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Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 12:25 pm
by Tallykenj
I have a new boat. I've had it for about five months. I'm trying to get the best performance possible. I have been reading some information about engine heights and I'm wondering if mine is a little too low. I've read that that cativation plate should barely be above the water when on plane; it should be getting splashed but not under water. I think mine is about two inches under water. Should I raise mine a knotch or so? What are others using as a guide for measuring proper height? I hear that if I raise it too much it will impact my ability to trim the boat and it may increase cativation when underway, especially in rough water or in turns in at a high speed. I might also damage the water pump.

Thanks.

Ken

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:00 pm
by lakerunner
I would hope dealer set it up for best overall performance. I would run it a while and be sure that if raised it won't create cavitation problems.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 5:23 pm
by Bamaman
RPM's? MPH? Any prop blowout when you hit a tight turn?

Congratulations on buying such a first class boat/engine combo. With the investment you've made, you deserve to have the setup @ 100% efficiency.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 7:27 pm
by Tallykenj
I'm running with a 14" prop at 6000 WOT and 37 MPH. When turn about 90 degrees on occasion in a navigational channel, I have shortly encountered blow outs whe plane with about a 5 to 10 trim angle.

Thanks for the compliment about the boat. I can't believe I spent the amount of money it cost but my family and absolutely I love it. We are on it one to two times every weekend.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 8:23 pm
by fwood
Tallykenj wrote:I have a new boat. I've had it for about five months. I'm trying to get the best performance possible. I have been reading some information about engine heights and I'm wondering if mine is a little too low. I've read that that cativation plate should barely be above the water when on plane; it should be getting splashed but not under water. I think mine is about two inches under water. Should I raise mine a knotch or so? What are others using as a guide for measuring proper height? I hear that if I raise it too much it will impact my ability to trim the boat and it may increase cativation when underway, especially in rough water or in turns in at a high speed. I might also damage the water pump.

Thanks.

Ken
Nice boat Ken, congrats. You might check the Verado website for what is recommended for motor height. I think you will find what you have already stated and your motor is a bit low. I've heard and practice setting the motor height to have the Anti Ventilation plate be visible in the prop wash with the boat on plane and trimmed. You may also find as I have on several different boats, including my present pontoon boat, that you will need to trim down the motor some on hard aggressive turns to prevent or lessen blowout of the prop and you could also need to do the same thing sometimes in certain water conditions. You certainly do not want the motor height to be so high that is compromises water intake for cooling. Lots of information on the Verado website with photo examples.
From what you are saying, I would think that you could raise the motor one or even two holes and probably add pitch too and get more performance.
I would recommend you take some photos of the AV Plate area on plane and trimmed and contact Ken at Propgods.com I don't think you'll be sorry for doing that. Ken is very good.
This photo is how I run my Etec motor height.
Image

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:41 pm
by GregF
Pontoons (2 tube) are different than monohulls. You can mount the engine quite high and still get clean water to the prop. As was mentioned, the down side is that in a turn you can be starving the prop because it is in the wake of the outboard pontoon when the boat yaws


Image

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Wed Oct 19, 2011 10:43 pm
by GregF
A fix for that might be to move the motor pod farther back ... if you have that option. You will get more squat tho.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:17 am
by Leisure Kraft
Although I applaud you for wanting to be a part of the fix (and ready to get out there with tools in hand) I'd suggest--given the cost/newness of your rig--that you let the dealer deal with any initial configurations like this. In theory, they know what they're doing. You might be able to arrange a time when somebody there can meet you at the lake with a standard load of stuff so that they'll know the weight that you're running with. (Often, they might set everything up with just a single technician so the weight will be a few hundred pounds less.)

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:01 pm
by wedge542
ken,what prop you got on it now?

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:39 pm
by Tallykenj
I have a 14" Mercury SS Enertia prop. I also raised the engine a hole. Everything is finally fine. I'm able to get up to 6100 WOT and 39 MPH with just me in the boat along with nearly 40 gallons of fuel.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:19 pm
by wedge542
what pitch? im running a merc 225 black max 16x11p 5850rpm can you put a bigger diameter prop on yours,just asking because you can do away with the steer tab, install a plug and go bigger diameter if needed.

Re: Engine height?

Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 6:28 pm
by Tallykenj
Sorry, I meant to say the pitch is 14. I'm not sure of the diameter. I'll have to check the box the prop came in. I'm also not aware of any other options. According to Merc, this is the lowest pitch prop recommended for my engine. Sorry I don't have more info for you.