Tritoon set-up

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Luke0351
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Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:17 pm

Tritoon set-up

#1 Post by Luke0351 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:54 pm

Hello folks! I am new to the forum and need some help setting up my boat. It's been trying to say the least. Hope someone can help. Here's what I know...

2017 Starcraft SLS3 tritoon, Mercury 150 Four Stroke, lifting strikes on all three toons.

1st set up from dealer was motor set all the way down, Alum 16p prop, WOT 5000RPM, 36MPH

2nd attempt moved motor to middle hole in transom, 5100RPM and 35MPH

3rd try did a prop change to enertia 14.7x16P SS and got 5150RPM and 37MPH

4th and current set up is motor as high as it will go, 4800RPM and 32MPH

All test are 2 people, 45 gallon fuel load, similar weather and lake conditions, top down, trim generally all the way up seemed to give the best top end.

The question is mainly shouldn't the RPM's be higher? Seems like I'm leaving a lot of power somewhere.
Thinking of dropping the motor back down and going to a 15x15 enertia. I would greatly appreciate any help!

DWRAT
Posts: 142
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:17 pm
Location: Phx,AZ

Re: Tritoon set-up

#2 Post by DWRAT » Tue Jul 18, 2017 5:34 pm

My best setup is with a Enertia 15X15 with the motor plate even with the bottom of the boat.
I get 5300 rpm with a 15 and I got 5700 with a 14 but lost 1 mph with the 14 and used more GHP at max RPM.
2012 SouthBay 722CRO 115hp Merc 4-stroke. Edit, make that a 150hp Merc 4-stroke now.

captain28570
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Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 9:49 pm
Location: Baton Rouge LA

Re: Tritoon set-up

#3 Post by captain28570 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 5:42 pm

Max rpms is 5800. You leaving a lot of rpms on the table. Seems like you are lucky to get within 200 rpms of the max of these 4 strokes. 15 pitch seems pretty common on the merc and Yamaha 150's.
2017 22 Manitou Aurora LE SHP Tritoon Evinrude G2 HO 150

Luke0351
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:17 pm

Re: Tritoon set-up

#4 Post by Luke0351 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:15 pm

Thank you! I spoke with one of the mechanics at a dealer other than mine and he said the same. Could go to 14 but would lose top end. Probably try the 15 and drop the motor down. Slippage was the least at deepest setting so I'll try that combo and see how it works. Hope to be at or near 40 MPH.

DWRAT
Posts: 142
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:17 pm
Location: Phx,AZ

Re: Tritoon set-up

#5 Post by DWRAT » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:31 pm

[quote="Luke0351"]Thank you! I spoke with one of the mechanics at a dealer other than mine and he said the same. Could go to 14 but would lose top end. Probably try the 15 and drop the motor down. Slippage was the least at deepest setting so I'll try that combo and see how it works. Hope to be at or near 40 MPH.[/quote]


You will probably be around 38 mph with a regular everyday load.
2012 SouthBay 722CRO 115hp Merc 4-stroke. Edit, make that a 150hp Merc 4-stroke now.

Luke0351
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:17 pm

Re: Tritoon set-up

#6 Post by Luke0351 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 6:35 pm

I can live with that.

DWRAT
Posts: 142
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:17 pm
Location: Phx,AZ

Re: Tritoon set-up

#7 Post by DWRAT » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:43 pm

BTW, you stated you were going back to the deepest setting for the motor.
What you want is the anti cavitation plate to be even with the bottom of your center toon/motor pod.
A 15 Enertia will put you right where you want to be.
2012 SouthBay 722CRO 115hp Merc 4-stroke. Edit, make that a 150hp Merc 4-stroke now.

captain28570
Posts: 85
Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2016 9:49 pm
Location: Baton Rouge LA

Re: Tritoon set-up

#8 Post by captain28570 » Tue Jul 18, 2017 8:45 pm

I have only used my boat 2 times because Etec has some stuff to fix. I have a 22 Manitou Tritoon with an Etec G2 150 HO. My boat is heavy at 2650 dry weight. I got 43 MPH with a 18 pitch Rebel turning 5700 rpms with 2 people an 10 gallons of fuel. Rebel isn't the fastest or best Evinrude prop. With 4 people and 45 gallons of fuel I got 40 WOT. Motor is on the bottom hole. So it can come up some.

Dealer tried a 18 pitch Viper, he got over 45 WOT by himself. The gear ratio on the Etec is 2.17 so I can turn more pitch.
2017 22 Manitou Aurora LE SHP Tritoon Evinrude G2 HO 150

Bamaman
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Re: Tritoon set-up

#9 Post by Bamaman » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:31 pm

Transom holes are just relative as every manufacturer has a different design toon or engine pod. And different brands of motors and different horse motors have different gear ratios. The Merc 150 FojrStroke redlines slightly less Roma than a F150 Yamaha but has .15:1 different gear ratio.

