VJ,
I’m certainly not Rick or one of his team, but I’ve run Hi-5’s for years as a second prop, and they are right on with the advice. With the 200, I’d look at a 23P Hi-Five, (I’m not sure you can get a even pitch–Mine have been 23 and 25).
For me, you water pressure at WOT is OK, but on the boarderline–I like 15 pounds better. I’d try the 5 blade, and drop the plate about 1/4″–High Fives don’t run as high as a Tempest, in my experience.
You could also remove the set screws. For how you are wanting to run the boat, you don’t need them, and they could reduce water pressure.
Try the prop first, though, before you change anything else.
You will be amazed at the hole shot, and how easy the boat drives with a High-5.
Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Jimmy,
I never ran a 25 Hi-5 on my 200(1990 PII, with a 200EFI), but the 23p gave my rpms in the 5600 range. And strangely enough, that same prop on a stock 225 Opti never hit the rev limiter, and my tournament wheel was a 26 Trophy.
Keep in mind that a Hi-Five wants to run much deeper in the water, does not want to surface, and does not need as much trim to run the hull.
Hold like velcro in turns, and will plane the boat off in 18″ of water, loaded to the gunnels.
Cost me about 8-9 mph, but on spring days with 20 mph winds, fishing shallow flats and sloughs, it was definitely the best prop for the day.
Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Mike,
Welcome to the finest bunch of folks in fishing that you will ever meet—but you already know that. There are no better folks in the world to have your back than the Pierce Family and the BassCat extended family.
Welcome, good luck, good fishing, and make us all proud!!
Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Judd,
Will the regular, stainless steel folding ladder be available as an option? I’m not sure how easy this two step ladder on the engine will be for a lot of folks to climb into the boat?
From looking a Phil’s pictures, I can see what you hold onto as you climb up.
Thanks!!
Mike Whitten
Judd,
Thanks a bunch. That is exactly the info I was looking for!
Can’t wait to get the 08 on order. This is exciting stuff.
Mike Whitten
I will amen everything that Phil Addison said about the new Digital Guardian Tour Edition Trolling Motors. They are without doubt the most impressive trolling motors Ive ever run. They are NOT the Motorguide TE 109s of a few years back. If you have not run a Motorguide in the past 3 years, then you have not run a Motorguide. I ran a Minn Kota a prior to the new Digital Advantage technology, and it was a good motor. Had to replace two switches in it, and it was heavy as lead, but not a bad motor.For Jig an Pig–Phils reference to Digital has NOTHING to do with how the motor is steered. That is still a pull/pull stainless steel cable system, and one that has been very reliable over the years. Digital refers to the electronics, now sealed in the foot of the motor in epoxy, so that they are completely waterproof and stay much cooler than the old motors that had electronics in the top as well. This is the key difference in the new generation Motorguides.As far as built in transducers, Ive had good luck and bad with those. I always carry a spare that I can put on the foot of the trolling motor, if the built in fails. This is a factor of the electronics, and has nothing to do with MK or MG.Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
I use ProTec three times a year, two coats at each polishing, and then wip down with Bass Boat Saver when I come out of the water.Mike Whitten/Germantown, TN
Drop me an email at mdwhitten@comcast.net, and Ill send you one. I have several.Mike Whitten
MR. Whitten???Durn, what did I do to deserve that?Plain ole Mike works better–This IS family after all, and Im not near as old as Sam Rush or Gary Gould!!!!!! Whitten
Sam,I thought about it–and then I realized that there might be folks viewing this site over dinner, or with young children.Any representation of my profile would have to violate several state and Federal laws against vandalism, graffitti, and just plain ol terminal ugly!!Whitten
BCB,Yep, Sorry, guess I read right through this one. Was at a BPS event this weekend, and talking to a Hbird rep who was not sure of the answer to this. Ill let him know tomorrow.Thanks–I promise to do better next time!!!Mike Whitten
Hey now, Dont be a painting me with the same brush you need for Hollander!! I knew that Birds were the standards and that Lowrance was still the alternative–What I didnt know was if the 997 would fit in as a console mount–Fat Boy in Memphis is still doing most of his required readin!!Mike Whitten
Judd,No apologies for me–I got my licks in solidly in defense of Jason Quinn. Ive talked to him twice over the years, and like everyone else, he impressed the fire out of me. The guy is full of the joy of life, loves his family, and is as friendly and down to earth as it gets. He is a real easy guy to stand up for—NOW Sam Rush, well now, thats a whole nuther can of worms–especially when he brings that durn LSU boat to Lake Ferguson!!!Whitten
Joey,You dont need to worry about me hurting the ledge fish. I left them alone when it was over 100 degrees, and a lot of them are moving now. Not as thick as they were.On the spoons, the guy you saw was Kelly Jordon, and he was throwing a 1.5 or 2.0 oz salmon trolling spoon, like they use for salmon and lake trout in the Great Lakes. It does have a single treble hook, and it does do a great job of imitating a big threadfin or gizzard shad. Triggers a reaction bite on the fall.Mike Whitten
Mark,Please read the manual on that engine. The 250 Pro XS is set up to run the Mercury/Quicksilver “Premium Plus” oil.In fact, I have been told by more than one Mercury master mechanic NOT to run the DFI oil in the 250 Pro XS. Sound to me like your dealer is shooting you straight on this one. Ive had great service from mine, and it has never seen anything but Premium Plus oil, and 87 or 89 octane fuel.Mike Whitten/Germantown,TN
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