setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

[varookie]

Greeting from VA! I just bought a 94 Stratos 284 fs. My friend, who is an avid fisherman and longtime boat owner, went on the test ride with me and suggested that I make some adjustments to the set-up. He suggested that I get a Rapid Jack jack plate. The engine that is on it is a Johnson 150 Fastrike.
The engine height is 5 1/2 inches below the pad. A Stratos tech said that it should be 3 1/2 inches below the pad. I understand that the jack plate will allow me to raise or lower the motor as I need to but what would be an ideal setback for this boat/motor? Any suggestions in the set-up would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

The anti-cavitation plate should be even with the bottom of the boat. Is that what you are saying is 5 1/2 inches below? Where in Va are you?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

The anti-cavitation plate should be even with the bottom of the boat. Is that what you are saying is 5 1/2 inches below? Where in Va are you?

No, Not on a Bass Boat with a Pad!

The measurement should be about 3 1/2" below Pad to start! That means that the center of the propshaft is 3 1/2" from the bottom of the pad with the engine level with the bottom of the boat!

 

[varookie]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

Thanks. My friend is encouraging me to raise the motor up to somewhere 1" to 1 1/2"( taken from the bottom of the boat to the center line of the prop shaft which at this point is 5 1/2" to 6"). He thinks that I should get a jack plate to adjust the height and get some setback. What do you suggest? By the way bhile I am from South West VA on the KY line! Very close to some great fishing in North East Tenn.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

A Jack plate will be a plus, but 1 1/2" is going to be too high for sure!

That measurement would be about right if you measure the ventilation plate to the bottom of the boat. The ventilation plate should be about 1-1 1/2" above the bottom! Without a Jack plate thats the best way to measure!

 

[varookie]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

Thanks LubeDude. I am going to play around with it and swap some props. I was running a 23 renegade and was only getting 4500 rpm's. I should be getting around 5000 to 5200 rpm's. I think the motor is too low and I had too much prop. I swapped it for a 22 three blade michagan wheel to try this weekend (borrowed from my friend) We will see if it is the motor height or the prop that is dropping the rpm's too low.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: setup on 94 stratos 284 fs

The optimum setup would be to shoot for a WOT full trim, flat out RPM to be in the 5,700-5,800 RPM range. This is because with todays fuels you create a lot of heat with anything below that! Use a stainless prop as aluminum ones do not have enough cup to hold up the bow at high trim levels! You may have to go with a 21 or even a 19! Raker props work well with the Stratos!!! Ebay is the bomb for props, cheap and you can buy try and resell.