Is my motor riding to low in water?? NITRO boat

OK So I own an 01 Nitro NX 882 with a 150 merc Xr6... Its my first "nice" boat. I have no experience with a jack plate either. but have had other boats in the past.

My problem:

When I take off from the hole or 0mph the motor looks like it is almost submersed in the water and the boat is doing a wheely.. yes, the motor is trimmed fully down, I put the picture up with blue tape as the reference point of about how high the water rides up when I start out. As the boat planes out when I get going ( I trim the motor up ) the motor runs just fine like any other boat.. I am just very curious and a little worried something needs to be adjusted so take off and stopping doesnt ruin the motor from getting water sucked in. As the boat comes to stop the motor again will get wet like it did when I took off. I do have a manual jack plate that can be adjusted but I dont know if lowering it down a couple notches will help or worsen the problem?

Pics:

I posted the pic of the motor with a rough estimate of how high the water goes...

Also of the jackplate that can be adjusted I have 4 holes I can move it down to and 1 hole i can move up

Any and all help will be GREATLY appreciated!

What prop are you running?

its a 23 pitch 3 blade from mercury, I believe it is stock with motor.

What is the prop to pad measurement?

I will go check that out right now..

prop shaft centerline = 10.5"

PAD = 13"

That be a measurment roughly of 2.5"-2.75"

I am able to if needed to lower the jack plate manually giving me up to 3 inches lower for a prop shaft centerline if the current measurment is to low? This is how it was set up when I got it, but it looks like at some point in time the previous owner had the jack plate lower. If I decide to lower it I could potentially get the prop/pad measurment as low as 5.5"..

If only I had a hydraulic plate so I didnt have to physically remove the motor to try and lower it!

try this, sitting in the driveway, trim the motor all the way under and then look at the side of the boat, I don't think there is anything wrong with your setup. it probably looks worse than it it because of the amount of trim under you have available. all boat do a "wheelie" when coming out of the hole (except Gamblers).

There is quit a bit of trim under if I understand correctly ( the motor being trimmed underneath the boat ) I am unfortunately unable to trim it completely all the way under because the skeg will scrap on the street/driveway.. leading me to believe yes there is some trim under..

But how come the motor is getting so submersed.. and how does that relate to trim under?

what is a normal range for a prop/pad measurment?

get a pic in the water please . how is your weight distibuted? is there any thing in the bow? if the exhaust is under water and at the blue line it would be you could so some damage,sucking water.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bassman271

get a pic in the water please . how is your weight distibuted? is there any thing in the bow? if the exhaust is under water and at the blue line it would be you could so some damage,sucking water.

---

When I take off yes, the exhaust and everything is under water.. which is why Im worried and wanted to bring this topic up, Im wondering if lowering the jack plate would help this problem?

when the boat is idle/planned out it sits perfectly, this issue is only when Im taking off from 0mph

I've read a normal starting point for a prop/pad ratio should be 4inches for a bass boat!?

Most Nitro boats are running about 3-1/2" below pad, start there, what size motor you got.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WBL_JL

I've read a normal starting point for a prop/pad ratio should be 4inches for a bass boat!?

---

the motor is 150 mercury XR6 2 stroke

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gambler Bob Rourke

Most Nitro boats are running about 3-1/2" below pad, start there, what size motor you got.

---

the motor is 150 mercury XR6 2 stroke

Do you got PVS holes in the prop, if so you can start playing with those also to help hole shot, and it sounds to me like your running the motor too high on the jackplate. This is the link to the Nitro setup page hopefully your boat and engine is in there.

http://www.bbcboards.net/nitro-boats...o-set-ups.html

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gambler Bob Rourke

Do you got PVS holes in the prop, if so you can start playing with those also to help hole shot, and it sounds to me like your running the motor too high on the jackplate. This is the link to the Nitro setup page hopefully your boat and engine is in there.

http://www.bbcboards.net/nitro-boats...o-set-ups.html

---

Thanks alot for your help I will check out that website, I'm beginning to thing the jack plate is to high as well. I do have 2 pvs holes.

Do you have plugs in them, try opening the holes up all the way, and try that out, our you cant try to get different size plugs, but i think you main problem is your motor is to high. Good luck to ya.

I just left the "Boat Test" web site that tested a Nitro NX 882 with a 150 hp XR6 motor with 2 guys in it.

Their motor LOOKED A LOT higher than your motor picture & they raved about the handling & speed. 67 mph ?

Maybe & web search on their site ? Their picture has the motor so high no way could the water come up like your tape line.

IF IF you are trimmed & propped close to correct. You will need to chek out a LOAD of water inside of your hull that is shifting to the stern on takeoff.

A side picture as Bassman asked for IS MANDATORY. With the trim ONLY tucked under a SAFE amount. NOT THE MAXIMUM amount the drive can do.


If it looks right it usually is right.
You may need to get used to a faster acceleration out of the hole / high angle position. I have a Heavy 186 ssi Chaparral with a V8 305 CI 220 hp i/o. I can trim and hold the bow in the air at about 40 degrees in rough water 5 1/2' high.

But I do power up on plane in 3 to 4 seconds. If I try to accelerate at about 1/3 to 1/2 power.:smile::smile::smile: Fast tug boat.