Need some help please

[Lockon]

I need some help or at least pointed in the right direction. I have a 1999 Skeeter ZX202C with a 1999 Mercury 200EFI motor. I also think I have a 12" Slidemaster mount? I have had this boat a little over a year and have been researching on here about different set-ups. I say the least I am way confused,

This past summer I started messing around with my set up, but I do not think I have it right. I did what people on here said to do by raising and lowering the jackplate (slidemaster) but I still think I am way off. I have a 25P Trophy Plus prop. I do not think it has the cavitation ring?? that I have been reading about (do not know how to check). The advice I have read on here is start at ~3" below pad > move up 1/4" at a time until you max RPMs and /or lose water pressure. I tried that but it seems like a never ending equation as I can move the trim lever to adjust my RPMs and water pressure. I guess I am not getting something here.

I finally settled at a point about 4 1/4" above pad with a max of 65MPH (GPS) @5600 RPMs. I am not sure if this is right or not. I have a pretty high rooster tail ( a little above the cowling), pretty flat nose attitude on the bow, and pretty stiff steering at speed.

Any ideas guys?? move down to a 24 or 23P prop?? move up to a 26 or 27P prop?? go to a 3 blade prop?? I am just dumb founded on this...not to mention I am a bit of a novice boater.

One thing I did leave out is I have none of the PVS??? plugs in the prop that people speak of (none came with the sale of the boat).

H E L P Please

[mdtritn21]

Read how to measure prop to pad at top of page. You are measuring something wrong. You probably need a three blade prop to get the bow lift you need.

[Lockon]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by mdtritn21 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Read how to measure prop to pad at top of page. You are measuring something wrong. You probably need a three blade prop to get the bow lift you need. </td></tr></table>

I have read and reread the prop measurement....pretty sure I measured right. Any idea of what pitch in a 3 blade?? I presume something like a Fury or Tempest??

[mdtritn21]

You would need a 25" tempest plus but something isn't right with the measurement. Your sure your measuring from the bottom of the pad to the center line of the prop shaft. At that height even with a 12" set back you'd blow out trying to get on plane and never have any water pressure.

[pmgoffjr]

Your math is jacked up pards....

Assuming all is right with your motor (big assumption) then that prop on that hull with that motor should be at 3 1/2" shaft under pad, 5,700 rpms at 68 mph with decent lift, low roostertail and just a bit of wheel torque. Your symptoms are that of a too high motor.

Re-measure and set it at 3 1/2 (center of pad, not center of the offset) and see what you've got.

Skeeters must have bow lift to run right, especially your hull, if you're running flat you are killing it. A tempest or yamaha M wheel will give you better lift than the trophy, 25 is the right size.

[Lockon]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by pmgoffjr &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Your math is jacked up pards....

Assuming all is right with your motor (big assumption) then that prop on that hull with that motor should be at 3 1/2" shaft under pad, 5,700 rpms at 68 mph with decent lift, low roostertail and just a bit of wheel torque. Your symptoms are that of a too high motor.

Re-measure and set it at 3 1/2 (center of pad, not center of the offset) and see what you've got.

Skeeters must have bow lift to run right, especially your hull, if you're running flat you are killing it. A tempest or yamaha M wheel will give you better lift than the trophy, 25 is the right size.

</td></tr></table>

Thanks....will lower it back down to 3 1/2" below pad and try and find a 25P Tempest Plus.

When I set it up last summer, I read all I could on here about starting at 3 1/2" below pad and start raising it 1/4" at a time until you get to 15psi water pressure and/or go over max RPMs and the "rooster tail" is about even with the top of the cowling. I kept raising and raising the motor and never lost below 15psi water pressure (usually bounced around the 19-20psi mark), the rooster tail was about even with the top of the cowling (maybe a little more) and the RPMs I could never figure out because I could change that by just raising or lowering the trim lever

I really appreciate all the advice and will start over with the set up

[JER-1 BIG BASS]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Lockon &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">

Thanks....will lower it back down to 3 1/2" below pad and try and find a 25P Tempest Plus.

When I set it up last summer, I read all I could on here about starting at 3 1/2" below pad and start raising it 1/4" at a time until you get to 15psi water pressure and/or go over max RPMs and the "rooster tail" is about even with the top of the cowling. I kept raising and raising the motor and never lost below 15psi water pressure (usually bounced around the 19-20psi mark), the rooster tail was about even with the top of the cowling (maybe a little more) and the RPMs I could never figure out because I could change that by just raising or lowering the trim lever

I really appreciate all the advice and will start over with the set up </td></tr></table>

Your rpms will be determined at WOT and the boat trimed all the way up or trimed up till the nose of boat just starts a little bounce thats your WOT rpms you don't change it by triming up or down it's WOT all up trim or untill nose starts a little bounce then just trim down a touch and there you have it WOT= WIDE OPEN Throttle AND RPMS
BIG BASS