Looking at 2006 ZX190

[Greg L]

Hi BBCers
First time post here, was told about these boards and what a huge supply of information it is! I post from Australia and I'm in the process of updating my boat. My current package is a 2005 Nitro NX750 with a 150hp Optimax saltwater series. She hums along at around 56-58mph in most conditions in the salt and a nice first time bass boat.

I'm now looking at a 2006 Skeeter ZX190.
The speed bug has hit and I want to go faster!

In Australia there isn't a huge choice of bass boats and Skeeter's, Nitro's, Tritons and Stratos are the only real ones to look at. The importers here except Nitro(Merc's) let you put what ever motor you like. This time I would like to steer away from Mercury because of the oil consumption my current one uses. I have noticed most of you guys run Yammies, is that because of package deals?

One of my friends has just taken delivery of a 2006 SX190 with a Evinrude ETEC 150HO and has clocked speeds of 68mph in the fresh with some prop swapping.

I was looking at a ZX190 with a ETEC 200HO.
Here in Australia the importers have agree'd to warrant the boat with the larger motor, so why not?

In Sydney where I live we fish for Bream on waterways like Sydney Harbor, with a little wind we get some nice chop mixed in with boat and ferry wash. I want to go bigger to handle the chop and to run the distances to get away from the crowds in tournements. Most people still run locally made tin, bone jarring boats so it's nice having glass under my ass!
A couple of hours drive see's you fishing in stocked dams for Australian Bass and Yellow belly then it's just a race to your fishing spots so fast and smooth is why I'm looking at a Skeeter.

Questions.
1) Anyone got a ZX190 with 200hp of any brand?
2) What sot of speeds do you think the combo will run at?
3) Anyone running a ETEC on their Skeeter?
4) Is there a better choice of motor and why?

Cheers
Greg

[Skeeter Jay]

First off, your buddy running 68 with a SX190, was this speedo or GPS speeds? Second off, if its GPS and legit, what the heck kind of prop is he running??? Thats just ubelievable speeds for a 150.

I dont think your going to find anyone on here from the states running anything bigger than a 175 on the ZX190, its against the law here to run anything over the coast guard rating. On ZX190's with 175's I think most of the guys are seeing 66-68mph depending on their setups and props.

Since Yamaha owns Skeeter your not going to find too many of the later model boats with anything but a Yamaha on it. There are a few guys on here running Merc's. If it was me I wouldnt consider anything besides either of the two mentioned.

[Bass Junkie]

Jay is right. Your are not going to find very many current Skeeters in the US that run anything but Yammie. If I was going to overpower that rig I would opt for the 200 HPDI in the 2.6 liter block. You won't need the big block torque to get it out of the hole and you can prop it to run right at 6000rpm. I would think a ZX190 with a 200hp should get you in the 72 to 73 mph range.

[Greg L]

What I have been told so far is.....
It runs 65mph GPS fitted with a 22' Raker prop in average conditions.(they clocked 68 down current, just informed)
Jack plate soon to be fitted to try for more as it still feels rock solid at full noise.
ETEC lighter than other brands for same horse power and the extra unknown HP out of the HO series.

The importer has a ZX190 at Evinrude at the moment to fit a 200HO. will be water tested next week and then I get to see if it fits into my garage.
If it fit's out comes the cheque book

If I get close to 70 I know I will be happy!
Greg

[stratman201]

Well, I think the 68 down wind and current is possible with the Evinrude 150 HO. The 22" Raker puzzles me a little. The Etec has way too much torque for that small of a prop. I would think the Etec would spin that prop way over 6000 rpms and that is a big NO-NO with the etec. I have a Stratos 285proxl which is very close in weight to the sx190 and a 150 HO and I have seen 67.8gps with a 10 - 12 mph wind behind me. But normally my boat will run 64 to 65 with a pretty good load in it.
As for the zx190 with the Evinrude 200HO. That is easily a 73-75 mph boat.

