New 1448 Grizzly 20 HP Suzuki motor

[WPCfishing]

I have the motor on a TH mini plate.

back 3 up 1.5” above the keel. 
prop is a 9.25x9 OEM.

Hole shots are slow, can’t get enough lift at the rear, the bow won’t turn over. It’s up about 6” to much.

Does anyone have a similar 1448 setup that can offer me some solid information so I can dial in the performance? 
 

Thanks 

[haggard]

Congrats on your 1448 Grizzly! I bought that boat new several years ago and loved it, put a 1976 15hp 2-stroke on it. It was a slug, only got up to 8 mph, but that wasn't unexpected. If you've got the all welded aluminum version, that comes with fairly thick aluminum if I recall. I think the max rating on the boat is 25 hp. Boat is great build quality and layout but seems a little heavy and could probably use the max 25 hp. My 1448 got crashed into after only a few months and I really miss it.

 

I thought my short shaft motor might not be getting far enough down below the water line so I converted it to a long shaft, but still no difference at all. I think the critical thing for these boats is to use the max hp, and to get as much weight forward as you can (battery, gas tank) instead of putting them in the well at the rear. Especially if you're running a tiller steer and sitting at the stern. In short, I'd guess the boat is stern heavy.

 

[Tim Kelly]

I have a 20 suzuki on my 12ft John boat that's fitted out like a mini bass boat, so it's fairly heavy. I have my motor on the transom and run it with the cavitation plate pretty much level with the bottom of the boat. Your jack plate it taking the weight further back, which is probably not helping. I would try putting some weight in the front of the boat to see whether it will get over the hump with better balance. I use a 10p prop, a 9p is slightly quicker on plane, but hits the rev limiter. I have recently re-fitted a whale tail thing to the motor as it helps lift the stern.

[Hower08]

Get anti cav plate level with bottom of hull. Your motor is to high and likely cavitating. With a 25 hp on a 16 foot bass boat I was running mid 20s and with a 9.9 4 stroke on a jackplate I was running mid teens. on a 14 32 Jon with a 9.9 I'm running 17 with me and my son. You should be up around 20 mph with that boat 

[WPCfishing]

I've had the motor Up 1.5" and at level. Batteries are up front. If I'm alone in the boat I get a fair to good hole shot. If I have another with me they have to sit up front or th boat will not plane. I'm very disappointed with the boat and what I was told by the sales and service employee's at Bass Pro Shop where I bought it. I was told I had to have a long shaft. That meant having to add the Jack plate to get the motor up high enough. The transom is 18". 

I'm going with a steering console so They should have recomended the short 15" which from the clamp to the cavitaion plate is only a1/2" above the keel. Most are 17.5 the longs are closer to 22". Apparently like with  most things these days. We have to do our reseach and not rely on sales or service people. Bottom line is the bad information is going to cost me about $1000.00-$1500.00 in money lost. Not to mention all the props I had to buy to try based on uninformed suggestions. The Grizzly 1448 at capacity is 1350 pounds. It truly requires a 30 HP motor with a short shaft and trim and tilt. That's what I'll be buying for it.

Have to sell a new Suzuki 20 HP motor with 4-5 hours on it.