Getting on plane issues with weight
 

My 1998 Baja 24 Outlaw is impossible to get on plane with four passengers unless we move everyone to front of cockpit and even that takes a while. It’s running a 3 blade 23 pitch prop. I’m thinking of switch to 4 blade 22 pitch bravo 1 prop.

What's your max speed/rpm at wot? Is the prop blowing out when trying to plane or is it hard to gain rpm? I had issues with 23's on mine blowing out when planing, switched to 22p Bravo's and problem solved, but can turn both size props to 5k rpms at wot. Mines a 302, but theory is the same.

Max speed at WOT is 50 mph at 4500. Prop is not blowing out and rpms not a problem.

Even when I pin the throttle trying to get on plane, the rpms will jump to 4500 but the bow doesn't come down.

What engine & model of prop do you have? You may gain a few rpms going to the 22p bravo, should hookup and jump on plane a lot easier, top speed may suffer a few mph.

The Baja has the 454 Mercury Mag with Mercury mirage 3 blade 23 pitch.

My guess is you should be closer to 4800 max rpm
so maybe 1 pitch lower could help reach that
but!
i am surprised it does not come on plane easier even with a 23...
did you check your drive ratio? What is it? If you have a 1.36 that would or could be the problem
or
did you check engine compression?

I agree, something doesn't seem right. You should be seeing at least 60mph with your setup.

Stock prop ? Labbed ? Do not know ?
Which motor ? Stock or modded ?

1st boat ?

I know, the engine just screams at 4500 rpm with the bow doing a wheelie all the way down the lake. Tried all kinds of trim tab techniques and engine trim at all different rpms with throttle up and down. No other real big issues getting on plane when it's me and one other passenger.

No clue if this is the stock prop, however the old owner gave me a 3 blade 21 pitch as a backup. I'm thinking of trying this one before pulling the trigger on a 4 blade. This is the 454 Mercury Mag motor.

This is not my first boat and I also own a 2018 Scarab jet boat.

Definitely try that 21p, then report back.

Sounds good. I'll let everyone know by the end of week. Thank you.

Aside from changing props:
- Make sure prop is in good shape.
- Pending the type of prop you have, make sure you do not have a spun hub
- Drive should be ALL the way tucked in when planing
- You can try trim tabs all the way down, you can also try about 1/2 way down.
- See if you can turn/saw the wheel gently back and forth to get the bow/hull to "surf" it's way up on plane (broadside of bottom of hull, vs. cutting the water like a knife)
- Sometimes, you will see raceboats do this, or boats propped for top speed: Push throttle forward until the prop starts to blow out. Then yank the throttle back, and the wake will hit the back of the boat. Then use this wall of water to bury the prop into (less ability to blow out), and the wake hitting the boat will also surf you up a bit.

The key to get this boat on plane with 5 people on board is to have the trim tabs all the way down and to pin the throttle all the way after 1,000 RPM. I was babying the throttle before when the boat was failing to get on plane causing the boat to plow through the water.

It should run 59-60mph with that combo. I had same boat, same power, and 23 Mirage Plus. Getting on plane was hard with 4 passengers and full of fuel.
A 22 Bravo 1 will change planing out immensely and get rid of the porpoise at cruise speeds

21 and 23 pitch mercury mirage 4500 50 mph max.

This might help getting on plane
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...aca8e3121.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a4d92299a.jpeg

They helped me get on plane and stopped some of the porpoising,

How's the structure of the boat? Maybe you got a whole lot of extra weight in wet wood

So you run the same rpm with a 21 and 23 Mirage???
If so, its sounds like you're down on power, have a hook in the hull or have a wet hull thats weighing it down.

24 Outlaws need to be trimmed way up to get top speeds. Are you trimming up until you stop gaining rpms or speed??