[Tony]

Greg,

you may want to check with Steve Morgan, he is getting a 175 e-tec on a 18 1/2 feet boat and was talking about a 26 inch prop.

good luck

[Skeeter Jay]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by stratos285 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, I think the 68 down wind and current is possible with the Evinrude 150 HO. The 22" Raker puzzles me a little. The Etec has way too much torque for that small of a prop. I would think the Etec would spin that prop way over 6000 rpms and that is a big NO-NO with the etec. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok, not trying to fight or anything (I promise), but I did a little research and found this out.. The Etec HO 150 (419lbs) actually weighs 1lb heavier than the carbed Yammie VMax (418lbs), not lighter like earlier mentioned. Its recomended top RPM is 5750 vs. the Yammie at 6k. It does have a 1.86:1 gearing vs. Yammies 2:1, BUT if you put that in a prop slip calc with a 22p prop (giving it 23 for cupping) and figure in a generous 10% slip (probably closer to 12%) he'd still have to be spinning it at 6150 just to get to 65, 68mph would be up around 6500 r's I think your buddy is filling you full of bull, that or his prop is bigger than a 22p. I can see with that 1.86 gear case that if he could spin a 24 or 25 up close to max R's that 65+ is very possible. Heck, I've seen 65.3 a couple of times with mine now but I am running a 4 blade 26p Predator Eagle. Sorry if it sounds like I am picking on ya, I'm not honestly, I've just been setting here scratching my head trying to figure out how your buddy is getting those numbers and I just dont think its possible with that prop. I've ran so many different props on my SX190 with 150 VMax over the past couple of months I've about wore the splines out So far the fastest to date is the 65.3 on the Predator I mentioned, did see mid 64's with a 25p Tempest A45, everything else I have ran has been 63 and under. I wish Yammie and Rude props interchanged, I'd love to try a Raker on mine.

Now back to the ZX175 with 200, I would think that thing should run low to mid 70's no problem.


Oh BTW, I dont think anyone has welcomed you to the boards. Welcome, if you buy a Skeeter you'll love it!

[Andyh]

Skeeter Jay,

The boat Greg is talking about I have actually driven, thus far the boat is running a 22p raker from Evinrude. I gps'd the boat at 65.1mph 1 up, light load, we tried both a 23 and a 24p in the same prop and only managed to get 5000 and 5100 revs from the lap top, the actual revs from the 22p on the boat at the moment are yet to be noted as the rev gauge isn't compatible with the Etec but we figured we are around 5300-5400. Now I know these numbers don't gel with other set ups we are running here ie; 150opti with a 24p tempest plus (62.5mph) revs to around 5400, a 150 four stroke yamaha with a 23p balistic revs to 5800 (63.4mph). I too was a little baffled that the 22p is achieving such a high speed with little revs but its a fact. The next thing we are about to do is put a small plate on the boat as the motor still has alot of lifting to be done, we currently are getting 30psi of water pressure and no blow out from the prop at all. Keep in mind the Etec HO motors have low water pick ups, shaped nose cones and are producing alot more horespower from the prop than what it says on the cowl.

In Australia things are a little different in regards to the conditions of warranty and HP ratings compared to the US, for one we don't have to comply with the US Coast Guard in regards to the Max Horsepower.

We currently run ZX190's with small block 200 Vmax Hpdi motors that spin 25m props at 5800 and 68-69mph, we are setting one up this week with a 200ho that may run in the mid 70's.

When we finish the set up of the SX190 with the 150HO and the jackplate I'll post you all the excact numbers and heights.

Thanks again for showing interest in what we are doing here down under, the posters on the BBC boards have all been very helpful in the past and who knows, maybe we can relay some information back in return...

Andy

[Skeeter Jay]

Hey Andy, welcome to the boards

Y'all need to hang on to that 22 Raker, because there's something different about it. Also, just in case its not the prop, you better get that tach running right, because if you're getting those speeds and that prop hasnt been worked and is truely a 22 you HAVE to be turning way more rpm's than what its reading. check it out for yourself, a Skeeter isnt going to get better than 10% slip http://go-fast.com/Prop_Slip_Calculator.htm

The whole "produces a lot more horsepower at the prop than what it says on the cowl" has nothing to do with what I have been saying, there's only so fast a boat can travel at X amount or rpms with a 1.86:1 gearing and a prop that travels 22" every revolution, no matter what the actual HP is. Where having more HP should come in to effect is it should be able to spin a bigger prop. I'm sure someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I think the manufacturers can be over or under the rated power by 10%? So at most that Etec is putting out 165?

