I recently purchased a Crestliner cvx182, and had a 2002 merc 150 efi rigged. The person I purchased the boat from said to run the Motor as high as possible, the top hole. Can anybody with this boat share their set up. Does this sound right??.
Bad Finger
01-30-2002, 10:08 AM
Top hole is a good place to start. If the prop blows out during holeshot or in turns, drop the motor one hole.
Repeat.
I 2nd the previous post.
Too many dealers set up the motors, with them tight to the transom and there they sit for the life of the boat. The reason that they do this is this makes the boat the slowest, most stable and as safe as possible. That translates to less liabaility problems for the dealer.
However, more motor in the water translates to more drag. I agree with the first post - put the motor as high as you can go. If you can't get on plane, and or if you blow out in modest turns - then start dropping the motor down. As you drop the motor - try running the boat at all speeds in different kind of wave conditions - in straight lines and circles of varying sizes. Find the point - at which the motor cavitates, and decide on your comfort level.
Remember, the deeper the motor is in the water, the slower you go, but the more stable you are. The deeper the motor is in the water, the less likely the motor will cavitate.
So, as you do your motor height testing, it is a good idea to try a few different props at the same time. Ofte, you find, that due to reduced drag - you can run a higher pitch and or higher rake prop - if the motor is lifted out of the water. All of this translates to even more speed and performance.
Most dealers will allow a try and buy on props, so try to set yourself up with three or 4 different ones, and run them all at all of the different possible motor heights.
Of course it would be optimum if you installed at least a manual jack plate on your boat, with a modest setback. That was, you could adjust the motor height with the turn of a nut, and wouldn't have to fool around with lifts, and unbolting and rebolting your engine to your boat.
Take care and enjoy.
REW