Motor Height ??? (NF)

[tizfun]

Hey all, my buddy just called me and was looking into the transom of his 2001 Pike 16 and saw that the newer (2006) 115 Optimax he had installed on his boat last fall is sitting on the 3rd hole from the top of the transom...

 

When he had the (2001) 90 4 stroke, it was sitting on the 2nd hole from the top..

Just curious ? is his newer 115 sitting too high ?? Are the hole patterns not the same ??

 

We took it out and the 115 hp ran slower that his 90 hp did ??

Any help would be much appreciated..

Tiz

[Fisherman]

Hole patterns can definitely be different. As long as the cavitation plate is about even with the bottom of the hull, all shoud be be well.

[Muskieman]

^^^^ YEP

[Bernie]

The less of the skeg in the water, the better. Less friction.

As long as it doesn't blow out on turns or cavitate too easy, it's all good.

 

Shouldn't run slower.

I'd be looking at propellers and RPM's and see if it's correct for the boat.

Edited April 20, 2014 by Bernie

[doubleheader]

Best way to tell is to plane the boat and trim the motor. Does it blow out excessively when turning? On the other hand, are you creating excess drag with the vent plate?

[tizfun]

Thanks for all the tips everyone... Waiting to take it out again, this time he's got a 17 pitch 4 blade Trophy and a 21 pitch Laser II that we're going to try... The prop that he got with the motor was a Michigan Wheel 19 pitch and the blades seem to be so thick compared to the SST's..

 

The cavitation plate it about 1/2 higher that the bottom of the boat... So it looks to be installed correctly.

 

Thanks again,