186 Prop Question

I bought a super nice one owner 1997 186DC Elite with a 175EFI Mercury. Boat is running 64 to 65 mph gps with 2 people 3/4 tank of gas and an average tournament load. It is turning 5600 to 5700 rpms in 90 degree water and 90 degree plus air temp. It has the original 25 tempest prop with champion on it (not a tempest plus). My question is when coming out of the hole I'm getting a lot of prop slip unless I back out of the throttle a little right before it breaks over. Would a 24 fury be a good prop and keep my performance and not have the prop slip?





Modified by Mocatt at 11:44 AM 8/30/2010

Sounds to me like you just need your prop touched up by Mark on the prop board. Pat will be along and get you the guru info to get you up and running http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif

Did you buy your boat off craigslist, from a guy in St. Louis? If so, you got a nice ride. I was after that boat but just couldn't get there before you did. Very nice ride. He told me a guy from Columbia bought it.

That's the boat. Man I could not believe it when I saw it. The boat looked almost new!!! If there was a way to check the hours on the motor I would bet it doesn't have 100 hours on it. I put a set of batteries in it and a Lowanrce HDS5 on the bow and a HDS7 at the console. It is a fun boat to drive and fishes great also. I down sized boats because I don't have the time to spend on the water because of kid's sports and I'm very pleased with the total package of my 186.

check your IM MoCatt.

Simple adjustment is to put a piece of gorilla tape over one vent hole at a time to see if it improves, if it does run like you want, just JB weld that hole shut. done...

Still might want to have a prop pro take a look at it, the A45 tempest (what you've got) usually won't blow out bad at all.

We are trimming down fully on takeoff, right?

Back at you

I'm running a '96 186 Bass n Bay that originally had the old style Tempest 25. I don't know if the prop was modified (probably not-I bought the boat new & that's what came on it). That prop was awesome- I tried the Tempest plus in 23 & 25 pitches, and tried quite a few of each & never could find one that spun like the original. Last year I got a Merc 175 pro xs. It ran pretty well with the Tempest 25+. I wanted to try out a Fury too, and I let the salesman talk me out of it I had a brand new Tempest 23+ and traded it in for the Fury 24. The salesman was still trying to talk me out of it because they didn't work well on the Tritons they sell. Since I don't own a Triton, it didn't matter! I am very pleased with the Fury-the hole shot is amazing-I never even played with the vent plugs. Top end also was better than the Tempest-with just me 1/2 tank gas & a limit in the live well(my partner bailed out due to back ache) I was over 68 mph gps @ 5700 RPM's.It was like having a new boat! I had to trim down to stop the chine walk and re-learn how to drive my boat... I'm not sure about my tachs accuracy. After I get it checked (and if it's right) I'd like to have those 3-400 extra RPM's! If I have one the props "tweaked" it'll be the Tempest. I'm not sure that anyone has a lot of experience with the metal used in the Fury's, and it's soooo close to perfect. My engine is also mounted flat on the transom. I've tried some plates but most slowed my boat down and ruined the turning capabilities. (OK you guys go ahead & jump all over me that I'm an idiot & don't know what I'm doing, but I had some professional help from someone who worked for Champion for 20 something years). Sorry about the long post, but hopefully you got something useful out of it!
Have a great day!
Bruce http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif

Thanks Pat for your help. I do have the motor trimmed all the way down. The boat leaps out of the hole the prop starts slipping right as it breaks over. I had forgot about the old duct tape JB weld trick. I have been running new boats for the last few years and haven't really had to do much testing and tuning. Back in the 80s when I was running Mecury powered Skeeters we use to use JB weld to adjust the vent holes exhaust and then we discovered that the Yamaha props ran darn good on the Skeeter with a Mercury on the back. I hate to mess with it to much because it is dialed in good. If I just ease up on the throttle a little the slip stops. I think I will play with the exhaust holes but, I don't really want to have the prop tweaked on. Those A45 props are thin and I've had a couple of them that have slung blades after I've had them worked.

Thanks Bruce for you help too.

If you are running one of George DeLoaches old Klegecell hulls, very likely you won't gain with a plate....dang thing probably weighs in at 700 lbs.

George who??? LOL He and my wife both told me not to put a plate on my 186. All I wanted was just a few more MPH...It didn't bother me when George gave me the "I told you so", but it coming from my wife was REALLY painful http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/embarassed.gif She is almost ALWAYS right-it really ticks me off. On the few occasions when I'm right I make her announce it loudly in Home Depot (or somewhere that there are other people that can hear it). Doesn't happen much though...

Got pictures? http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/glasses.gif

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D720/ry%3D480/

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a0...D550/ry%3D400/

1997 186 Elite with 1997 175 EFI<br /><br />
Modified by Mocatt at 11:42 AM 8/30/2010


Modified by Mocatt at 11:44 AM 8/30/2010

nice boat. i have 96 186 with 175 opti xs instead. love it. i had that 175 efi until it blew a cylinder.