Need a little help!

[cowboyfb57]

Boat: 2001 205 DVS
Motor: 03 Optimax 225
Prop: 25P tempest plus
Problem: under full load at WOT I am only turning 5300 RPM and my water pressure is around 21-22 psi and Im hitting a top speed of 57 mph. My question is whether or not to go to a 24P prop or to raise the jack plate into cleaner water since I have plenty of water press to spare? Any thoughts, suggestions and/or advice is appriciated! Thanks!

Also if it matters im not the littlest guy in the world (6'4" 315lbs) and my dad isnt tiny either could we just be too heavy?!

[PlanoKeith]

How big is your jack plate? how far is your current prop to pad measurement ? That motor should push that boat close to 70 mph plus or minus 5mph. It sounds to me that you have your motor set too deep in the water, The tempest like to run high on the transom Mine is set to 2 1/2 inches below the pad with a 6 inch jack plate. If I were you I would move it up to 2 3/4 and give that a try. You can post this over in the props forum and Mike and Mark will give you some better info.

[Tom Rollins]

The 205 DVS is a Ranger. Set plate so that c/l propshaft is 3 1/4". Wp is about normal for 3L Opti. Don't know if you'll ever see 70 but 65 should be in range.

[EuropeanAM]

BEFORE you start altering your setup (NEVER play with your setup to regain "Lost Performance"- it only further complicates Diagnostic Attempts):

Is this a NEW DEVELOPMENT (ie: You've owned the boat for several years, and it used to achieve 5600 RPM under these conditions)?

[RiverRatMD]

Those #'s don't add up for sure....How long have you owned the boat? Has it always ran that way?

[Ranger519VS]

Weight is a factor but not as much as you have lost. Start with Compression test/Leak down test then check other things that could lead to reduced power per my post on the Ranger boats forum:
http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=780310

Don can give you some good advice.

[cowboyfb57]

I ran the boat by myself the other afternoon and I was turning 5400 RPM, I think the biggest problem is that I need to get the prop reworked, I will try and upload a photo of the prop (there are very small dings and such) but by myself @5400 RPM I hit 60 so im hoping it just the prop.

We have owned the boat for a year now and when we first owned it with a light load I coould hit the 5600 and go 65-66 mph. We have had the motor and lower unit serviced by a certified mechanic at the Ranger dealer in town. New Spark plugs, thermostats, new fuel lines, ect.