new to bass boats...hopefully only prop issues.. Please help!

[SavageSailor]

I hope I'm posting this in the correct place...Im posting it here because Im hoping what I am experiencing is a prop issue...Backstory is for troubleshooting purposes.. I am not new to boating, but this is my first bass boat. I currently own a 2022 Targa V19 with the 225 on it and have owned various boats previously..I am a mechanical contractor and I split my time between my two main locations in Oklahoma and New Mexico..I decided I wanted something a little faster, so I went out and bought a mint one owner 2008 Bass Cat Puma from a gentleman in San Angelo. It has a 2014 Optimax Pro XS 250 on it with a Fury 25P prop with medium PVS plugs in all 3 holes and a slide master manual jackplate on it. I took the boat back to Oklahoma and ran it 4 or 5 times...(WAAAYYY different handling than any of my previous deep V boats) After the first few outings and a lot of reading on here about chine walk, I started to make friends with her..I took the boat back to New Mexico with me, and that's when the problems began..I took it out here in New Mexico for the first time last weekend. The boat starts fist kick and Idles well. When i go to WOT to get on plane, the boat runs up to 2000 is rpm and just hangs there..It won't come up on plane or accelerate past 2000 rpm unless my passenger heads towards the bow.. As the weight transfers the motor will sluggishly pick up 200-600 rpm then plane out and accelerate and run normally once on plane..Without knowing anything about bass boats, I started gearing up to diagnose a motor issue.. I built all the necessary specialty tools to properly work on the OPTI (IE air fuel gauge manifolds water pump housing alignment pins exc). The last thing I needed was to buy the computer software.. I opted for the Diacom marine software, but before i bought that big ticket item, i went to ask a buddy who does power boat stuff at Havasu if he had the software and if I could borrow it if I bought the adaptor. He didn't, but we got to talking and I described my symptoms to him and he said prop issues for sure.. With that lengthy story, I don't know anyone else with bass boat experience here in New Mexico to talk to...So i started researching propping and learned a lot. With this knowledge,I can add some more pertinent diagnostic information to the story. When I did the water test in San Angelo, we had 2 adults, 1/2 tank fuel in seat tank, 1/2 tank fuel in both saddle tanks, 4 Group 31 AGM's and no gear...When I ran the boat in Oklahoma I had 1 adult and 1 100lb passenger on board. The seat tank was full and the saddle tanks were at 1/2. The boat had the same AGM;s and no gear on board.. When i ran it here in New Mexico, I had 2 adults on board, seat tank was full, and saddle tanks were both at 1/2, same batteries and approximately 50-60 lbs of gear in the bow boxes. The temperature was within 10 degrees +/- of 40ish in all 3 locations. I can't give WOT rpms because, in San Angelo I was holding on for my life.. I can say that we did hit close to 70.. In Oklahoma, I never hit WOT because of my inexperience driving this boat, and chine walk is a weird feeling the first time.. Lastly in New Mexico i never hit WOT because the lake is at maybe 3% capacity with rocks and sand bars everywhere.. I did get into the main channel and attempt to give it a rip, once we massaged it on plane, it seemed like I wasn't going to make the 5500-6000 rpm..I can't swear to that, maybe I just let out to early.. With all this information, My questions are:
1) Is this plausible, and is what I described above the symptoms of an improperly propped boat? (Im optimistically leaning towards "YES", otherwise back to motor diagnostics???)
2) I am thinking that I am over propped for this altitude??? There is almost 3600ft elevation gain from the Oklahoma lake to the New Mexico lake
3) If propping is indeed the culprit, can you recommend a prop, or someone that can help me select the correct prop???..If it is propping, guessing on a replacement could be a costly process
4)Would running my PVS holes open be enough to correct my issue? If maybe is the answer..Would my problem come back as weight or temperature increased??

Sorry for the long post. I wanted to provide as much pertinent information as i could..If anyone could give me some direction I would greatly appreciate it!!

Thanks!!

[1ranger487vs]

Go to the basscat forum. Ask BCB they will help you

[119bowhunter]

Sounds like too much prop at the NM lake, a 3600 foot elevation gain is going to change things dramatically…if you’re planning on using it in both locations you will need 2 props…I would try and find someone or a shop that will let you try some different props but I’d guess you need to drop a couple inches in pitch

[21XDC]

You loose HP as altitude increases. Most find that they need 2 different props for 2 different altitudes. I suggest dropping a few pitches, larger diameter props and adjust PVS plugs to achieve 3500-3800 rpms on holeshot. Try a 23P Tempest plus. Take all of the plugs out of your prop for now.

[ThomasD]

You lose about 3% hp per every 1000' of elevation. Need to drop an inch or two in pitch on the prop. I'm in San Angelo myself and our local lakes are around 1900' elevation. Previous owner of my boat was in an area where the lakes were below 1000'. I had to drop 1" pitch myself to get rpm's and hole shot back.

[billnorman1]

If it came up to speed when your passenger moved forward, you may be trying to come on plane with too much bow-up trim. You must start with the motor trimmed all the way down, then trim up as the speed increases.