Tritoon - Jack Plate or Not?

[Southerntoon]

I greatly appreciate everybody's help and advice. The boat is presently in a slip at a local marina. I am going to pull it out this weekend to get started and will post some pics then. Once again Thank You!

[Southerntoon]

Ok Finally got the boat out of the water and got some pictures of the motor area and where it is mounted. Please let me know what you think?

Photo Link

http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/h47 ... er%20Boat/

[Bryden24shp]

Oh Ya, you're way too low. I would bring it up 3 holes and run it. You'll notice a hell of a difference, do the same thing, take a look at it when running. If its still under, go the last hole. I think you'll be very close, though! You can do yours the easy way... Grab a buddy and put a floor jack with a block of wood under the skeg. remove the top bolts, have your buddy hold the motor, loosen the lower bolts and then carefully jack up the motor with the floor jack. My Verado was too high on the trailer to do it like this, but I did my Manitou and other OB boats, this way alot. Takes maybe... 15 minutes.
Let us know the results!
Bryan

[Bamby]

I'm also with Bryan but if you have any comfort level what-so-ever please consider rerouting the motor harness wiring in the photo below before you manage to snag it on something and really be dead on the water. And as an additional benefit it could also give you some more additional performance.

[curtiscapk]

Wow nice catch BAMBY!!!

[Texoma Toon]

Under skinning would be a help also.

[JDB]

A proper underskinning job should be priority #1.
The cables are going through HELL when you are @ speed.
The area on the front of the motor mount towards the deck area is very poorly designed in requards to speed and efficiency IMO.
Lots of sheet metal work needed.

[Southerntoon]

Ok raised motor up three holes - hole next to last. Seems to run out better and rpms are up however I think that is just because the motor is higher out of the water. I seem to be going backwards in mph numbers - before with me the wife and kids I could get 40mph at 5000 rpms. 4 blade 14.25 x 17 prop. Today I only got up to 30 mph at 5300-5400 rpms. I also tried a loaner 3 blade 14.25 x 17 prop and it felt better by same 30 mph at wide open throttle. Trimmed out at 5400 rpms is 30 mph - anymore trim and my rpms go up but the mph goes down.

I did attempt to adjust my throttle cable a little - maybe I adjusted it the wrong way. either way todays numbers are worse than when I started trying to figure this out. Quick reminder previous owner who lost the boat to the finance company claims he was running a merc 225 optimax with a 15.25x22 prop at 5750 rpms and 62mph. Not looking for these numbers but hoping for consistent 40-45 mph.

Did I raise the motor to much - todays photos attached.

<a href="http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/h47 ... t=New1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h47 ... 0/New1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1111.photobucket.com/albums/h47 ... t=new2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1111.photobucket.com/albums/h47 ... 0/new2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Southerntoon]

[Bryden24shp]

Drop it a hole, now. See what happens. Is that bottom picture takin at WOT? Still looks too far down, in that picture. Was the speed at 5400 speedo or GPS?

[Southerntoon]

I am using both gps and the speedo in the dash - they are only maybe 1-2 mph in difference. I can not remember if we were at wot or not but close. I am going to retest again tomorrow and let you know. I appreciate your help.

[Southerntoon]

[Bryden24shp]

Go by the transom. You have plenty of adjustment to go before the water pickups would pose a problem. Once you find the right position, you'll be good.