| 01
Bullet 21XD |
Q:
Todd, I have read in your tips that I should expect 85 mph with the
XB. I |
| 01
Merc 250XB |
cannot get near that, even empty.
I don't know the prop height in relation to the pad, |
| |
but it is 3 clicks up on the
RapidJack. Any higher and I cavitate as I rollover on the |
| 26"
Powertech |
holeshot and water pressure drops to
12 psi. Loaded to fish with 2 guys (500# total), |
| 14"
jackplate |
tackle (about 100#), and fuel will
only get around 78 mph. |
| 80.2
mph @ 6000 |
The Powertech was supposed to be
modified to handle the heavier load. I am 700 |
| 15#
psi |
miles from the dealer, so trying a lot
of props is very difficult. I also have a tough |
| |
time hitting the rev limiter under any
conditions. Any advice? |
| |
A:
I hope I'm not going over something you've already done...but....the
XB will pull |
| |
strong up to 6400....you need more
r's. I don't know what Merc props you've run |
| |
but I'd look at the 25" Trophy to
give some more rpms.....I have run Powertechs |
| |
in the past but I don't have broad
knowledge on what they should do....plus I've |
| |
never seen a speed report involving
one. |
| |
You need to go ahead and straight edge
your pad to lower unit and see exactly |
| |
where you are height wise.....you
should be about 1/2" above pad. Plus....I wouldn't |
| |
let on plane venting control my final
setup where speed is concerned....let the thing |
| |
slip if it will gain 3-4 mph on the
top.....plus 12 psi is norm for the XB.....the scoops |
| |
on the torquemaster will keep water
fed to it. |
| |
The one thing on your side is that 70%
of all big bassboats have Merc props..... |
| |
start borrowing.....take your
propwrench to the lake and borrow all you want....if |
| |
you're too low now the 26" might
work....1/2" above pad.....measure now! |
| |
And don't let holeshot dictate your
top end. |
| 96
Bullet 21XDC |
Q:
I need some help. I have a '96 Bullet 21XDC, Mariner Mag III
200hp with a |
| 96
Mariner Mag III |
JC's nosecone and solid motor mounts.
12" RapidJack, motor mounted in the top |
| |
hole (as low as it can go) and jacked
up about half way (best speed, light load). |
| 26"
Trophy |
The prop's a Trophy 26" large
hub, good shape, been worked by a well-known |
| Large
Hub |
prop guy, altitude is ~ 500 feet, air
temp 75-80 degrees. Driver and gear 300 lbs |
| 12"
RapidJack |
+ trolling motor, 3 batteries, 36 gal.
gas. Empty livewells. Hole shot is fine, but top |
| 1.5"
above the pad |
speed is only 69.2 mph (gps) at 6200
rpm. Not much rooster tail (ranges from none |
| 69.2
mph @ 6200 |
to cowl high). My question; why amy I
getting so much prop slip? Do I need |
| 20#
psi |
additional setback, different prop or
??? John Webb's setups lead me to believe I |
| |
should be up around 74 mph. Local
dealer just wants to sell me a bigger motor, and |
| |
I won't do that except as a last
resort. Any help is very much appreciate, thanks. |
| |
A:
My first recommendation is to get your hands on a stock unworked or
modified |
| |
prop and establish a baseline for your
current setup. I would recommend the |
| |
25" Tempest for your rig....but
try to get another 26" large hub Trophy so you'll |
| |
know exactly what's going on. |
| |
The nosecone is hurting you as far as
lift is concerned at that speed....you probably |
| |
need it for h2o intake tho.
Lowering the engine if the new prop runs the same speed |
| |
is not a bad thing.....it will counter
what the cone is hurting to some extent. |
| |
I don't have a lot of 21XD
experience.....but the 200 should have it at 72+ pretty |
| |
easy.....we just need to get the setup
more efficient and I think a factory prop will |
| |
show improvement right away. |
| Bullet
20XDC |
Q:
I plan on ordering my first Bullet soon, a 20XDC with a 2.5 280 Merc. |
| 280
Merc |
What setup do you recommend including
jackplate brand, size, height, etc. |
| |
Thank you for your time. |
| |
A:
This one will be easy! 14" RapidJack set at 1.5" over
pad....you'll need a |
| |
26" Trophy for fishing and my
favorite speed/fish prop....the 28" Spinelli DR..... |
| |
maybe a 27" to keep it
consistently in the 7500 rpm range. |
| |
When it comes to fast props....there
are tons of offerings.....the SRX done by DAH |
| |
is good, the Mazco's are very good and
affordable and the plain ol' Merc choppers |
| |
do well. You'll spend lots ot
time just experimenting with performance props but |
| |
the 26" small hub Trophy will be
hard to beat for a TX loaded go fast prop. |
| 02 Bullet 20
XDC |
Q:
