PAUL NICHOLS PLEASE HELP ME !!!!

Hi Paul,

I have an earlier post below asking the board for set up help. I talked to you a while back about selling my 280 and going to a new 2012 250 Sport XS. I finally pulled the trigger and done it.

I'm in the process of trying to break in the new engine, my issue is the boat struggles to even get on plane, it basically stands straight up and cavitates, I can have my dad (200 pounds) get on the front deck and it will break over and plane instantly.

The boat will do the same thing comming off pad, it hits a point where it falls in a hole and swamps the back, doesn't make any difference if I try to feather the throttle or not.

I've tried from even pad to 1-3/4 above and it doesn't change anything, still blows out at the same point.

I was wanting to try and use the 25p txp that I ordered from you a year or so ago until I can get another prop, but I'm not sure thats an option at this point. The prop still has the pvs vent holes that came in the prop when I ordered from you (looks like about 1/2" on all pvs holes).

Some of the guys mentioned trying smaller pvs holes and possibly solids. I plan on trying this if I can locate some plugs. So far no-one within 100 miles of me has any, but I'll figure something out.

Combination: 2003 20'XDC, 14" set back, 250 Sport XS, engine height undetermined at this point.

What would the ideal prop be for this combo running a tourney load most of the time????? (I also added a 36v tolling motor, which added a 4th 60 pound battery to the rear, plus the extra 130 pound going from the 280 to the 250 Sport). http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

Not Paul, but curious. Are you mashing it on the hole shot or easing into it? Mine will do that if I go easy, but mash it and the hull sucks down to the water. It will also do it if I am not trimmed right.
I believe Bravos are known to pull the hull down pretty well.

I'm mashing it. It starts to pull then its like someone cuts its legs off, it falls into a hole, boat stands straight up and prop blows out. RPM's stay up its just like theres no bite.

I ordered some solid pvs plugs today, I'm going to start out with all the holes plugged solid then start drilling them out a 1/4" one at a time and see if that might do it.

Thanks for your reply!!

I didn't answer your other question, I'm trimmed down as far as it will go.

sounds like a pvs hole problem to me..JMO!!!!!!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif

There is a long shipping bolt that may still be in place and not allowing you to trim down all the way.. Ck for that.

I have the same boat as you with pretty much the same setup except for its a 250 Vmax ox66, 14" jackplate motor all the way down running a 28 Bavo 1 lab finished, last year i ran it to 84 and that was loaded. Full gas tank, full live wells, fishing gear and 3 guys, never encountered the problem ur having, the bravo is not the fastest out of the hole and not the best top end but man does it pull in midrange when u mash it.

Lou, there is a gold bar the goes accross the bracket, its in the lowest hole, I thought this was a stop??? or is this a shipping bolt??. I did notice that there is about 1" of the main ram cylinder showing when its trimmed down all the way, is that normal.

Its funny you should mention this because my dad was with me when I was having this problem and he said that it didn't look like it was trimmed down all the way.

Thats exactly what it feel like too, it feels just like its trimmed up and trying to take off.

I'll look it over....THANKS!!!

you can find paul in fastbass.com ,he rarely comes in bbc. or you can call him at his shop. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

Ok thanks.

Hey lou, I went and checked that bolt. I took it out, now the motor goes down and only about 1/4" of the ram is showing......that outta help!!!!

This is a great site!! I appreciate all the help.

I'll give it a try tomorrow evening and let you know, I bet I get much better results http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

I still have 15 pvs plugs coming just in case it still needs a little fine tunning.

Thanks again

Another issue you may have is that the prop might be to small all together. What this would cause is you hitting the break in Limiter. The motor doesn't allow you to run the full rpm range during break in. My guess is that the prop your running was for the higher rpm 280. I bet you should be running a 30 pitch or larger depending on what gears are in your sporty....

This thing is going to jump out of the hole now! Good catch Lou!

Hang on to the steering wheel cause it is going to plant you in the seat!

Took the boat out (without the shipping bolt). 100% IMPROVEMENT!!! THANKS LOU!!! YOUR AWASEOME!!!

Still not a rocket by any means though, and that is with a 25 txp. I plugged one pvs hole which helped a little with the blow out, but it did seemed to lug it down some on the intitial take off.

