SF175 40th Anniversary Edition Skeeter

[MikeZ]

Ok my brother just joined the Skeeter family and purchased 1990 175SF with a 175 Mariner. Boats in really good condition. (my concern it has a 12 inch jackplate). How are guys setting these boats up. It currently has a 3-blade prop (not sure what brand) will know this weekend. The boat doesn't have the torque tab any more because the prop would hit it. It also have a hydrafoil on it.

Let me know. Thanks.

[Indiana Jack]

Because this series of Skeeter was so prevalent to transom problems I wouldn't do thing till it was checked out. They waterlogged badly.
I bought mine (same year and series) knowing it had a bad transom.
Disassembled the entire boat and installed a new transom. The old plywood transom was so much a paper wasp nest in consistency.
Go to the boat restoration section of this site and check out Skeeter 89s rebuild in pix.

[Skeet'r89]

Sorry, the rebuild pics of mine are gone. But I will be glad to help any way possible.
A 12" plate on that is probably a bit to big. Guys in the set up forum will probably tell that six would be the best choice. I have a manual 6" on mine. I have clicked off 67mph(gps) once.

[MikeZ]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll have a good look at it this weekend.

[MikeZ]

checked the boat out this weekend, everything was in excellent shape, No stress on the transom. The boat comes out of the hole quick and flies down the lake. My brother was only willing to get it up to 50 mph the highiest was 55 mph turning 4500 to 5000 rpms and the baot still has more to go. The boat wanted to jerk to the right and left every once in while. It doesn;t have the steering torque tab on it anymore because of the prop and hydrafoil.

Its a double cable steering set up. We took as much play out of it as possible. We may have to look at the motor mounts to see if the rubber has worn to much. Any other help is greating appreciated.

[Skeet'r89]

The jerk you felt may have been the boat trying to get all the way up on the last part of the pad. The boat should run around 63-65gps speeds. Do not trust anything the regular speedo is reading. I have seen mine go into the 70's and gps only read about 63. No need for the steering torgue tab as it mostly only works at slow to mid range. Trim adjustments and motor height can correct most of the torgue.

[Skeeter_Engineering]

Skeeter89 what is your heighth from pad to propshaft?? Mike, I had to replace my runners and transom both! I've got a 10 inch jack but 6 would be alot better. I consistantly see 65 mph. Great boat!

[Skeet'r89]

I am around 3 1/2". I haven't checked it in some time.