Xpress Top End

[Kuenro02]

I recently purchased an 06 Xpress x19 TS with an Evinrude Etec 200hp. I ran it on the Mississippi last weekend and topped out around 60mph. Forgive me, I don't have the prop info right now but can get it later. I thought it seemed a little slow. We had 2 guys, a full tank and some gear but really thought I'd be closer to 70mph. Am I off in my expectation or is there something wrong with the setup? It has a 6" manual jack plate. Need any more info?

[Avalonjohn44]

According to this site, around 65 is top speed with a 175 with one guy in the boat. That seems amazing to me on an aluminum boat.  Maybe with just some tinkering with motor depth and trim you can go from 60 to 65ish, but man, just hitting 60 is amazing, IMO. 

[Kuenro02]

I have a buddy with a 19 ft fiberglass Triton with the exact same motor and he's close to 70mph. I would think his boat is heavier and shouldn't be faster than mine?

[Avalonjohn44]

Hull hydro-dynamics might be way different from boat to boat as well as fiberglass to aluminum, so I would not use that Triton as a strict benchmark.

[fishnkamp]

Check what your prop is, what your wot is and measure your prop to pad.  Just because it has the prop your dealer may have chosen, it might not have your best prop for speed.  Get those numbers together and your water pressure at wot. Once you pull all of those together someone can give you a direction to go.  Also you did not mention it, but if you are not running a stainless prop you are wasting your time. 

[Kuenro02]

Thanks fishnkamp, I looked over there and saw numbers from 65 to 80mph with most reaching that 70mph mark. Sorry, what is wot? I can definitely get those # together. 

[Kuenro02]

Nevermind, wide open throttle, got it. I'll have to check later when I can open it up again. The prop to pad measurement, is that distance below pad or distance from prop to pad horizontally? Sorry, new to this topic. The boat currently has a 25 pitch powertech 4 blade but came with a raker 2 26 pitch 3 blade that I would think be a little faster? But would maybe lose some hole shot?

[WIGuide]

Simple question, but are your speed readings coming from a GPS or the old school speedo? The reason I ask is because although the spedo will give you a ballpark on your speed they aren't very accurate at all. 

Your 3 blade Raker is going to be a faster prop. You will probably lose a little on your hole shot. 4 blade props are usually a little slower top end unless they are on the right boat. They offer better grip, that equates to better handling and better takeoff, as well as usually providing more lift and lower planing speed. 

Your prop to pad measurement is the vertical measurement between the pad and the center of the prop shaft. 

[fishnkamp]

That is what makes this board great, somebody always has the answer quick!  Obviously you are running stainless, but many times guys are trying to run aluminum and still get speed improvements.  The difference is the correct answers due to aluminum likes to run deeper.  I am one of those guys that choose to run aluminum. I run a 18 foot Lowe aluminum bass boat here on the Chesapeake Bay tidal rivers. Due to running in shallow water with lots of old boats, crab traps, and other debris under water I run a Turning Point Hustler 3 blade performance aluminum prop.  I would rather loose a prop that costs $200 bucks to replace than my lower unit!  Even so, to make it run at top speed and give a fast hole shot I purchased the prop new for $100, then had more pitch and cup added by my local prop shop. we even fine tuned the vent holes believe it or not. Doing this I cut my hole shot time, now come out level fast, and picked up 4 mph on the top end. My total investment in the prop is a whopping $177.00.  Well worth it. 

[Jig-Man]

Maybe I missed it but what rpms are you running with your current setup?

[Kuenro02]

7 hours ago, WIGuide said:

Simple question, but are your speed readings coming from a GPS or the old school speedo? The reason I ask is because although the spedo will give you a ballpark on your speed they aren't very accurate at all. 

Your 3 blade Raker is going to be a faster prop. You will probably lose a little on your hole shot. 4 blade props are usually a little slower top end unless they are on the right boat. They offer better grip, that equates to better handling and better takeoff, as well as usually providing more lift and lower planing speed. 

Your prop to pad measurement is the vertical measurement between the pad and the center of the prop shaft. 

My old school dash speedo isn't working so this came from my GPS.  I will get the pad measurement later and not sure when I'll be on water that I can open it up again that I can know the rpms. 

Thanks for the help guys