I am new to bass boats, other than an old aluminum bass tracker style boat. I also had an I/O pleasure boat.


The boat currently has a 22p tempest+ and i am only getting about 48mph max with it, at 5750-5800rpm according to the tach gauge. Trim at speed seems to do nothing, and i can raise it until there is a giant rooster tail without water pressure dropping. I also noticed there seems to be a lot of prop slip when turning. Hole shot seems good even with all the plugs in the prop.


The boat is likely not balanced front to back, as the previous owner put in ionic lithium batteries in the back, along with upgrading to 2 graphs, an Ultrex 80lb trolling motor, 2 larger graphs, and a live foot system.
I asked about the balance before, and put all equipment I could in the back bins of the boat to try to equalize it. Maybe I should try bags of sand? lol I don't really have that much tackle in the boat.




Recap:
22p tempest+
48MPH top speed @ 5800RPM
4" from center of prop to pad, engine mounted in middle hole. No jack plate.
Trimming at speed does not raise bow at all
Seems like lot of prop slip when turning
Water pressure is good even when trimmed up high with a rooster tail, but now bow rise.



I am thinking of trying the following:
1. adding weight to the back?
2. Trying a 23p prop instead of the 22p/
3. Adding a manual jack plate to put the motor further back (to help with the possible weight imbalance)
4. ??


Do you guys have any suggestions? What order should i try things? Is the bow lift on a bass boat so small that I wouldn't notice it compared to my old MerCruiser? I just remember with trim on that old boat, i could feel the boat free itself from the water and accelerate just by trimming.