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.

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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.

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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:

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Originally Posted by WBL_JL

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

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the motor is 150 mercury XR6 2 stroke

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Originally Posted by Gambler Bob Rourke

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

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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:

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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

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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.

Sounds like your motor height is about an inch too high and your holeshot is lacking. Every boat will do this if the bow goes too high. Need to look at your holeshot issues.

I will take a side view picture tommorrow when it is not pouring out, unless it has a break in the rain in the next 10 minutes.

I REALLY appreciate all your advice from every one!!

For those who say the motor height is right, the how come when I accelrate out of the hole even fast out of the hole the water STILL goes above the cowling?! that just doesnt seem right.. so if I lower the jack plate, wouldnt it fix that issue?

1) that looks more like a set back plate than a jack plate, and it appears to be giving you negative trim, which you shouldn't need
2) take some more pics of the side of the motor/plate from farther away, it looks like the plate may be digging in the water at the bottom compounding your issue
3) the only adjustment I see is the motor to plate bolt holes, and those are not used on a jackplate, but are on a setback plate

Attachment 2286Attachment 2285Attachment 2287Here some pics...

Ok, about 1/2 the distance now....them are a bit too far away, but the other ones were too close. Need to see the plate and all, but not a close-up

Haha alright, Its pitch black out now but I will take a bunch of pics tommorrow in closer and with the cover off!

TRCM -

what is the advantage/disadvantage of lowering the motor 3 of those bolt holes down on the set back/"jack" plate? Doing that would get the motor to sit deeper in the water and also it would close a couple extra degrees so the trim down would be set under the boat more, which would ultimately make the boat motor not get as submersed and not have such a high "wheelie" during take off.. right?

WBL JL

I sent you a PM. I have the same boat and set up as you. If you want some pics of of my set up just let me know.

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Originally Posted by mxmike

WBL JL

I sent you a PM. I have the same boat and set up as you. If you want some pics of of my set up just let me know.

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Thanks alot! I would love some pics!

I will post more pictures tomorrow,

I replies to your PM

I believe your motor is too high, according to my handy-dandy sales guide the appropriate/suggested prop is a 13 3/4 X 25 Trophy. You should be in the 3" under pad range..... Some Nitros are hole shot pigs, but the 882 wasn't too bad.

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Originally Posted by WBL_JL

TRCM -

what is the advantage/disadvantage of lowering the motor 3 of those bolt holes down on the set back/"jack" plate? Doing that would get the motor to sit deeper in the water and also it would close a couple extra degrees so the trim down would be set under the boat more, which would ultimately make the boat motor not get as submersed and not have such a high "wheelie" during take off.. right?

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I would not lower the motor more than 1 set of wholes, if you lower it one set you should be at around 3-1/4 below pad if your measurement were correct. If you lower the motor to much you may develop chine walking issues at higher speeds. You have gotten alot of different info, if i were you i would pay the most attention to the fella that has the same boat.

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Originally Posted by BeeNix

I believe your motor is too high, according to my handy-dandy sales guide the appropriate/suggested prop is a 13 3/4 X 25 Trophy. You should be in the 3" under pad range..... Some Nitros are hole shot pigs, but the 882 wasn't too bad.

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Thanks alot! I think that info along with some others and a lot of help with the guy with my same boat has helped figure I need to adjust my motor..

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Originally Posted by Gambler Bob Rourke

I would not lower the motor more than 1 set of wholes, if you lower it one set you should be at around 3-1/4 below pad if your measurement were correct. If you lower the motor to much you may develop chine walking issues at higher speeds. You have gotten alot of different info, if i were you i would pay the most attention to the fella that has the same boat.

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Thanks Gambler, I've been PM'ing with him and it appears my bolts are slightly different but not by to much so I think the 1 set of holes idea is basically correct.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WBL_JL

Thanks Gambler, I've been PM'ing with him and it appears my bolts are slightly different but not by to much so I think the 1 set of holes idea is basically correct.

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Each set of holes should move you down 3/4" i own a Nitro 901 that is for sale, that also came with a jackplate that is not adjustable when originally purchased i am guessing yours is the same one, mine was a 10" Slidemaster setback plate, i now have a 10" manual Slidemaster on it. In case you are looking you can find used manual jackplates for 150-200 bucks in the jackplate for sale forum near the bottom of the main page.

I went through similar problems getting the 901 to run good except my engine was mounted to low, and the boat would chine walk very bad over 60 MPH, i got the manual jackplate and it was very easy to fine tune performance. The boat will now run 69 MPH with very little chine. Some of the gain in speed also had to do with going from a 2.5 liter EFI to 3 liter Pro XS same H.P. though.

I run I / O O / B & inboards. We NEVER have such touchy holeshots with inboards. Why ? The prop is UNDER THE HULL by a couple of feet.
As the prop is moved rearward, it becomes the DOMANANT controlling force of the boats bow angles as POWER IS APPLIED.

IT IS AS SIMPLE AS A CHILDS PLAYYARD SEE SAW.

Put a big adult on 1 end & a child on the other end and the kid has almost no control left. I can not understand the need or logic of a setback plate on a boat that is already sitting low in the water. Add in the tremendous amount of torque & thrust of big engines & the prop position becomes VERY CRITICAL.

May not need to be trimmewd under as far to get it on the pad. Try trimming it less and see how that goes.

I run a 96 Nitro NX882, mine has always done the same thing, never had a problem.
Also have a "whale tail" quick out the hole

Verify that your prop shaft is 3.5 inches below the pad. That is your starting point. Again any boat that raises the bow too much on holeshot will experience what your seeing. We need more information to help you diagnose your holeshot issue. RPMS at WOT, RPMS on holeshot. Any plugs in the prop?

Motor is too high. Lower it one hole or try a 24 Fury. That's what I run and it is a beast out of the hole. 3-4 seconds or less and Im on plane. 4-5 with two guys. The 23 tempest I had sucked. The 23's don't have the cupping that the 24 temps have. I ran a 24 temp and the 24 Fury is a much better prop on this boat. I also found the Fury likes more water and a lower motor. I was running around at 63 on GPS last weekend at about 5400rpms.

Thanks guys! I found another guy with the exact boat, set back plate, motor, prop etc.. Im going to adjust my motor to his set back plate specs and give that a shot, by doing that it will drop the motor slightly. If my order for a lifting hook gets here this weekend I should be able to adjust it and get it on the water and get some more specs on rpms etc. I am hoping with the exact adjustments as the same exact boat and setup my problem will be resolved.

Any tips for removing the motor with 2 guys and no lifting hook?
I dont want to put a jack under the skeg like someone had suggested since its aluminum and will more than likely break.