Brand new mid hp motor?

[THEFERMANATOR]

You can always put a BAYSTAR steering kit on it. They aren't that horribly priced(compared to the SEASTAR system), and should be more than enough for that 115. Sounds like you need more HP. You need enough to push through the scary spot to get to the even faster speeds.

[RidgeRunner]

Nah, I'll pass on that. I was there when this vessel was built. It isn't designed properly to pack air and it never will be safe at ludicrous speed. It is too thin for that kind of pressure and I don't have a death wish. The good news is there are a plethora of real simple solutions to something like this. The least costly is to back off the go-go stick. OR If you jack the engine up with the jack plate 2.5" the problem goes away and she flys straight. Prop change will certainly change the driving behavior too. The motor will barely touch the limiter with the 21p Thunderbolt prop. (motor trimmed and jacked to the proper safe?? attitude..) I think I am going to try a 4-or5 blade prop just to see if the mileage is any different.

I still can't believe I finally bit the bullet and went 4-stroke, and new. I freakin hate payments, but I love the new engine too. It is starting to sink in. The quiet is starting to make me horny, kinda like the smell of 2-stroke oil..

[THEFERMANATOR]

If you have a hub kit, I have a HIGH FIVE old style(doesn't have the vent holes in it) 21 pitch you can try out. I swapped to the TROPHY PLUS when I had my flats boat to get more top end, but this HIGH FIVE got on plane in a HURRY! I could throw people back onto the deck unless I gave them a rope to hang onto. If it works out I'm sure I can work out a deal you'd be happy with.

[RidgeRunner]

Ferman, that is a great offer that I will take you up on. That is one of the ones I want to try as it happens. When they first came out in like 1987 we used to rig them on Carolina Skiffs with the 90 hp motors (smaller case) You could surface them and keep the boat moving across some very shallow waters. I recall they were very good on holding plane slow and I see that they have a following now from the ski boat crowd. Must have some good bite. Someone on S&F has one for sale, but I want to try one first. I was thinking of calling Ken @ Prop Gods and see what he thinks as well. You solved one problem. Maybe we could get together and get Patrick to the water for some fishing/swimming/testing.
Based on preliminary testing and some initial numbers, I believe it will be hard to top the 21P Thunderbolt. It is just a great prop (Mirage Copy without the Vent holes). Maybe the ECO Enertia like Big Shrimpin posted the other day. He gained 3 or 4 MPH at the same RPM switching from a Mirage to a one pitch higher Enertia. I really really want to try a Maximus straight tube. IIRC it has the Tempest blade rake and shape and the diffuser ring cut off would help give less stern lift. How about a 21 Chopper? Lots of choices..

[THEFERMANATOR]

I know when I ran the high five I have it was like a rocket out of the hole. Boat came up almost level without tabs. It gave a good deal of stern lift, and wasn't able to lift the bow much even trimmed up. It did hold plane at low speeds like nobodies business, and actually planed out slower than the TROPHY did. The reason I took it off was the boat hit a wall at 50. 1 or 5 people on board, it didn't matter, 52 was as fast as it would go(but it got there QUICK!). I was thinking maybe I could bum a ride or 2 with yeah, and call it a deal. It isn't doing me any good, just taking up space in my shed. As for taking Patrick, I don't think he would sit still long enough to do anything. He's an atomic rubber ball bouncing off the walls all day.

[RidgeRunner]

Great offer Ferman, I will take you up on that. No boating this weekend. Lots of soccer and a minor relapse of gut hurting..

[RidgeRunner]

Made it through the day. I hate food all over again.. 182 and falling fast
I was in Bass Pro Sunday walking around people watching and I noticed a guy walking around over by the boats that had the same kind of shirt that I was wearing, didn't think twice about it until I got a little closer and realized it was my own reflection in the glass. Scary when you don't recognize yourself in the mirror. BTW- They had ZERO selection in the Hydraulic Steering Department.. I think my marina has the Baystar at $650

Sucks cutting fresh ty-wraps. Just when you thought it was over and done with.. Everything, and I mean every wire in the boat is ty-wrapped to the freaking steering cable. I used the steering head to mount a couple terminal blocks for power distribution. No more cable steering means I will need to do a little more reconfiguring,,