91 Pantera II Prop/set up

[H2O_Fowl]

My 91 pantera is mint condition, strong motor etc etc.  I'm currently running a Turbo 4 blad 24P.  It runs pretty good but to get that last little bit of lift on the rear of the boat I need to bump the RPM up to 6K.  5850 or 5800 I believe is Max RPM for a 91 200XRI.  I'd love to be able to bring my R's down to that 5700 range and still be able to get the back of the boat to lift up.

Wondering if a 26 Trophy would be to much prop or would a 25 be better?  I think these BCB run the best with 4 blade props, at least I have heard. 

It has a 6 inch plate and runs 68 (GPS) and change with a light load at 6K RPM.  Really want a prop that will give me some more stearn lift while keeping the R's down to a more manageable level. 

[Flyswatter]

Just a guess but maybe add a little cup to the blades for more lift.  Something to consider. 

[H2O_Fowl]

Do you think that would bring my RPM's down some as well.  I think I sitting right height wise on the motor.  Just need some more lift in the stearn and drop the R's some.

I guess if adding cup doesn't work out I can always look for a Trophy.

[Flyswatter]

I really can't remember regarding loosing some rpms with adding cup.  My gut says yes to bring the RPM's down some.  If I'm wrong I'll be corrected.

Now a larger pitch prop will bring down the rpms and you should gain some speed.  Estimate about 200rpm loss with a larger pitch prop.  Do you know anyone that can lend you a 26p prop to test out?  Dealership could help you out that too.

Hope that helps!

[H2O_Fowl]

No, nobody around here.  2 dealers in the area and both sell mainly ski boats.  I may just someday bite the bullet and buy a 25 Trophy and if I'm still turning to many R's get the 26.

[merc1997]

is your hull actually a 91 or 92 model.  the easiest way for me to tell you the difference is the 92's is the first yeay they raised the decks.  if you do have a 91 hull, it had more hook in the pad than the 92's.  that being said, to really get most 91's dry, you will need to run a three blade with the longest ears and the most rake you can get.  i had a 91, the i ended up running a 25p yamaha, and i had it worked on just a bit to get that extra bite and lift.  once i did this the hull got really dry, and would really scoot.  71.9 fully loaded and two guys.  69.8 loaded the same with livewells full.  200 2.5 liter efi merc.  if you have a 92 hull, they took most of that hook out of the pad.  most 13 3/4 four blades will work well on this hull.  a three blade might get you a bit more top end, but the 4 blade will have a bit more stability in rough water.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

That's a good question.  I don't know how high is high on the deck.  I do know that near the front of the boat the deck is very close to the top of the gunnel.  The guy told me it was a 91 boat, motor and trailer.  Is there a way to tell from the hull ID number?  What did the 3 blade do to your hole shot?  I have been told a 25M would do good on this hull.  I wonder if a 25 tempest would do better?

[H2O_Fowl]

Deck is probably 3 inches below top of gunnel in the very front tapering back to around 5 maybe towards the back. 

Just looked at some pics of 92 PII's.  The 92's have the day box on the deck and mine doesn't have that. 

Do you remember your RPM's with that prop?

[Flyswatter]

Y

is your hull actually a 91 or 92 model.  the easiest way for me to tell you the difference is the 92's is the first yeay they raised the decks.  if you do have a 91 hull, it had more hook in the pad than the 92's.  that being said, to really get most 91's dry, you will need to run a three blade with the longest ears and the most rake you can get.  i had a 91, the i ended up running a 25p yamaha, and i had it worked on just a bit to get that extra bite and lift.  once i did this the hull got really dry, and would really scoot.  71.9 fully loaded and two guys.  69.8 loaded the same with livewells full.  200 2.5 liter efi merc.  if you have a 92 hull, they took most of that hook out of the pad.  most 13 3/4 four blades will work well on this hull.  a three blade might get you a bit more top end, but the 4 blade will have a bit more stability in rough water.

bo

Four blades eats up more rpms.

[merc1997]

i turned 6000 rpm's, but i also ran a hydraulic jack plate, and a high performance lower unit.  if you look at the boat number, which will be on the drivers side at the upper right back of the boat, the last numbers will indicate the month and year of production.  the 92 p2's do not have the square drop off from cap to deck.  the front panel is tapered right up to cap.  sounds as though you have a 91.  the yamaha prop is 14 1/4 inch diameter with a lot of rake.  if you run a prop like this, you will  have to remove the trim tab as the blades of the prop will hit.  this is because of the long rake in the prop.  the longer the rake, the longer the blade holds water on the blade.  this helps to raise the nose and get the hull up dry.  the trick to getting any hull running fast is to get the hull sitting on the surface of the water with the entire boat fairly flat.  i know most people associate speed with the nose way up in the air.  this puts pressure on the rear end of the boat resulting in drag.  plus a boat running like that will not corner very well.  if running properly, your back corners should be at least 12 off the water.  if you have someone that you trust to be able to drive your boat, have them let you off on the bank somewhere that will allow them to drive at fairly close range and you will be able to see some of the things that i am talking about.  i hear people all the time talking about how to drive out of chine walk.  if you have your motor the right height on your basscat for wot, you will be able to just let go of the wheel at wot and just run down the lake.

bo  if you have more questions, just ask.

[Flyswatter]

Merc1997,  that is BassCat strong!

[H2O_Fowl]

That all makes sense.  I've heard that about to much bow lift.  I guess thats why the super fast go fast boats run relatively flat. 

What are the adverse affects from removing the trim tab?

