Tracker 190 Motor height and speed question

[dauntless_powered]

I would go ahead and take the foil off. It's going to be totally out of the water any way. But if you leave it. The first change, if any is needed. Take it off first.

Makes sense!! Thanks for the input! Off it goes before tomorrow's test run

[dauntless_powered]

Test run compete. I was running 40 mph at 5500 rpm before we changed anything. First run today was with the hydrofoil still on and it sucked! Major prop slip and only about 36. Went back to the launch, pulled the hydrofoil off. I was getting 38.5 at 5700-5750 rpm. It comes up on plane much faster and handles like a dream now. I did have an extra 240lbs wth my buddy and his gear. It does not feel like the nose is coming up as high as it should be. I was feeling drag and if I raised the trim anymore I was slipping the prop. If i trimmed down she dug into the water. I could not find that "sweet" spot like I did before we moved anything. My prop to pad is around 5.25" after raising it two holes. Your thoughts?

[dauntless_powered]

I am guessing a different prop is the right answer?

[gatorglenn]

I, would move it down one hole. To me on these hulls, the sweet spot is in the second hole down from the top. Mostly it's right between the second and third hole. SS props are 5-3/4" prop to pad. Aluminum props are 6-1/4" prop to pad. Leaving the motor where it is. With the prop you have. Rework the prop a half pitch down a add trailing edged cup to it (not hard wall cup). This will bring your rpms up alittle more. And bring the bow up. If no prop work, drop motor one hole. Or a new bow lifting prop with cup allready added, leaving motor where it is.

[dauntless_powered]

I, would move it down one hole. To me on these hulls, the sweet spot is in the second hole down from the top. Mostly it's right between the second and third hole. SS props are 5-3/4" prop to pad. Aluminum props are 6-1/4" prop to pad. Leaving the motor where it is. With the prop you have. Rework the prop a half pitch down a add trailing edged cup to it (not hard wall cup). This will bring your rpms up alittle more. And bring the bow up. If no prop work, drop motor one hole. Or a new bow lifting prop with cup allready added, leaving motor where it is.

Okay, Thanks! I will move the motor back down one hole and go from there

[09PT190TX]

I have the 08 Optimax on my 09 190TX and I left the motor on the top hole as it came from the factory. I had C&O Marine do a tune up and changed the stock prop out to a 22P Laser II that I bought from a board member. With my son (233lbs) and myself (200lbs) against current we went as pictured. With the current we went 1 mph faster. My RPM's will not go above 5500 now so I will most likely get it reworked by Mark on my next vacation trip home. It handled well and got on plane about the same as it did with the 19P aluminum prop that it came with.

[dauntless_powered]

After I moved the motor back down one hole I did a test run tonight with just me. Ended up getting a top speed of 41.8 @ 5500 RPM's, this was without the Hydrofoil on. I think the motor is where it needs to be now or as close as I am going to get without a jack plate at least. I still feel like I am getting more prop slip at the trim angle that feels the best than I was with the hydrofoil on, but that could be just me. Would a 20 or 21 pitch prop get me any higher in the speed category without exceeding max rpms for this motor? In the end I am not really caring about "maxing" out the speed, but i would like to have the best combination with out going to a bigger motor. Of course a 115 four stroke would be nice to have!

[gatorglenn]

5500 is your rpm max, for this 2 stroke right? You could go to a 20p if you stay in the aluminum. You will gain 1 mph but holeshot will suffer some. And loose 150-200 rpms. What I would do is get a SS prop in the same pitch. You'll gain about 2 mph loose about 100 rpms. But have much better hookup at higher trim, and better holeshot. With motors of this hp and higher your just not getting enough out of an aluminum prop. You can feel a big improvement in every category with a ss prop. Some need to stay with aluminum , because of where they fish at it's more practical and safer. But for your hp, SS is the way to go. If you do go SS , get a Vengeance in same 19p. If a stiffer prop like PowerTech or the like, you'll need to drop a pitch. What ever you get, stay with bow lifting characteristics in the prop.

[dauntless_powered]

Thanks for the excellent feedback!

[TxBassin]

Great thread and exactly what I'm trying to figure out since my motor is in the top hole. I asked my mechanic to raise it to the 3rd hole and he told me there's an edge across the transom (like a rail) that the motor mount "sits" on. He's concerned that raising the motor would weaken (add stress) the transom since there'd be a gap between the mount and the transom rail - is this accurate?

[bassfisher444]

Great thread and exactly what I'm trying to figure out since my motor is in the top hole. I asked my mechanic to raise it to the 3rd hole and he told me there's an edge across the transom (like a rail) that the motor mount "sits" on. He's concerned that raising the motor would weaken (add stress) the transom since there'd be a gap between the mount and the transom rail - is this accurate?

No, that is not a problem at all, if you have a stainless prop the motor should be in the 3rd hole from the top.