I posed the below problem over in the "Set Up" board but thought I would ask the same question here.........................


89 Javelin 396DC with 89 XP200 Rude. No jackplate at the moment w/ 6.5" below pad.

Just replaced my 27P Shooter with a 25P Renegade. (no cav ring)

With my Shooter, I could pop-up on plane fairly quickly with the rpm's right at 4K. Top speed was 65mph @ 5.4K rpm's with just me and a normal load. With a partner, 3/4 tank of gas & both the front/back live wells full, the hole shot was about the same & top speed dropped to 62mph.

With the Renegade, It is a little slower to "come over the top" but was not bad with the RPM's right at 3.5K. Top speed is 67mph @ 5.5K rpm's with just me and a normal load. But here is where the problem starts.....With a partner, 3/4 tank of gas & both the front/back live wells full, the hole shot is non-existent!! It acts like a plow for about 10 seconds before the bow finally "comes over the top". RPM's are about 3K during this process. Top speed under these conditions is a laboring 57mph.

I just ordered a 3" Slidemaster jackplate this morning. I went with the 3" because I didn't feel comfortable hanging a 200hp motor 6" off the back of a 20 year old transom. Besides, it already sits a little low in the rear already without 6" of setback.

So......here is the question......is jacking the motor up to 3.5" or so below the pad going to help this situation out, or is this more of a prop problem? And, where is a good starting point on the height?

Thanks in advance for your help!!