optimal prop for 206 with 200 merc

[BREW_SARD1]

hello,
i am shane broussard and have recently purchased a 92 gambler 206 with a 2001 mercury 200. i have a hydraulic jackplate which is about 5 or 6 inches. the boat pulls hard to the right. i have taken it to the shop to get a total service and compression check done. it will take awhile for their guru to take a ride with me due to medical conditions. they tell me i need to change the prop, which is a factory 3 blade and put a trim tab on the skeg. i want to get out of the hole fast, and i'm not concerned with top ends over 80 mph. i have not been able to lose water pressure jacking up the motor over 70 mph and i don't want to go faster than that until i get the skeg trim tab put on. can anyone tell me "off the top" what prop i should use? and would a different prop take out that right hand torque?

thanks very much,
shane

[cdnstroker]

hey Shane

IMO, if the steering in that boat is original, it is starting to get up in years. I know Sea Star pro hydraulic steering is expensive, but it will be much nicer to drive, and will get rid of the steering torque. Let me tell you a little story. When I sold my Gambler, the wife and I took it out for one last blast, on Als lake actually. We went out and ran the boat all day, and had a couple friendly races with some other bassboats. I brought the boat home and started removing the motor because the guy only wanted the boat. When I unhooked the steering, one of the cables was broke. My 206 was a 1993 and if that other cable would have let go, my wife and myself would have been in a ton of trouble, and maybe hurt others on the lake also.

No prop will eliminate steering torque, so if it were me I would give my steering a close inspection and consider buying hydraulic.

[BREW_SARD1]

thank you very much for the info. i do have a sea star hydraulic steering system that is a 2001 model, same as motor. it has been totally serviced recently also. when i first got the boat, i had to steady make rotations to the left, just to hold it straight. now since the service, i only have to hold it to the left, not rotate. the tech that did the job said that it was installed incorrectly. i will definantly look further into the steering after your comments. thank you again.

shane

[arkbuck]

try a trophy 24P or try a hydromotive quad x. both run well on the boat.

[BREW_SARD1]

thank you, i will get one and post the difference.

shane