I'm thinking about buying this dream boat in the spring. Todd,
what do you |
| 02 225 Yamaha |
think about putting the 3.1 225 Yamaha
on it. I know it's a little heavier than the |
| |
2.5 Mercs but I like Yamaha.
What do you think about this option and what type |
|
27" Yamaha Pro
|
of speed should I expect? |
|
12" RapidJack
|
A:
The 3.1 would be better suited to the 21 XDC......while not the
optimum engine |
| |
for the 20, it will still do very
well....it's at low speed that you will encounter any |
| |
problems.....not at top end....at
least not as much. |
| |
I think you'll be over-revving the 225
with a 27"....you will need to look at the |
| |
28" Trophy by Merc to get it
within tolerable limits. A nosecone would be |
| |
advisable also since I think 80-82
will be the speed......expect to spend $450. with |
| |
JC's.....the only cone to have! |
| 95 Bullet
20XD |
Q:
I was wondering about an all around speed and fishing prop? So
far I've ran a |
| 93 2.5 280
Merc |
26" Trophy at 90 mph @ 8000 rpm,
also a 28 Chopper II at 7500 @ 93 mph. |
| |
All my runs were with a load.
But someone told me I should be running better. |
|
14" jackplate
|
A guy told me to change my 1.87 gears
to 1.75 and get a 28 Chopper modified to |
| |
an ET cut by JC's Prop Shop. He
told me his friend has the same setup as me and |
| |
runs 102 with that prop and gears with
2 people on board. Chris Bond at Crown |
| |
Leisure Marine told me to run a
30" ET Lightning prop, the only thing is the load |
| |
carrying ability. Like I said, I
need an all around prop. Should I be running better |
| |
than I am with my setup? Also,
what about a Spinelli? The only thing is Paul Nichols |
| |
always runs 31's and 32's and hauls
ass. What about rpms, I should be at 7500- |
| |
8000 at speed. Your help would
help...thanks. |
| |
A:
My 28" DR Spinelli carries a load very well. My 26"
Trophy carries a load |
| |
better. My 29" Mazco is fast but
has virtually no carrying ability at all. |
| |
I'd like to see you try a 28"
Trophy....it has triple digit capability along with the load |
| |
carry capacity also. There are
tons of options here...the 29 SRX by DAH will run |
| |
the speed and carry a load...the Mazco
RE4 will do the deal also. My personal all |
| |
time fave is the 28" DR
Spinelli....my stock 2.5 EFI will spin it 7400 rigged to fish.... |
| |
good for low-mid 90's. There are
numerous gear and case combo's to try, but all |
| |
are very costly. The 1.75's will
make it long legged...but will hurt on hi rev holeshot. |
| |
What case do you have now? |
| 99 Bullet
21XD |
Q:
Tried to raise the engine, boat lost speed. I am running a
set of 1:75 gears in |
| 99 225 Merc
EFI |
the lower unit and with a loaded boat
it runs like a dog. For some reason I tried a |
| |
22" Trophy and I got the same rpm
and only 70 mph. I don't know what to do. |
|
25" Tempest
|
People have said that I need to change
the gears in the lower unit to get more rpm |
|
14" jackplate
|
which in turn means more speed in some
cases. Please help - the boat has seen |
|
1" below ? the pad
|
81 mph with this setup and no fishing
rods and boxes. The 225 has been worked on. |
|
75 mph @ 5800
|
A:
75 mph is exactly what speed you should get with the 25" Tempest
at 5800...... |
|
22# psi
|
but you should be spinning a 26"
to about 6000. |
| |
The 1:75 ratio in the 3 liter gearcase
is a very good set of gears for the 21'....not the |
| |
problem. True, a 1:87 ratio
would turn more rpms, but all things being equal, the |
| |
1:75 is longer legged and will spin
less at higher speeds. What has been done to the |
| |
case? 22# psi is more h20 than
I've ever seen on a 3 liter....has it been coned? |
| |
If it were mine, I'd be running a
26" Trophy, not the 25" Tempest.....tell me about |
| |
the gearcase and if the 1" is
above or below the pad, not exactly sure because of the |
| |
way that you filled out the form.
|
| 01 Bullet
21XDC |
Q:
Todd, I have recently sold my Triton TR22 with 300 Merc. In
a very few weeks |
| 01 250XB Merc |
my 2001 Bullet 21XDC with a 2001 Merc
250 XB will be here. Could you give me |
| |
some info for top performance setup,
what prop to use and what I should expect |
|
14" jackplate
|
out of the boat. I love to be in
front of this bunch of N.GA boys. Thanks for |
| |
everything you have to offer. |
| |
A:
Now that's a BOAT !! The props to run will be the 27"
Tempest and 28" |
| |
Trophy.....most depends on the load
and driving style. Expect 85 loaded to fish |
| |
and almost 90 when light and ready to
run.... |
| |
I assume you have a torquemaster on
the XB....if you have a choice, go with the |
| |
sportmaster....you'll be fast enough
to need it. Set the propshaft at 1" under the pad |
| |
with a TM and 1/2" above with a
SM. The torquemaster can do OK to low 80's, |
| |
but for comfort over long hi speed
runs I recommend a cone....actually a JC's cone |
| |
job on a torquemaster is one of the
best combos there is to be had. |
| |
The 21' can take the roughest water
and the 250 will put you in front of everything |
| |
on the water except 2.5 liter ultra
bassboats......kiss the Toons goodbye!! |
| 93 Bullet
20XD |
Q:
Recently added low water pickup and 2" more setback, now
12". I now get a |
| 93 200
Mariner EFI |
great deal of cavitation before boat
breaks over on plane. Would removing the |
| |
2" set back blocks help?
