I have an old boat/motor combo--- a 1974 Starcraft 14' semi-V with a 1986 Johnson 6hp that we fish in protected waters with. I just bought this boat a couple months ago.
I've been working out the kinks of the motor (there were many), but one issue I've overlooked is that it's a long shaft, and this is a short transom. The anti-cavitation plate sits really low under the boat. I have not been able to get this boat to go any faster than 5.0mph in still water, and I know it won't go much faster than that but I was hoping for something a little closer to 8-10. According to my friends who use 6hp kickers on their sailboats here in Charleston, they are going 7-8mph in a sailboat vastly heavier than my little tin can. You'd think hull speed in my case would be a bit more "flexible" lol.
I picked up a free mini-jacker plate from a very generous friend, and I can basically lift this motor up all I want, but I only get 1 or 2 shots at it (depending on hole placement).
Is it best to have the anti-cavitation plate dead even with the keel, about an inch lower than the keel, or about an inch higher than the keel? Or does this matter at all?
I've been working out the kinks of the motor (there were many), but one issue I've overlooked is that it's a long shaft, and this is a short transom. The anti-cavitation plate sits really low under the boat. I have not been able to get this boat to go any faster than 5.0mph in still water, and I know it won't go much faster than that but I was hoping for something a little closer to 8-10. According to my friends who use 6hp kickers on their sailboats here in Charleston, they are going 7-8mph in a sailboat vastly heavier than my little tin can. You'd think hull speed in my case would be a bit more "flexible" lol.
I picked up a free mini-jacker plate from a very generous friend, and I can basically lift this motor up all I want, but I only get 1 or 2 shots at it (depending on hole placement).
Is it best to have the anti-cavitation plate dead even with the keel, about an inch lower than the keel, or about an inch higher than the keel? Or does this matter at all?