From the past rpm's posted, you need an Enertia 14 pitch prop to get it to your redline. And you probably need the motor mounted all the way down. You will see your best speeds with 10-15 gallons and 2 people in October. Summer speeds are somewhat slower.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

DWRAT
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Re: Tritoon set-up

#10 Post by DWRAT » Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:59 pm

[quote="Bamaman"]
From the past rpm's posted, you need an Enertia 14 pitch prop to get it to your redline. [/quote]


Wrong..............
A 14 is NOT what you want.....
I have a Merc 150 4-stroke and I have both 14 and 15 Enertia props.
However, if you want to go slower, burn more fuel and be at your max rpm or even on your rev limiter maybe you do want a 14 pitch???????
2012 SouthBay 722CRO 115hp Merc 4-stroke. Edit, make that a 150hp Merc 4-stroke now.

ron nh
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Re: Tritoon set-up

#11 Post by ron nh » Wed Jul 19, 2017 6:56 am

It's to individual based on boat weight, size and different manufacturers set ups to really make blanket statements. I've heard more mechanics recommend the 15x14 for the merc 150 than anything else. But that won't be the case on every boat.
2015 Qwest LS 818XRE Tri-toon w/mercury 115.

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wwind3
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Re: Tritoon set-up

#12 Post by wwind3 » Wed Jul 19, 2017 7:07 am

[quote="captain28570"]I have only used my boat 2 times because Etec has some stuff to fix. I have a 22 Manitou Tritoon with an Etec G2 150 HO. My boat is heavy at 2650 dry weight. I got 43 MPH with a 18 pitch Rebel turning 5700 rpms with 2 people an 10 gallons of fuel. Rebel isn't the fastest or best Evinrude prop. With 4 people and 45 gallons of fuel I got 40 WOT. Motor is on the bottom hole. So it can come up some.

Dealer tried a 18 pitch Viper, he got over 45 WOT by himself. The gear ratio on the Etec is 2.17 so I can turn more pitch.[/quote]

Impressive numbers---is that GPS speed? Or boat speedo... Impressed you can spin an 18 inch pitch that fast... ETEC is a 2-stroke right? They seem to be faster than the 4 strokes////
2009 LOWE SS204 25in logs
90 Merc Optimax
Motorguide W55 Wireless
Underskinning
28 GPS

DWRAT
Posts: 142
Joined: Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:17 pm
Location: Phx,AZ

Re: Tritoon set-up

#13 Post by DWRAT » Wed Jul 19, 2017 2:53 pm

[quote="ron nh"]It's to individual based on boat weight, size and different manufacturers set ups to really make blanket statements. I've heard more mechanics recommend the 15x14 for the merc 150 than anything else. But that won't be the case on every boat.[/quote]

Not really in my case.
I own both a 14 pitch and a 15 pitch Enertia.
With the 14 pitch I get 5,700 RPM and 38 mph and burn 14.6 gallons per hour wide open.
With the 15 pitch I get 5,350 RPM and 39-40 mph and I burn 13.6 gallons per hour wide open.
So everyone who says you want to be at max RPM, my question is why???
At max RPM I am burning 1 gallon per hour more and going 1 mph slower....
2012 SouthBay 722CRO 115hp Merc 4-stroke. Edit, make that a 150hp Merc 4-stroke now.

crookedlaker
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Location: angola IN

Re: Tritoon set-up

#14 Post by crookedlaker » Wed Jul 19, 2017 3:15 pm

I have a harris sunliner triton with a 150 merc
I am running 38 mph at 5400 RPM under ideal conditions with a 15 pitch prop
I looked at the merc performance pages and noticed that the harris boats are running a 14 pitch on most of the boats at 38 to 40 mph
I will be trying a 14 pitch this weekend and will report back.
it does seem that the 15 pitch is most common but I am curious to try the 14 pitch

Mike
2017 Harris Sunliner 200
Tri-toon P+ Package
2017 Mercury 150 4 stroke

2014 Harris Cruiser 200 Sold!!
2014 Mercury 90 four stroke (120 HP via Simon Motorsports) Sold!!

Luke0351
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Joined: Tue Jul 18, 2017 1:17 pm

Re: Tritoon set-up

#15 Post by Luke0351 » Wed Jul 19, 2017 4:44 pm

Update... tried a bunch of stuff today. Realize that a 16p on the merc 150 no matter engine position just won't turn more than about 5100-5200.

Settled on middle mount hole which put cav plate at surface of water at WOT, ran 5000rpm and got 34 on gps. Dead calm water, 95 degrees, 2 people 40 gallons of fuel. Speed was disappointing but performance in all was good. Thinking 14p will get me to 5600 rpm just afraid to lose speed.

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