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Here is my 1986 Viper. I recently got a new motor (pictured below) to replace the old Merc in line 6. The new motor is a Merc 115 pro xs and I am very pleased with it so far. We had the boat up to 58 today with three people and a cooler and there was still much more tweaking to be done with the jack plate and trim. I am currently running a 5 blade 26 pitch, so I think I might try a 4 blade 24 pitch...but we'll see. Anyway, here are some pictures.

Here are a couple vids of the boat running with the old Merc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFihi17WXRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARgWig8D4lM

nice boat
nice colour
go for a 3 blade chopper see how you like it
some places will let you try one for a weekend
just let them hang on to one of yours for the weekend

If I go with a 3 blade, would you suggest the same pitch as the 5 blade that I have (26) or a different pitch? Thanks.

i run a 26 pitch 3 blade
it will give you more lift for top end
i saw those videos and the boat is running pretty level to the water
it all depends what you want to do with it

hydrostream76 wrote:i run a 26 pitch 3 blade
it will give you more lift for top end
i saw those videos and the boat is running pretty level to the water
it all depends what you want to do with it

With some positive trim!!!

ccrick wrote:
With some positive trim!!!

Thanks, the only thing I am concerned about is that that the 3 blade 26 pitch will be a bit sluggish at take off. I have only had the boat for a couple of years, so I am still learning about the boats characteristics each time I drive it...I'm also gaining more confidence each time I drive it as well

I think this new motor is going to make things much easier. It has a lot more power than the old motor was giving me and it just feels much more comfertable to drive. With the old motor it was a struggle to get past 55 MPH. With the new motor I got up to 58 no problem. I think the motor mounts on the old motor were no good...which made it feel a bit sloshy.

Anyway, thanks for the prop help!

well this is it
it will take practice
took me a good month with my first hydrostream,
to go full out and hold it there on the pad,trimmed out
you have to be costantly countersteering the walk,to keep her going level
take-offs aren't bad. motor has to be trimmed all the way down
if you want to ski though you may have to go to an aluminum 19 pitch or something
it's what i do...and you can get anybody up...with 4 ppl in the boat, too

hydrostream76 wrote:well this is it
it will take practice
took me a good month with my first hydrostream,
to go full out and hold it there on the pad,trimmed out
you have to be costantly countersteering the walk,to keep her going level
take-offs aren't bad. motor has to be trimmed all the way down
if you want to ski though you may have to go to an aluminum 19 pitch or something
it's what i do...and you can get anybody up...with 4 ppl in the boat, too

Yeah, I've been told it takes a lot of seat time.

I have another question that you might have the answer to (if not I will call Mercury). This new motor does not have a nose cone with low water pick up. I assume I can jack the motor up until the water pressure is too low...but what is an unsafe water pressure? Thanks.

The motor will go into guardian mode if the water pressure drops below parameters. I'd run a 26 trophy or the like for top end so you don't have to listen to the damn warning horn some *** of an engineer designed in when you pass 5800.

A nose cone will void your warranty, but you are'nt going fast enough to really justify one, even though the profile of those gearcases are awfull. You need to air that thing out too..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXxq6l3pK_g&feature=related