I still don't have 1 hour on the engine, so its not broke in yet. Does this thing have a break in settig that doesn't let it grow a set of balls until its broke in???? I mean I went from a 280 turing 6500 coming out of the hole laying the front down and cranking 7500 rpm in two heart beats.

I figured the 3.0 ltr vs the 2.5 would have some grunt, but so far I couldn't be more disappointed in an engine. If it doesn't grow a set pretty darn quick this thing will be up for sell with less than 2 hours on it. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/crying.gif

took mine 6 hrs. breakin time to LOOSEN up. If you'r going to run a TXP 4 blade you should be able to turn a 27 with no problem. When we run long distances we run a 30 Bravo and for just knock around or short distances we run a worked 27 Hydromotive 4 blade . we went back from 14" to 12" jackplate and got better hole shot and easier to drive. 1 1/2 - 1 3/4" above pad.

Your gonna need more prop than a 25 txp.

What gears are in your sport master?

I have 1:62 gears.

I knew I would need more prop, but thought the 25 would at least have a good hole shot. (wrong)

I took the boat out today and ran the below props. Everything I ran was at 1/2" above pad.

***26p Trophy 4 blade, 82 mph (gps) @ 6000 rpm (all over the rev limiter)
***26 bullet cut chopper 3 blade, 84 mph (gps) @ 6000 rpm (all over the rev limiter)
***26p power tech 4 blade 14-1/2" (would not come out of hole at all) after 100 yards finally planed out and ran strong, all pvs plugs out (lake too rough to get top speed, but prop felt like a beast).

All the testing I done went out the window after I filled the livewell, boat struggled to plane when the live well was full. The chopper started to pull is a$$$ off but then blew out with the live well full.

I know I don't have the right prop just yet, but I'll find that niddle in the hay stack before its over.

What about a 27p hydromotive????

I obviously don't have the right prop. The engine proved to me today with the chopper that it has potential, just need that magic prop.

Please let me know if you guys have any recommendations.

My objective is to: run mid 80's loaded to fish, and have a respectible hole shot. Is this realistic with the 250 sport, 1:62 gears, on a 20' bullet xdc?????????? http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif

I love the midrange of the TXP's but my boat just will not come out of the hole good with them. The 27 hydro 4 blade comes out of the hole better on my boat than any I've found. 28 Bravo is next best. I think both props will get you where you want to be after you get a few hrs. on your motor.

Thanks Jimmy. Everything I have herd about the hydromotive is good.

I mentioned earlier that I tried my Mark Evans Bullet cut chopper. This prop is a total beast coming out of the hole, I mean snap my head off leap out of the water hole shot, mid range its pulling is rear off, top end is low 80ish, I was thinking I could live with this for a while until I find a better prop. Filled the live well up and notta, couldn't pull its self out of a wet paper sack.

I had a 280 before this 250, the 280 was weight sensitive, but I expected that from a high rpm engine. I guess I thought the 3.0 ltr lower rpm engine would have more grunt, but so far its been more fickle than my old 280.

I'll get there, I'm just really disappointed at the weight sensitivity on low end, and I may not be giving it enough time, and I know I haven't found the right prop yet, so I may be judging this engine a bit premature.

Thanks for all the info guys!! I really appreciate everyones willingness to help try and help me out.

So far the biggest improvement has been taking the shipping bolt out that Lou mentioned!!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

The 250 has more torque than a 280 ever will. Ita kinda like havin bald tires on your truck. You need a much bigger wheel...I would think a 30-31 bravo xs would be a good choice. As would the 29-30 x-o/b hydromotive.

I run a 29 x-o/b on my 21/250 w/1.75 tm.

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by owenssw &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">My objective is to: run mid 80's loaded to fish, and have a respectible hole shot. Is this realistic with the 250 sport, 1:62 gears, on a 20' bullet xdc?????????? http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif </td></tr></table>

28p Lab finished Bravo1(or worked by croxton) or a 28p Hydromotive X-OB. with Dual PVS on both. You're welcome. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif j/k

I haven't run a BravoXS yet, but have heard alot of good things about them...I would also add it to the list.

I just know that the 28 Lab finished Bravo 1 i'm running now is awesome out of the hole. mid range is serious and w/ 2 ppl, full tourney load, full livewells etc...I run 84 on the limiter..(my limiter is only 5850 though) http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

Oh, and I'm running a Sporty w/ 1.62s also.