JDB
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For the few that might be interested in this I wanted to share my limited experience and thoughts on motor mounting height.
I will start by saying that I'm no expert and have owned tuned or tweaked a total of two pontoon boats with the first one being a 16ft no name twin tube 40HP 2 stroke and then later adding a 90HP 4 stroke and then a water glide.
The second is the Benny in my sig which is an amazing boat and I am so glad to have found in good used condition with the shorter fencing And the ESP.
I really dislike the new taller fencing. Not on a fishing boat. Like fishing from inside a cage.
On to my current setup:
Started out in the Lowest motor height but now I am in the lowest hole / highest motor height position which puts the anti ventilation plate at 1.25" above the bottom of the tube.
Holeshot is still outstanding although rarely fully used.
No ventilation in the turns or ever.
Top Speed increase, I estimate to be around 1/2 MPH thus far.
Less Motor depth in our Very Rocky lake is a big plus.
Engine no longer hits the fuel tank at full tilt which was a pain for years.
Obviously Bennington designed the transom - 25" Esp for a multitude of applications but I'm thinking the Bigger motors and props could use an even higher mount height options than it offers.
What to do from here:
Live with and Enjoy the already great but possibly not the Best Performance?
Drill New mounting holes and continue to raise and experiment? (Don't even imagine a hand drilled, butchered up, wallowed out hole job here cuz that ain't happening)
Install a Jackplate which brings added cost, added weight and some level of Added effective motor weight?
No need to debate warranty issues here as that has been covered in other threads.
I understand that props play a big role in this and I'm looking for great All Around Performance and assume most of us are.
The 50mph Benningtons are far too rare IMO.
Thoughts Guys and Gals?
JDB
I will start by saying that I'm no expert and have owned tuned or tweaked a total of two pontoon boats with the first one being a 16ft no name twin tube 40HP 2 stroke and then later adding a 90HP 4 stroke and then a water glide.
The second is the Benny in my sig which is an amazing boat and I am so glad to have found in good used condition with the shorter fencing And the ESP.
I really dislike the new taller fencing. Not on a fishing boat. Like fishing from inside a cage.
On to my current setup:
Started out in the Lowest motor height but now I am in the lowest hole / highest motor height position which puts the anti ventilation plate at 1.25" above the bottom of the tube.
Holeshot is still outstanding although rarely fully used.
No ventilation in the turns or ever.
Top Speed increase, I estimate to be around 1/2 MPH thus far.
Less Motor depth in our Very Rocky lake is a big plus.
Engine no longer hits the fuel tank at full tilt which was a pain for years.
Obviously Bennington designed the transom - 25" Esp for a multitude of applications but I'm thinking the Bigger motors and props could use an even higher mount height options than it offers.
What to do from here:
Live with and Enjoy the already great but possibly not the Best Performance?
Drill New mounting holes and continue to raise and experiment? (Don't even imagine a hand drilled, butchered up, wallowed out hole job here cuz that ain't happening)
Install a Jackplate which brings added cost, added weight and some level of Added effective motor weight?
No need to debate warranty issues here as that has been covered in other threads.
I understand that props play a big role in this and I'm looking for great All Around Performance and assume most of us are.
The 50mph Benningtons are far too rare IMO.
Thoughts Guys and Gals?
JDB
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