motor height question

[texags_99]

got a 202, 15" RapidJack, 250XS with 1.62:1 sporty with a 26P hydromotive Quad IV-X O/B. love the new prop. Holeshot is great. Stability much better than Tempest Plus. Problem is getting the motor height right for ease of driving. I'm currently even with the pad, but lots of steering torque at high speed. With the old 27P Tempest Plus at max height on jackplate, it was impossible to steer.

Any advice on which direction I should go with motor height to ease the steering issue, maximize stability and speed?

Thanks!

[canadabullet]

Even with the pad on a Blazer is usually higher than enough and it should be easy to drive there.... Going up on the plate reduces leverage to lift the bow and should keep your boat flatter and easier to drive ; whereas going down on the plate lifts the bow more and can make the boat squirrely. Keep going up as long as you can still lift the bow enough to get your best speed and handling traits that you are comfortable with while keeping a close eye on water pressure... If you don,t have a GPS.. get one ... it is a must have tool for finding out optimum setup....

[texags_99]

i've got a GPS. this four blade is not as fast as the Tempest, but I'll take the holeshot over the top end and lack of stability of the Tempest all day long. I have a 2004 250XS, so I know the rev limiter is at 5850, but I haven't even got this thing above 5000 yet because it gets hard to steer and chines really bad above 74 mph (which is plenty fast for me). I also notice that it takes very, very little trim to get the boat up and squirrelly. I really can't trim much at all.

I guess I'll keep playing with it and see if I can find the sweet spot. Thanks, texags_99

I really need to find somebody that can show me how to drive this rig so I know it's just me and not the boat. Sometimes I think it's the boat because it just gets out of control so quickly at higher speeds.

[canadabullet]

That Hydromotive Quad 4-X OB is one of the best props out there and if you have not gone past 74 or 5000 rpm you are nowhere near getting it to its limits. Either you need more seat time or there is something wrong with your rig if it is as hard to drive as you say. Do you have Hydraulic steering ? Find someone that is used to driving a fast boat like a Bullet or an Ally and let them wring it out to be sure ...I had a 2001 202 with a 2004 250 XS 1:75 TM gearcase and ran mine around 2 inches below the pad with lots of 26- 29 inch props . My average topend was around 81 but I did get 83.3 with a 29 Hydromotive Quad 4-X-OB. I always found my boat easy to drive although with a 27 Tempest it did require a bit more driver input... You might be better off with a Torquemaster case instead of that Sporty ... I found the Sporty blew out on breakover bad with most props , the hydromotive is the right prop with a Sporty case on a Blazer because it does not blow out on breakover like most others and can handle being higher on the plate than most other thru hub props....

[texags_99]

I know seat time is an issue, but the steering is a concern. I do have hydraulic steering, and it take two hands at high speed to turn the wheel. Maybe i need to drop height first and see if that helps. If I can run at 75 and drive it, that's plenty fast for me. I don't need to run 80, even though it would be nice to have :)

[canadabullet]

Are you sure you are even with the pad with your propshaft ??? The symptoms you describe are typical of being too low.. Keep rasing your plate until water pressure is an issue and see what happens.... Also check your helm unit and make sure it has enough steering fluid... Good luck ...

[texags_99]

power steering fluid is good, right to the bottom of the hole, no leaks anywhere. turns nice and easy sitting in the garage and at low speed:)

I'll bump up the motor height and try to run it this weekend and see if that helps any. I'll report back. Thanks again for your help!
texags_99

[Rebel1]

You need to go up on the plate. With the sporty lower, you can run it at least 1/2in. above the pad with a load.