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Started By
Message
Should I Raise My Jackplate
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:21 am
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:21 am
Have a 2024 Bass Cat Pantera Classic with a 200 Mercury Pro Xs 4 stroke. Running with my 2 boys and myself can get roughly 65-68mph with empty live wells. Once live wells are full I can only get around 48mph out of it.
Is this much speed reduction normal? I’ll have to see what pitch prop I have but it’s what came with motor from factory.
I’ve also never raised the jackplate since I’ve had it a lil over a year.
Is this much speed reduction normal? I’ll have to see what pitch prop I have but it’s what came with motor from factory.
I’ve also never raised the jackplate since I’ve had it a lil over a year.
7
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:40 am to WillFerrellisking
I'm assuming the extra weight is causing your hull to sink some in the back. Raising the jackplate may help some. I'd also try trimming up the motor a little to find that sweet medium to increase speed.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:44 am to WillFerrellisking
quote:
Is this much speed reduction normal?
No, that is not normal on any boat.
What is engine speed at WOT with each load? How different is the running angle of the boat in each case?
Sounds to me like the boat is probably over wheeled but need the above information. The jackplate probably doesn't have a whole lot to do with this unless its set dramatically too far down or up.
The engine should run in its optimal operating range at full throttle and 100% of vessel capacity. I doubt you have an overweight boat, but if you've added a whole metric assload of shite to it, you might need to weigh it.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:44 am to WillFerrellisking
Doesn’t sound right, 20 mph loss with how much weight (live wells full)?
Assuming fixed JP?
Need more info
I gained zero speed taking 3 lead acid batteries out of my console. Figured there would be some gain but nope.
Assuming fixed JP?
Need more info
I gained zero speed taking 3 lead acid batteries out of my console. Figured there would be some gain but nope.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 9:50 am to KemoSabe65
quote:
gained zero speed taking 3 lead acid batteries out of my console. Figured there would be some gain but nope
Sounds like your boat is set up properly. Except at the extremes of rated weight, top speed and planing speed shouldn't change a whole lot with any planing hull boat. If it does, the boat is usually underpowered, overwheeled, or (most often) both.
There seems to be an epidemic out there of dealerships overwheeling boats. It seems they get propped to hit the middle of the recommended WOT speed at delivery weight which is by far the lightest any boat will ever be. Great for going fast on delivery day and not worth a damn for handling real life use.
I want that SOB to be able to redline with a light fishing load.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:14 am to WillFerrellisking
I have a '21 P2. No, that is not normal. While it could be an engine height issue, I highly doubt it. BassCat tends to err on the side of being deep and does not setup to the usual 3.5" PTP measurement. I have had to raise the engines on both of my cats. The most likely issue is too much pitch, especially if you have a Fury. My boat was shipped with a 24P Fury and while it was scary fast empty, it became sluggish fast with load and I could never get it to the proper RPM. Let us know what model and pitch prop you are running and post a pic of the top of your jack plate.
If it's not the prop, you could have a balance problem. Move everything you can to the rear of the boat. Too much weight in the front makes cats tough to get fully lifted.
FWIW, the Bravo 1 FS is going to be your best all around prop for that hull. Yeah, you may lose 2/3 mph on the top, but the mid range and weight carrying will be better than the Fury.
If it's not the prop, you could have a balance problem. Move everything you can to the rear of the boat. Too much weight in the front makes cats tough to get fully lifted.
FWIW, the Bravo 1 FS is going to be your best all around prop for that hull. Yeah, you may lose 2/3 mph on the top, but the mid range and weight carrying will be better than the Fury.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:50 am to AlxTgr
quote:
FWIW, the Bravo 1 FS is going to be your best all around prop for that hull. Yeah, you may lose 2/3 mph on the top, but the mid range and weight carrying will be better than the Fury.
This
3-blade Fury can be very funny with a heavier load, even on my Eyra
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:50 am to AlxTgr
A hydraulic jack plate is my second favorite luxury on a boat, the first is spot lock (especially with auto deploy/auto trim). It makes it easy to see if raising the motor just a little more will help, it usually does.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:53 am to armsdealer
quote:This just doesn't come up in my world of boating. Once I get it set, I almost never need to adjust.
A hydraulic jack plate is my second favorite luxury on a boat,
Posted on 8/4/25 at 12:30 pm to AlxTgr
It 100% can be a balance problem with front of boat too heavy. I have a ton of tackle in my big center storage compartment. I’ll move some stuff around before taking it out this weekend.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 1:16 pm to WillFerrellisking
Would still like to know your prop.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 1:36 pm to AlxTgr
It’s definitely a fury but not sure on pitch
Posted on 8/4/25 at 1:57 pm to AlxTgr
It is a 23 pitch
Posted on 8/4/25 at 2:06 pm to WillFerrellisking
Probably the correct pitch for that boat/engine combo with light load and not dead of Summer. Some guys actually swap out props Summer/Winter.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 2:51 pm to WillFerrellisking
RPM's running while empty/full?
Keep in mind, Pantera livewell is about 30 gallons. That's about 250 pounds you're adding.
That said, 18-20mph seems like a steep price to add 250 pounds.
Keep in mind, Pantera livewell is about 30 gallons. That's about 250 pounds you're adding.
That said, 18-20mph seems like a steep price to add 250 pounds.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 5:30 pm to WillFerrellisking
How big a Baw are you? 
Posted on 8/4/25 at 5:58 pm to WillFerrellisking
Are you trimming the motor? Is prop blowing out with the additional weight when you trim up? At no point should a 200 on a basscat not be able to turn a 23 pitch prop. Something is not right. I
Posted on 8/4/25 at 6:06 pm to KemoSabe65
Haha, I’m 165, my 16yr old 190 and 13yr old 130. We run fine in the morning with empty live wells and full fuel but soon as I fill the live wells up I can not get any lift.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 6:10 pm to LSU Neil
Yes I am trimming up the same as usual and getting my usual height rooster tail just no lift.
It could very well be my front compartments are overloaded. I’ll move stuff around and report back.
It could very well be my front compartments are overloaded. I’ll move stuff around and report back.
Posted on 8/4/25 at 6:14 pm to WillFerrellisking
Yeah sounds like a prop problem to me. I’m running a 25m on a 175 sho fully loaded at 64mph with plenty of lift. You really should not have a “rooster tail” at all. Thats not a good thing to have a rooster tail and no lift.
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