Fine tuning my nitro need help.........

[kgr624]

I have a 2005 nx 898 with a 225 merc opti on it. it is a 20ft 3 inch boat and it  flies with one person in it and no livewells full and works as it should. As soon as I get any tournament weight in it, it sucks getting on plane, but still does decent at top end. Would like to get on plane a little better but not sacrifice to much top end. So set up is a 25p tempest plus with large holes. My motor height is 3 inches below pad. I run at wot at about 5200 at 69-70 mph with no tournament weight. As soon as I get the weight it goes to about 65-66 at 5000 rpms. and take off is at least 8 second or more and sitting at about 3200rpms while waiting to get up. So any takers on this one. Would sure appriciate it. I have not tried much so any tips would help. ps YES I TRIM MY MOTOR DOWN WHEN I TAKE OFF 

Thanks

[djkimmel]

Try repositioning some of the weight inside your boat if you have a lot of equipment / tackle / tools / anchor. Try moving a few heavy things forward if you have a lot of stuff in the back or vice versa. Poor man's fix.

[motocross269]

Your setup sound good...You may want to try to drop your motor another half inch to 3.5 and see if that helps...

I went to a Turbo OT4 25p prop and my boat planes off well and runs hard with that prop...


All boats will struggle some with full gas tanks and livewells..My boat carries 52 Gallons of Gas and 40 gallons in the live well.....That is 800 lbs right there...Then throw in a Co angler and gear....

When you are empty does your prop blow out a little when you first come up on plane??

[SethV]

Take the vent plugs all the way out of the prop - that will let it vent more.  Might have some cavitation when the boat is empty, but will let it spool up more so you rev higher in the power band on hole shot.

If that does not do it, you make try dropping down to a 24 P - or send your 25 to Mark Croxton or Rich Boger and they can tune it for hole shot.

[kgr624]

thanks.... Dropped it another half inch and we will see what happens. Funny thing is that it runs and takes off perfect with a partner and me in it. And when I mean tournament weight I really only mean livewells full..( of fish sometimes  ) and that really is the difference. My gas tank is about the same all the time on my small weeknighters. I will try the plugs . Just worried about prop spin. Can you just take out one or two and leave the other plugs in? Good or bad for it?

[Dan]

Hey Ken missed you in Alabama at Wheeler.

[motocross269]

Mark Croxton is really good as Seth said...He did some work on my prop and ground a custom blow out ring that I use...Helped alot...

I know alot of the southern Marinas have a "Prop Try out" program...Anyone around here do that....??

[Lightningboy]

You can take out an even number of plugs with no problem as long as they are from opposite sides.

I like to drill holes in the plugs all the way around.  Take a box of drill bits to the lake, and try hole shots while working your way up in hole size.  That way you can "tune" the size of the holes to work with different loads.

You might also try a Trophy plus; the four blade will have more stern lift than the Tempest.  It might give enough lift to move up in pitch; 5200 WOT leaves you with 600 RPM below your limit, there's more speed to be had there.

Another option is a jackplate with 6-8 inches of set back.  It'll allow whatever prop you choose to gain leverage during holeshot.