BassBoat Performance 2025
JohnnyBigger reply :
I have a 1997 Stratos 295 Pro Elite dual console, 200hp Evinrude Vindicator, 4 blade prop, manual jack plate set for performance by manufacturer, top speed around 62-65 mph. My question is what can I do to get any more speed and what top speed can I reach. Thank you for your help.
Wayne P. reply :
How are you getting the speed figure?
What is your WOT rpms?
What is the height of the prop shaft in relation to the pad?
What is the prop pitch?
JohnnyBigger reply :
how do i get the shaft height, and what pad are you talking about
Wayne P. reply :
You will get those questions from anyone familiar with performance setups. I won't go into the whole explaination of those terms since a web search will do a better job than I.
Way2slow reply :
Prop heigth is measure by placing the boat on a level surface. Hold a level on the bottom of the pad and use the tounge jack to level the hull. Then place a small level on the anticav plate, trim the motor until it's level. Take the prop off and measure from the center of the shaft to the surface, then measure from the bottom of the pad to the surface, the difference between the two measurements is you prop height. All the prop height measurements is anyway is just a good starting point, you adjust it to your setup.
If looking for the most speed from you're boat/motor, you will need the motor turning approx 6,000 rpm with your normal load.
You will need to get a three blade Raker prop. Once the right prop is determined, I would send it off to Bob Lipton and have it tuned for the boat.
You will need at least an eight inch jackplate and a 10" wouldn't hurt, of course that can create problems with control and steering cables not being long enough.
Then it's all about getting the motor set at the right spot to find the sweet spot everything likes best to run.
Also if it was me, I would port the motor and put a set of mid bore 225 carbs on it so the motor's able to spin a 28" raker at 6,500 rpm, putting out approx 300hp. When done with the motor and setup, I would be running a little of 80 mph with two people and gear. I know that because I've been there, done that with my Stratos 285 Pro and my Javelin R-20 DC.
JohnnyBigger reply :
Thanks for the advice ill defenitly have to look into doing that I would like to hit the 70mph mark right now my motor with the 4 blade will on hit 65 gps at 5700 top so im thinking i need to start with the new prop (have to start small so wife doesnt kill me)
Grey Wolf reply :
Good luck , from what I just read you're going to need it.
cart7t reply :
It used to be the formula for speed increases in a typical bass boat were 1 mph = $100. I don't chase the speed thing anymore but I'm sure it's probably closer to $200-300 now.
fishfordollars reply :
QuoteIt used to be the formula for speed increases in a typical bass boat were 1 mph = $100. I don't chase the speed thing anymore but I'm sure it's probably closer to $200-300 now.
Famous quote from my drag racing engine builder..."Speed cost, How fast you wanna Go?"
stratos 375 reply :
I'm thinkin that set up should be expected to hit mid to upper 60's. Maybe an honest 68? How does she handle for you now? I don't know if I'd want much more than 70 from that hull. And The difference between what you got now & 70 ain't that much, and I doubt it will put anymore fish in the livewell. If she handles good now and you go messin with setback/ height & prop parameters you take a slight chance of creating a handling probelm at those increased speeds. Not that is insurmountable or can't be corrected, but it could be annoying & time consuming. I'd enjoy that sucker just the way she is, she's a well made stable fishing platform with decent speed. There's always mods that can be made to the fuel delivery system, air intake & lower unit configuration, but who would want to dump that kind of money into a 13 year old engine. BTW, how has that Vindicator treated you so far?
stratos 375 reply :
after I posted, I looked at your profile. That's a great boat for a guy in his early 20's. Congrats. But unless you've had some serious wheel time ( and maybe you have), high 60's should be enough. Please forgive me if you've been driving these type of boats for many years. I just guessed from the content of your post that you haven't. You still have plenty of time in your life to get a really fast boat if you want. Whatever you decide, just be careful. When you venture into the land over 70, things can happen.strange things in the blink of an eye.
JohnnyBigger reply :
Well the boat handles excellent and your right about all the extra mods being a hassle, mainly what you said about the fuel management air intake prop stuff like that was what I was looking for but i wasn't sure what options I had. The vindicator is awesome the torque with the 4 blade the hole shot is amazing. I do have alot of experience with boats, my uncle has an 84 bass nautique 17' 9" with a 150HO experimental race engine that runs 76 
and is hard to handle which I have driven plus I have a buddy who has a 21' ranger 250 that runs 78 that I used from time to time before I bought mine.....................Also just wondering when I insured my boat the vin brought up at 201 not a 295PEDC like it says on the side which confuses me, have you ever heard of that
fishfordollars reply :
Quotehow do i get the shaft height, and what pad are you talking about
Johnny, no disrespect meant, but if you are not familiar with pads, shaft center lines, and some of the other things you are going to hear, you will be better off taking your boat to a shop and let them walk you through the options. Every one on this site(Me included), will have opinions that differ in regards to equipment, measurements, and brand loyalty.
Equipment failure will be possible if the heights are off, water pressure drops, etc., so take it somewhere and let someone get started on it that will have the boat in their possession and can put it through a test on the water.
Question?
Who in their right mind would turn someone lose in a high 70 mph boat knowing that they have no clue as to pads, prop center lines, chine walk, or any other number of things the operator should be familiar with? That's what gets people killed!!!
Jack
Welcome to the forum.