Would a 26" Trophy PVS prop help or possibly a |
|
26" Predator Eagle
|
26" Powertech. I'm happy
with top end and handling but would like to eliminate |
|
4 blade
|
some of the cavitation. |
|
12" jackplate
|
A:
I'd leave the setback. We can debate aftermarket props all day
long and get |
|
6100 rpm
|
nowhere...but....the 26" Trophy
is a known factor and will do exactly what you |
| |
want. It has the speed, load
carrying ability and holeshot. I ran a PT prop for a |
| |
while and wasn't really
impressed....plus they're like herpes...once it's yours you'll |
| |
always have it....no resale or desire
to have it. |
| |
6100 with a 26" Trophy comes to
80 mph less slippage....which would be about |
| |
5 mph considering the added cup and
efficient Bullet hull. |
| |
How's the Eagle running on top? |
| |
You might consider giving the 27"
Tempest or Yamaha a try, a box stock 200 I |
| |
wouldn't spin over 6000...you might be
a little sluggish on holeshot but the 27's |
| |
will take you back to 5900-6000 and be
a couple mph faster...just a thought. |
| 00 Bullet
20XD |
Q:
Unable to get the motor to run higher than 7000 rpm. I have ran
a 26" Trophy |
| 00 280 Merc |
with the same results. I have
checked compression and everything seems to be fine |
| |
fine according to Mercury specs.
What mounting hole should the motor be mounted |
|
29" Spinelli
|
o the jackplate. What
should the distance between the plates (front/back or inner/ |
|
15" jackplate
|
outer) be on the jackplate. With
the boat and motor level what should the propshaft |
|
87 mph @ 7000
|
be? Someone told me that my
engine may not be fully broke in. I have ran almost |
| |
7 gallons @ 40:1 of oil through the
motor. Is this possible? I thought it would |
| |
restrict you to 6000 rpm until it was
broken in. |
| |
Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
| |
A:
In all honesty, Paul Nichols is the man you need to speak with for
your 280 info. |
| |
The 29" Spinelli is
probably going to be too much pitch for the way the 280 needs |
| |
to function....26,27 and 28's are
needed to get the 280 to 7500 where it makes its |
| |
power. My 260 runs a 28"
for 7200.....but I want to keep the rpms down for |
| |
longevity. I also have a
26" A45 Trophy I run....it doesn't allow for substantially |
| |
higher rpm since it seems to have much
less slip than the Spinelli does. As for the |
| |
computer limiting your rpms like the
Opti's....I don't know....I kinda doubt it. |
| |
The first thing I'd check is to make
sure you're getting WOT....I'd also put a few |
| |
more hours on it. As for engine
height....you need to be 1" - 1.5" over pad with the |
| |
propshaft. |
| 95 Bullet
20XD |
Q:
I have a problem when I run about 4000 rpms. When I let off
the gas my boat |
| 94 2.5 Merc |
takes a hard right with no control of
steering unless I hit the gas. My friend has the |
|
Est. 295 HP |
same setup and has motor 1 3/4"
above the pad and runs like a bat out of hell.... |
| |
what's my problem? |
|
29" SRX
|
A:
Only a guess, but I'd say the prop is letting loose when the bow dips
at throttle |
|
14.5" jackplate
|
release....on the other hand, it could
be slipping at 4000 and grabs the water when |
|
1" above the pad
|
released. Either could cause the
nose hook. I'd lower the engine a tad and see what |
| |
happens........ |
| 94 Bullet
20XD |
Q:
Todd, I just purchased this boat and I get a lot of chinewalk when
I trim it up. |
| 94 150 Suzuki |
The man I bought it from said trim it
up so the rooster tail is about the same height |
| |
as the motor at WOT. So I trim
it down when it starts to walk and lose approx. |
|
24" Raker
|
200 rpms and no rooster tail. I
am also concerned when I read the Bullet Owners |
|
10" jackplate
|
list; why does the Merc motor same hp
seem to run at 68 to 70 mph on the same |
|
63 mph @ 6000
|
boat. I just can't afford a 225
ProMax yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated. |
| |
A:
The Bullet is a driver's boat....you're going to have to learn to
drive it. |
| |
There is no sweet spot to be had that
will make the chinewalk go away where you |
| |
can just hold the wheel in one spot. |
| |
Until you can control the boat, there
is no sense in making top speed passes. |
| |
You have to have total control before
this can be accomplished. |
| |
A 150 with a 24" on an XD is good
for about 68-70...once you can max your speed. |
| |
I'm not familiar with Suzuki's at
all....I see no reason, other than being heavier, why |
| |
it would be slower on top than the
Mercs. You have some seat time ahead of you.... |
| |
..the easiest way to learn is to get
some direction from an experienced driver.... |
| |
...learning the wheel inputs will help
greatly at controlling your chinewalk problem. |
| |
Other than that, I think you're ok. |
