Question for the Surface Drive Gurus

[Sprangletop1]

Is it belt driven? Check belt tension. How old motor? Is prop getting worn down?

[Sandy Creek]

its not a short transom MM on a 21" transom is it? That is a huge drop. If it is your motor could not be getting in the water enough to bite and propel like it should. I've got a 14x38 gatortrax with a 23hp gatortail and in deep water it does 26 with me by my self, 23 with me and another guy 185lbs and 19-20 with 2 adults, large sack of decoys, dog, guns, dog stand, ect.

[webfootnut]

I run a 16 war eagle with a 31 mud buddy hyperdrive and I have the same problem with 3 people. 4 dozen decoys a dog and gear I can get maybe ten mph and when it's just two people I get between 20-25. Unless I'm in less than a foot of water then it runs great with three people. I have heard from a couple mud buddy dealers that if you feel like you lost horsepower than it's time to change the prop, so that's what I'm going to try. It just started doing it this season, other than that I love the hyper drive for hunting where we do.

[Wildfowler]

You should be able to measure the outside diameter of the propeller to know if it needs to be replaced. You should check with the manufacturer to know what their replacement interval is. Also, if you have a tach onboard, you should see a higher rpm while carrying the same load if your prop is worn down to the point of needing to be replaced.

Also, some props can be re-built. I've never done this so I can't attest to how reliable such a prop would be.

[kris Schaumburg]

it is not rocket science, a shorter or narrower boat has less load carrying capacity, when you are running the smaller engines there is a point at which you reach the tipping point and you can no longer get the boat up on step. There is a huge difference in speeds between a boat that can barely plane and one that can't plane at all. I had a 27 on a 16/44 and had to go up to a 35 on a 18/48. it is night and day.