Under Powered 2007 nitro 482 Please help

[sleeptech]

I have a 2007 nitro 482x bass boat with a 90hp optimax on it.  I totally regret not getting a bigger motor when i bought the boat new.  The trouble im having is that the boat takes forever to get out of the hole.  It has 21 pitch stainless prop on it.  I have talked to a few different shops about going to a 19 pitch prop but that will take away from the top speed which is farely slow already, tops out at 34mph.  What are my other options?  How bout a jack plate?? Is there any mods i can do to the optimax to make it faster or more powerful?? Any suggestions are welcome

[Way2slow]

First, don't assume a lower pitch prop will take away top speed, the right prop may actually increase top speed.  If the rpm is very much lower than the max recommended rpm, you could be loading the motor to the point it's not making peak hp, so going to a smaller pitch, high performance type prop could give you a few more mph.

Yes, a jackplate can help tune the setup, but it may not do anything to help the hole shot, unless you go to a hydraulic plate.  Then you can drop it down deep for hole shot and bring it up to tweek for top speed.  Just be sure you have a good, working water pressure guage when you install a jackplate.

NO to the mods.  They will void any warrenty and with that small of a motor on a heavy boat, you would never see enough gain to make any mods worth while. 

[sleeptech]

At top speed i am running 5200 rpm and i think the max rpm range is 5750.  What pitch prop would you suggest?

[burleytog]

This is why you never buy a boat from BPS/Tracker Marine and not max out the motor.

[sleeptech]

couldn't afford a bigger motor

[burleytog]

Save longer.

BPS/Tracker Marine is tricky.  People see a boat and see a nice 'low' price and think , 'Wow, that's cheap!'.  They buy, get on the water and wonder why their boat won't perform for crap.

And this is coming from someone with a Tracker powered by less than max HP.

[Fishing Rhino]

I had the same problem getting on plane.  A Nitro Z7 with a 150 Merc. 

A larger prop with more pitch 23 vs 20 solved the problem.  But, the motor was turning over 5000 while trying to get up on plane, and would over rev when on plane and the motor trimmed. 

The prop did not provide enough thrust.  Same problem, but a different solution.

I assume for takeoff your motor is trimmed all the way down.  If not, that will help.

If you have a vented prop, larger vent holes may help.  It will allow the prop to turn with less resistance.  The problem is, too large and it can cause cavitation.

A simple fix would be to move weight forward if possible.  That would help the boat get on plane, but possibly at the cost of some top end speed.

Boat speed and handling is a series of compromises, unless money is no problem.  Ninty horsepower can only do so much.  A four blade prop may help you get on plane faster than a three blade but at a cost of speed.

You need to find a wheel that will provide more thrust while allowing the motor to turn within, but not over the recommended rpm range at full throttle.

[George Welcome]

Simplest fix - hydro foil

[Nitrofreak]

First, don't assume a lower pitch prop will take away top speed, the right prop may actually increase top speed. If the rpm is very much lower than the max recommended rpm, you could be loading the motor to the point it's not making peak hp, so going to a smaller pitch, high performance type prop could give you a few more mph.

Yes, a jackplate can help tune the setup, but it may not do anything to help the hole shot, unless you go to a hydraulic plate. Then you can drop it down deep for hole shot and bring it up to tweek for top speed. Just be sure you have a good, working water pressure guage when you install a jackplate.

NO to the mods. They will void any warrenty and with that small of a motor on a heavy boat, you would never see enough gain to make any mods worth while.

Take my word for it way2slow knows a thing or two and you should really consider what he suggested

And forget about the jack plate it will not help the hole shot much at all.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with the hydraulic jack plate as giving you the maximum options out of your boat/motor combo. Expensive though! Have you played with the adjustment of your trim options?

First off, look at where your cavitation plate sits in relation to the bottom of the boat. If it's below the bottom, that's hurting your hole shot and top speed. A jack plate is probably a good remedy then.

A Doel Fin (hydrofoil) will solve your hole shot in a second. However, if your cavitation plate is not in the right position, you're going to loose top end speed dramatically.