Is that Raker stock or has a prop guy had a hold of it? If its stock I think I need to find one around here that someones machined down to fit a Hammer and try it. I actually had a buddy of mine tell me I needed to try a Raker on my boat, its just really hard to find one to fit a hammer.

All your other numbers you posted seem to be right on with what I and others on the board have seen with the SX190 and similar props. I'm not disbelieving the 65.1 mph, thats very attainable in these boats, there's just something not jiving between the prop and RPM's.

I am shocked that a ZX190 wit a small block 200 isnt running over 70, there are guys on here running those speeds with their 175 HPDI's.


Keep us posted on that SX190 and Etec, you get a 6 inch plate on it and jack it on up to about 2"-1.75" below pad and you may see 66-67.

[Andyh]

Jay,

I spoke to Evinrude yesterday briefly about the prop and apparently they are the new Raker 2 series, the idea of spinning a 22p at those revs doesn't calculate I totally agree but I can only pass one what I know, I'll try and get more reason as to why that prop does so well.

Now this one will really stump you, yesterday afternoon they tested the ZX190 with the 200HO, they ran a 24p raker (the same model as the 22 on the SX), the boat had 3 on board and they were using a gps and achieved 75mph @ 6000rpm, apparently the motor is extremley high on the plate (i'll post measurements later). Now if you compare that to my very own TZX190 with a Opti 175hp and a 25p tempest plus, the best i've seen is 67mph 2 up and loaded, but will generally run around 64-65mph @ 5500rpm. To me my numbers are the norm, somethings up with the HO and those props...

Today we'll be testing the 26p in the same series and to be honost I'm a little nervous as to the speed we'll get

I'll keep you posted as things progress and I'll ask the tech from E-tec why those props are producing so well for the pitch.

Andy

[Skeeter Jay]

keep us posted

[Bass Junkie]

I'm not surprised the ZX190 ran 75 with a 200 HO on the back. However I am surprised this speed was with 3 persons in the boat . There are quite a few guys running low 70's with 200 Yammies on ZX200s and since the 190 is a little lighter it only makes sense it should be a little faster with the same HP. I'm very curious to see what that boat will do loaded light with one aboard.

[horseshoer]

i smell some BS

if you can turn a 26" prop to 5800 with that 150 you might see 65 but you aint gonna do that with a 22".

i say the 200 ho is gonna be 4 mph faster, but thats about it.

prop slip calculators dont lie.

[GA SX190]

[QUOTE=Skeeter Jay]I've ran so many different props on my SX190 with 150 VMax over the past couple of months I've about wore the splines out [QUOTE=Skeeter Jay]

I'm curious as to where you get all these test props? And if the answer is you are purchasing all of them, then the next question would be is your employer hiring?

[Skeeter Jay]

I've bought a couple, but most of the others have been props buddies of mine have had. Horseshoer has a small arsenal of props that he carries with him at all times.. so that comes in handy.. Its probably been 2 weeks since the last time the two of us were playing and since then he's came up with 2 more for me to try..

[horseshoer]

ummm i have 3 new ones and another on the way if you know who ever gets back in touch with me.

[GA SX190]

wish i lived closer to you guys
i'd like to go out and play with y'all!

[Skeeter Jay]

ya but I know I cant spin that monster...

[Skeeter Jay]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GASX190 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">wish i lived closer to you guys
i'd like to go out and play with y'all! </TD></TR></TABLE>

We have a good time playing. Heck just a couple of weeks ago I think we spent about 6 hours just running props and making engine height adjustments, only reason we quit was because I ran out of gas Had to say that, knew HS would chime in if I didnt..

[GA SX190]

Thanks for all the help over on the prop forum, Jay.

I'll let you know what I find when I start testing.

Curious...did you put a jack plate on your SX? If not, what hole are you in?