Hole shot question

[Gator]

Hey guys
I have a problem that is very annoying and would love some expert advise.
I have a Stratos 19 XL with 200 Merc (carb) engine. Runs great when first put it into the water and comes up on plane with 2 people inthe boat just fine UNTIL the live well is filled with water. Then it takes far too long to plane out. I'm talking JUST ONE LIVE WELL FILLED too. The prop is 24 4 blade Fury has the vent plugs and I have tried several combinations of hole sizes, right now it has 2 small and 2 medium plugs. What I think I will try next is 4 small plugs and then 4 solid plugs. It has a jack plate and I'm afraid to mess with it unless that is definitely the problem.
Anyone familiar with this problem? Thanks

 

[camaro88z]

Not an expert. But I do know the plugs are for helping plane out. Instead of going smaller you need to go bigger to help get you out of the hole. Proformance prop in soddy has the plugs they are very cheap.

 

[BulletTJ]

Try removing the solid plugs and leave the two small plugs in. When you don't have water in the live well you may need to feather the throttle on take off. If I am fishing solo or an empty live well I dont have to punch the hot foot to the floor to get the boat to pop up on plane. Oh and make sure the two vent holes that have small plugs in are across from each other and not beside each other.

 

[camaro88z]

Why not just put four of the medium plugs in.

 

[bobant]

The plugs in the prop are to help on hole shot. The more area open the more exhaust escapes and causes the prop to slip at lower RPM's. It is to prevent the motor from bogging down under a heavier load. As the boat starts to go faster the air hugs the barrel of the prop and has minimal effect as higher speeds. Don't know if that will help you , but I just told you everything I know about that subject. Just mess with different degrees of open area until you find the sweet spot.

 

[Gator]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I have gone from.
1st. No vent plugs
2nd. 4 medium but I may not have had the trim all the way down then as I was getting to know the boat.
3rd. 2 medium and 2 small

What I did today was drill the 2 smalls to the size of the 2 mediums but just a little larger.
I plan to try it and next will be going to 2 large and 2 medium and then to 4 large.
I know some guys that remove 2. Just have to play around with it.

Again, thanks for the input.

 

[ccone]

Look into a hydrofoil as well it will give you more lift in the back end and get the boat up on plane faster I put one on my bullet and it comes out of the hole twice as fast with or without a load