Without having the right engine for the boat you have, everything you do from now on will cost you more bucks and give you less on the return. No way of getting around that I'm affraid.

[Way2slow]

A hydrofoil will help, even more so it has the right size prop. If you think you wanna try one, go with the SE Sport 200 or 300, which ever is recommended for your size motor. Right now, it's way over prop'd.

The best money you're going to spend up front is a good stainless prop that a lot smaller pitch than what you have. That motor only turning 5,200 rpm at WOT is killing any chance of having a good hole shot, regardless of what you do.

OOps, if you happen to see the Merc LaserII prop I just had a link to ebay on, forget it.  I just read the description and it was a left hand prop.  No good for your use.

A good LaserII in a 19" or possibly a 17" would make life much better on the water for you though.  This time of the year, you really want your rpm within 100 - 200 of max with your normal load.   You don't really want to go over right now because when it air and water gets cold again, you will gain a couple of hundred rpm.

[sleeptech]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys i really appreciate the help.  Im am gonna start by trying either a 19 or 20 pitch prop and see how that helps.  i will be back soon with an update

[Way2slow]

A 20 will most likely be a waste of time and money. Each inch of pitch will only give you approx 150 rpm.  Not sure how the merc props run but you should be looking at 17, 18 or 19 max.

Also, not just any prop, I would stronly recommend you try a LaserII or similar prop.  You want a high rake prop for max performance.

[sleeptech]

So each inch i drop in pitch i gain 150 rpm?? Rightnow i have a 21 pitch prop and am running 5200 rpm so if i go to a 19 i should be running 5500rpm correct? How close to the reccomended range should i get.  Mercury says max is 5750 so how close do i need to get to that ???

[Javelin200]

So each inch i drop in pitch i gain 150 rpm?? Rightnow i have a 21 pitch prop and am running 5200 rpm so if i go to a 19 i should be running 5500rpm correct? How close to the reccomended range should i get. Mercury says max is 5750 so how close do i need to get to that ???

As close as you can. 18 pitch would put you in the ball park.

[sleeptech]

what about a 4 blade prop? i found the one that mercury makes but its expensive.  Would the same rules apply to this prop as far as pitch goes???

[Way2slow]

Four blade props do help the hole shot a little, but because of the extra blade surface (drag) they usually reduce top end speed by a couple of mph.  I've have both, but have never really seen a big increase in hole shot with a 4 blade over a three blade.  I also always have my props custom tuned for my boat/motor combination so that could have a little to do with it.  Even having one tuned though, you still loose top end with a four blade prop.

Many dealers will let you leave a deposit and try a prop before you buy it (with the understanding you ARE going to buy one).  I would suggest trying a 19" Laser II and see if it gets you close to 5,700.   

You can always get it close and then have it tuned, but you're looking at approx another $300 to have one tuned.  I have all mine tuned but most people don't put enough importance in the prop to consider that.   However, when you look at the fact the prop is on the only thing that connects the motors power to the water, why wouldn't you.  Of course I'm also running a hellavalot more hp and speed so I tend to gain a little more from a perfectly matched prop.

[Iowa Matt]

Simplest fix - hydro foil

This was the single best purchase i have ever made for a boat back when I had my Tracker (also underpowered).  I can't tell you what a difference this made to my boat.  It was literally like night and day.  It planed in half the time and added 3-4mph to my top end (I assume because it added lift and got more hull out of the water).  It really is a very cheap way to make an underpowered boat act better.

Matt

[sleeptech]

Like i said guys thanks for all the helpful info.  I have one more question.  I live NC and cant seem to find anyone boat dealers in the area that take trade-ins on motors.  Do you guys know of anybody that does??  I dont mind traveling to nearby states.  Just let me know, thanks

[joeyd50]

Simplest fix - hydro foil

X2

I have a 1987 18.5' Skeeter with a 1975 85HP Johnson a hydro foil and 13X17 prop. I get on plane very fast and top out at 36MPH. The Hydro Foil is what I would try first, under $50.00

Good Luck

  Joe