some new stuff

[OleRed]

I hope it works. You should get a chance to get a good look at it from behind next summer. lol

I think you will be putting the jack plate back on the boat to put the prop back in the water, David is right, a low water pick-up would be a must for that set-up.  Cutting that transom down would be a tough job on that boat, it's tough, and was built to suport that motor on the jack plate.   Have you noticed that most all the high performance boats, bass boats, and a lot of off-shore boats are running jack plates to improve the speed and performance of their boats, and the one's that are not running jack plates have a design in the hull and stern with the same effect as a fixed jack plate.   Here is a good artical about the jack plates .. http://www.trailerboats.com/output.cfm?id=2087029

Before I modified the transom on my boat, I priced all the set back and raised systems they use on Mercruiser drives, and the cost was between $5000 and $7000 bucks, thats why I modified my transom,  I set the motor and drive back 5" and raised it 3" and got the same increase in speed and performance the boats with the high dollar components got, after an extensive prop selection process was achieved.  

I'm no design engineer for Sure, but I have run a Lot of boats, and made a lot of mistakes, and I'm still learning, but I know you want to get the boat on plane, the prop has got to be in the water, and if ya want to go fast, the prop has to run shallow, finding the "sweet spot" to achieve both can easilly be done with a jack plate.

[Jerry]

I thought the guy with the biggest rooster tail wins!

I have been told by people that should know it will work. My first concern, as it should be with everyone is safety. I have a hot foot so I don't have to fumble to find the throttle, or keep a hand on it. I have a double helm steering and solid mounts on the motor which with the lower profile should eliminate chine walk. I don't want to get tossed out, but if I do there will be a dead man switch. and I never go fast without a PFD. I would rather be the last one back to the dock than the one that didn't come back.  Time will tell.

[David CVX-16]

I am not putting a jack plate on my V-153 because it would add more stress to the transom. Will also use a transom support (a aluminum plate) between the two top bolts and another aluminum plate between the two bottom bolts, both made by TH Marine. A visit to a local marine store confirms that they also use the TH Marine aluminum plates on high horsepower Mercury outboards mounted on their fishing boats. I intend to raise the outboard motor about 1 - 1/2" off the transom to start with and test props. Each mounting hole on the Merc is 3/4" apart. I have 7 different props to test, two bronze and five stainless steel, all 21" and 22" pitches and will record MPH and RPM readings with all of them. The redline with the 1988 Merc is 5,500 but limited periods of revs to 5,700 and 5,800 are common. I also plan on running rich on the oil mixture.

I know that faster speeds are possible with a jackplate because it also acts as a lever to get the bow of the boat up and balance it better.

Will investigate the dead man's switch idea. I have been tossed out of one boat in my life. Another idea is for all of us to wear life preservers. We may have our boat under control but can not control someone else from hitting us.  

[dorelse]

I'm also adding a dead man's switch...its happened to others before...get tossed out, boat goes into a death circle and runs over the driver or passengers...who...can't dive under b/c of the lifejacket.

Not a good way to go...

[Jerry]

Just to let everyone know about my battle with the Post Office. I got the return signature card in the mail today (2 days) I also got the Spee-Dee tracking number. It should be here Friday. - - - unless - - -

If you come to breakfast Saturday you could come over and look at it. I might even let a couple touch it.

[Jerry]

It was shipped yesterday afternoon. Got here today at 3:30. Spee-Dee man.

[dorelse]

A UPS box delivered by SPEE-DEE Delivery?

That's a good looking box there...assume we're gonna see pictures of the real thing soon?


BTW Jerry, its just me for Saturday...I'm ditching the kids.

[Jerry]

You bet.





Anybody need peanuts?

[V153]

Hmm, me like. Very cool Jerry.

[Burnin Daylight]

Jerry is this like your dual cable steereing?

[CVX Fever]

I hope it works. You should get a chance to get a good look at it from behind next summer.

Just remember Jerry, no turning around and going home after the parade this year. Your making the run to Pepin! .......LOL

[Hydronut]

Hi Jerry,

I have run boats with the motor very high on the transom. You will get to the point that getting out of the hole is hard to do. Also a low water pick up is needed to get cooling. Also a surface type prop will be needed to run if the prop is half way out of the water. The plus side is a lot of the boat will be out of the water and very high top end speed is possible. You also will need a hot foot throttle or some other type of dead man trottle. Note: a lot of the boats that are doing this type of set up have a pad on the boat to ride on. Just my two cents.

[Jerry]

Got it covered.

[Retro Performance]

Heres some info from Mercurys "Everything You Need To Know About Propellers"  43 page book, if anybody wants to see the whole thing let me know. Jerry,  When the lakes get bumpy again if you need a chopper or a cleaver to test let me know. I am interested to see how that cockpit setback runs.

[Jerry]

I really think a 4 blade would help with cavitation and stability. I have twin helm steering and solid mounts so I shouldn't have much chine walk, but a 4 blade is smoother? After over 10 years of drag racing I tend to get the engine dialed in and making as much horsepower as it can before I start playing with props unless I'm just way off on my thinking 23-25P I want to prop for 60 at 6 grand (or 50 at 5). If ya do what everyone else does, you will run like everyone else.

I just got it all wired. T&T and bilge pumps are on the center council, Everything else goes through the switch. The fuel pump and Ign go through the dead-man switch. I still have a water pressure gauge on back-order.

[Retro Performance]

The boat is looking great!  23-25 sounds right, what are you predicting for top speed?

[Jerry]

shootin' for 60.