These Cats are a total different animal to me.  My previous boats have all be newer Rangers and Champs.  I think when this boat was set up new it had probably the best prop at the time on it.  The previous owner of 14 yrs never changed a thing on it.  He was happy the way it was.  It has been very well kept and the maintenance on it was incredible!  I would really like to get a newer Cat maybe a Puma or Cougar but I'm not sure I can part with this old PII... 

Where is Cassville Mo at?

I really appreciate your advice and help with my question!

[merc1997]

the trim tab really has little affect on steering torque.  actually if you are at the right engine height, you will probably not have any torque.  if so, you can put a torque tab on the skag.  when playing with engine height, be sure to watch your water pressure.

cassville is in the southwest corner of the state.  the eagel rock area of table rock, which is on the upper end, is 13 miles from my house.  putting in at the dam area of table rock is about a 45 mile drive.  the lost bridge area of beaver lake is 23 miles from my house.  it is 65 miles to grove ok, on grand lake, and the lead hill area of bull shoals is 80 miles.

if you have a hydrualic jack plate, it is much easier to find that magic height.  plus, you can run at a lower engine height when running at less than wot, and you will be able to run very dry at slower rpms, say in the 4000 to 5000 rpm range.

another thing that you were asking about cup.  cup can give you more lift, and will hold the boat up better.  it will also take 100 to 200 rpms off of wot.  the cup will need to be all the way across the top of the blade to the tip.  you did not mention what diameter prop you are running.  i think the new fury's are a 14 1/4 diameter like the yamaha prop.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

Wow your right in the middle of all the best fishing! If there was work down there I would move to that area in a heartbeat!

Cant remember what diameter it is.  I'll check.  I don't have a hydraulic plate its a manual.  I think I may try a 25 Tempest or 25M Yamaha or both.  Every boat I've ever owned ran the best (top end) with a 3 blade.  Although only a couple of MPH better but better none the less.  But, almost every Cat I see has a 4 blade on it.  Whats a good starting point on prop to pad measurement? 

[H2O_Fowl]

On it now is a 13 3/4 Turbo 25 M, 4 blade.   It has one ear that is probably causing some issues since it was folded over and the previous owner fixed it himself he said.  If you look real close you can tell it's not the same as the other 3 blades.  And there is no torque tab on the lower unit. 

[merc1997]

that turbo prop you are running should be right in the ball park.  4 blades on most basscats are great, but usually not on that 91 model hull.  if you might have a, say, 3' straight edge, you can check your center pad, and it will probably check i radius almost all the way to the trailer axle.  this is a hook that they built into the running surface.  at least, my 91 and some others i know had it.  this is why that it takes so much leverage to pull that boat up to get is running on the surface.  the hook is forcing the nose back down.  but, once you overcome that and get that hull dry, it will really scoot.  my 85 pantera did not have that hook, and the center pad was perfectly flat.  a 13 1/2 26p predator four blade worked great on that boat.  the hull would get dry at 4200 rpm's.  on my 91, i had to go to the 14 1/4 25p yamaha to ever get that hull to run.  with the yamaha, the 91 would also get dry at 4200.  the drier you get your boat running translates into fuel mileage.  plus, it is easier on your engine.  the less drag that boat has, the engine can run more freely.  does that make sense??  if you might know of someone that has a 14 1/4 25p that you could borrow to test, that might be an option to help you find the right wheel for your hull.  if your motor is pretty stout, you should be able to turn that 14 1/4 25p 5800 to 6000 rpm.  hope this info will help you.  i do know that when you get things lined out that you will most likely be a basscat owner from now on.  i wish that i could afford a brand new cat, they are just that much better than even the old ones.  if you have not been in one, the newer cats are still lightening fast, but rival even a champion in smoothness of ride.  plus that just last.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

Makes perfect sense!  I'm going to have my current prop cleaned up and in the mean time look for a 25 Yamaha to try out. 

I'm already a basscat owner from here on out.  But, like you, I can't afford the new ones. 

What Cat are you running now?

[merc1997]

i am running a 92 p2 with a 96 200hp efi mariner.  i am still running my yamaha on this one, but it would run faster with a 27 pitch 13 1/2 diameter four blade.  this hull has enough natural lift to use a smaller diameter prop with more pitch.  the smaller diameter prop you can run and still get the lift you need, the more pitch you can run.  this hull is running 73.8 with the yamaha, but would run in the 76 range with the four blade that i mentioned.  a buddy of mine had this same year hull, and the 27p four blade is what he ran, and gps speed was 76.7.  the more pitch you can run the faster you go, but the prop has to have enough lift for the hull.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

This is all great info!  I'm going to look around for a good 25M and in the mean time get this current prop fixed up. 

Next time I am in the Table Rock area I'll let you know and maybe we can do some fishing and boat fine tuning!

[H2O_Fowl]

Merc1997

If you go to the bottom of page 3 of the first post in this forum "what boat does everyone have" you will see my black and silver PII.

[merc1997]

Merc1997

If you go to the bottom of page 3 of the first post in this forum "what boat does everyone have" you will see my black and silver PII.

i just looked at your pics, and that is a really clean basscat.  the other thing that i noticed is that is a 92 hull.  did you ever look at your boat number to see what the date of manufacture is??  if you do not know how to read it, just post it on here.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

Not yet, I'll look at it in the morning.  Lights in the shop aren't great.

[H2O_Fowl]

Last four on the HIN is 0191

[merc1997]

Last four on the HIN is 0191

that would mean that it is definitely a 91 model, made in jan of 91.  i was not aware that a 91p2 had the slanted control panel.  that probably means that the big three blade might do better on your boat.  i will be interested in what wheel does the best job for you.  you boat does look brand new!!!

bo