Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

[wilde1j]

This topic may not belong here, but here goes anyway. Just got my boat 23' GW W/A - bracketed, back rigged with T E-Tec's. Motors run fine (~ 5400 WOT). So far, great. Dealer rigged motors as deep as they can go and top speed is barely what 95' 150 carbed Merc 150's did (~37 to 38 knots). I want to ask the dealer to raise the motors, but how much? Cav plate is about even with the hull bottom and the bracket setback is ~ 18 to 24".<br /><br />Props are 17" pitch Rebels.<br /><br />Handling @ WOT with any kickout is sort of squirley ... boat doesn't track well (Merc's had been rigged as high as they could go) and is very hard to hold on a heading in a slight bay chop.<br /><br />Never had any handling problems in any kind of sea with the Merc's.<br /><br />Suggestions? Tkx.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

I am not Dhadley nor do I play him on TV, but I did buy the boy a beer once and I did stay in a Holiday Inn Express.<br /><br />A starting point for engine height would be 1" above the transom-bottom, plus 1" for every 12" of bracket set-back.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

Yep, they can go up for sure. Also check the toe in and tell us what it is.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

Silly question ... how do you physically measure toe in? BTW, the boat is on a lift, with lift perpendicular to bulkhead and motors on outboard end. However, I can turn it around on the lift, for some engine access.<br /><br />I appreciate the voices of experience, and I'm so glad at least one of you has stayed in a Holiday Inn Express (very comforting)!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

That's the down side of the H.I. X-press -- we had to go elsewhere for the adult beverage.<br /><br />Anyway, on a V bottom you want the nose of the gearcases toed in slightly. IE - the nose of the gearcases will be closer together compared to the end of the propshafts. <br /><br />1/8" to 3/8" is plenty. On that boat I'd probably try to stick to the 1/8". <br /><br />But going up should help that too. It'll be interesting to see what the dealer has the toe set at now.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

Oh, and any slop in the steering will cause that too. (We assume it's hydraulic steering) Is the tie bar mechanical (solid bar between motors) or hydraulic (cylinder on each motor)?

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

Single hydraulic cylinder with brand new adapter plates on each motor and a brand new tie bar. Steering has zero slop.<br /><br />OK, let's see if I've got this right ... measure the F/R inside along the flat of the gearcase between the motors, wanting to see ~ 1/8" less in front than at the aft end.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Setup ? for Dhadley 175 E-Tec's

I measure the very tip / front of the gearcase. Then the center of the propshaft. Basically try to measure center to center, front and back.