WOT.

Also, as lpugh stated above, the 23 Fury would probably be the best overall prop. If its still touching the limiter, send it to Ronnie Gilbert and he will get it to perform as it should. He can always add cup to the smaller prop.

[Pantera.03]

Ok well I will definitely start by dropping the jack plate 1/4 and see what that does and then looks for a 23p fury or a 24p tempest plus to try out. Definitely not buying one without a test!

[Ben Danbleume]

You boat may need less trim than you are used to also, trim up slowly and let the boat settle, then bump the trim slightly again.

[Pantera.03]

so I'm on the water right now. Dropped jackplate 1/4 inch and it feels much better can turn left now with little resistance. Top speed I get is 62.9 that's with water pressure st 16 and rooster tail below cowl or right at. If I trim more gauges start beeping telling me I'm hitting limiter. 5750
Merc optimax 175hp
Trophy plus 24p

[mactlman]

so I'm on the water right now. Dropped jackplate 1/4 inch and it feels much better can turn left now with little resistance. Top speed I get is 62.9 that's with water pressure st 16 and rooster tail below cowl or right at. If I trim more gauges start beeping telling me I'm hitting limiter. 5750
Merc optimax 175hp
Trophy plus 24p

cats dont like much trim

[Cajunhunter67]

I believe your running and trimming correctly. Just need a bit more pitch on the prop. Its a good problem to have.
You could contact Ronnie Gilbert and see if he can work your current prop. He would be able to give you the best options to improve overall performance, while getting you off the limiter.

[Pantera.03]

Is there an email for him

[lpugh]

Is there an email for him

337 380 1437 Calling is better, he is a great guy and will want to discuss specifics with you

[Pantera.03]

Thanks. I'll give him a call Monday

[Ben Danbleume]

Drop it another 1/4, see how it does.

[Pantera.03]

Talked with ronnie gilbert for a while today. Great guy! Pretty sure I'll be sending the prop his way. He thinks I should be running around the 68mph range and believes once the prop is tuned and doing its job I'll need to raise the plate back up around 3" p2p