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Hey guys!
Hope everyone's enjoying their summer, out on their boats and such...
Anyways, I've got my viper, lower end was just rebuilt, and motor was looked at, so I'm not worried about that
BUT, after the motor work, I took the jackplate taken off, it was a 6 inch, and I was told for a viper that's too much.
So I went to drive the boat, and the engine is running better then ever, but my setup is wrong.
My top speed has dropped,
More of the boat is in the water then before, even trimmed up.
My top speed used to be 55mph ( but it chine walked)
I put the fin on it = 48mph
Removed jack plate =44mph


So what I'm asking from you experts!
What is it I need to do to get my viper rippin better than ever! But still drivable( without chine walk, porposing)
Because I know it should/can go faster

Prop is a 23p
Motor is a 115hp mercruiser
I'm guessing jackplate, other things could help me.
Please, any info is helpful, I've been struggling getting this boat setup for a while now, and getting somewhat frustrated.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Try tech talk on the Hydrostream history page. I set up a vector from the info in there. Spot on I'm sure there's was more but no trial and error

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I have a viper. After installing trim tabs on the hull the porposing and handling issues are gone. It only runs 46 with an 80hp triple, but was miserable without them.

Chine walk is more than likely steering related. Loose mounts, side to side slop and too low of a motor height will contribute to that.


Here's mine with the tabs back on. I had removed them to fill and re drill the holes, which were loose.

If I had another set of tabs, I'd send them. I'm all out of the run we made. I have the dimensions though. [ Post made via iPad ]

Hows the viper doing? I would say put the jackplate back on, if you want to go fast get a 2.0 150 or bigger 2.4 motors. 6 inch jackplate and a cleaver work great

No real luck with the viper . Don't have the money to be trying expensive things and purchasing jack plates and such. Specially if it's not 100% fixed after that. Right now I just cruze around 45 mph, not on the pad, it's too sketchy with the setup on it.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Welcome back! Now with that, Sell that 6" plate and see if you can find a 2" or a 4" plate for it (My opinion 6" is way too much for a viper) and do like Ron said, maybe try some trim tabs. Also, make sure everything with the steering is nice and tight.

ill bet you can get that 115 going a whole lot better than 45. given the limited weight and power i would say a 6 inch set back jack plate would be great, and something like a 24 pitch or 26 pitch should get you going good. a decent steering system should help you get control of that thing. what do you have going on with it now? anything we can help you with?

Well.........before the internet was invented we ran Vipers 70 mph with inlines and NO jackplate. But I guess that don't count

Somebody forgot to tell Joe Sauer he needed a jackplate to go fast

You forget though that back before the internet was invented, GPS didn't exist either.

"My pitot speedometer bounced to 70 when I went over that wave! Let's just go with that!"

[ Post made via Android ]