JohnnyBigger reply :
none taken, im just looking for opinions something to think about and to talk to my marina about
senile1 reply :
QuoteQuotehow do i get the shaft height, and what pad are you talking aboutJohnny, no disrespect meant, but if you are not familiar with pads, shaft center lines, and some of the other things you are going to hear, you will be better off taking your boat to a shop and let them walk you through the options. Every one on this site(Me included), will have opinions that differ in regards to equipment, measurements, and brand loyalty.
Equipment failure will be possible if the heights are off, water pressure drops, etc., so take it somewhere and let someone get started on it that will have the boat in their possession and can put it through a test on the water.
Jack
Welcome to the forum.
Jack
Wise words, indeed. You have a decent boat that runs at a decent speed. Don't take a chance on ruining it in your quest for more speed.
JohnnyBigger reply :
Thank you for all your input, I thing I'm going to try a 3 blade prop and see what I think and if I'm not happy I have a spare. I am mainly interested in bolt on's (which i was not sure if they existed) I do not want to mess with the powerhead for the reasons that the motor runs great, I may sound ignorant about this but I enjoy going fast!! any input on good props is appreciated, I have heard people talk about SS props? What do you think?.....Once again Thank you for your help.
Way2slow reply :
Stainless props are all you can run if you expect to get any kind of performance from it. It will also need to be a high rake prop or you will be throwing your money away. For best speed, it usually takes a three blade. Also, try before you buy. Most dealer will let you try a prop and exchange it for another if it's not right, also longs as you don't knick it. Check with friends and other people that might let you try theirs until you find one close. You want to keep your WOT rpm at 6,000 - 6,100.
The only mods you should consider for your motor would be installing a set of 96 or newer 225 carbs. This is the only difference between a 200 and a 225 motor. Just check your's first, it they have two screws in the butterfly's they are the 200's, if they have three screws, they are probably 225's. They installed 225 carbs on certain models for bass boats which made them 225's with 200 decals, kinda like a 200HO. You can sometimes find a good used set for $250 or so. Again, be sure before you buy, their are a bunch of different ones out there that you don't want. Look at your's you will see a threaded brass insert in the lower right corner that you air box screw screws into. Notice yours only has one small screw in orfice on the left side. Only the 96 and later are like that. You will just run the factory 225 jets in them, which is what they should have.
Any other mods you make, you stand a real change of melting piston because all mods require jet changes and if you don't know how to tune a two stroke, you WILL melt pistons.
So, we are at $500 for a prop and $300 maybe for carbs. This may get you to 68 - 70. What's that about $200 per MPH.
JohnnyBigger reply :
Thats great to know i will definitely check on that. Great info thanks
done reply :
Alright guys...this is an honest question, besides having a HUGE lake to fish on, why would you want a boat that goes 70?
I mean with mine at 45, it is tough to see and avoid debris in the channel on Wylie on a clear day.
I would think 70 would be a death sentence.
n2ratfishin reply :
QuoteAlright guys...this is an honest question, besides having a HUGE lake to fish on, why would you want a boat that goes 70?I mean with mine at 45, it is tough to see and avoid debris in the channel on Wylie on a clear day.
I would think 70 would be a death sentence.
#1 Because I like to go fast as long as it's safe.
#2 See #1
#3 For the first time buyer without lessons it can be very dangerous. I wish more dealers would take the time to teach their buyers how to handle the product, and make boaters safety courses mandatory.
JohnnyBigger reply :
It is fun as hell but you go as fast as the area allows. I took a bassboat safety course and I took my unkles boat out with him as his goes 78 and it is a 18' 84 Bass Nautique and he was a professional bass fisherman with the BASS so you have to be smart but also I fish tournaments, the faster you get there the longer you fish.....and its fun
Grey Wolf reply :
Speed kills , I don't care what your driving. Have at it.
JohnnyBigger reply :
you gotta keep your head on a swivel and be safe
done reply :
Well y'all got better vision than me. LOL. Like I said I can fully understand tourneys on a large lake, get to your spots ASAP, but still, I know on my lake, the debris I have seen I would be a nervous wreck.
Way2slow reply :
OK, if the max speed limit on highways is 70mph, why buy a Z06.
I'm am a firm believer in you can't have a motor with too much horse power and you can't have a vehicle of any kind too fast, that includes boats. That doesn't mean you have to run them at WOT all the time, but it's fun when you can.
The only speed limit I know of it you're bank account. I haven't found anything that it doesn't cost bunches to make it go faster, and the faster you wanna go, the more it's gonna cost you.
I haven't had a bass boat that wouldn't run over 70 since 1986. The only thing wrong with a fast boat is the operator. I've seen a lot of idiots with these hydro rockets that didn't have the since god gave a billy goat and wouldn't even be safe in a jon boat.
Besides, I thought everyone knew record size bass swim at over 70 mph and it takes a fast bass to catch them.
Tpayneful reply :
I have a 2009 294XL Evo which has a 200HO Etec, my jackplate is set for my prop to be 2.75" below pad and it has a 3 blade 27 pitch tempest plus prop. That is the best prop for my rig. The boat will run 75 -78mph.
You might want to try that prop over the 26 pitch raker. I have been driving boats for 20 years and was not prepared for how fast this boat goes. I have gotten to 70 MPH but need a ton of seat time to figure out how to drive it properly.
Catt reply :
Another advantage of having horse power in reserve is rough water
You will not find any better advice than what is already posted
Only 4 suggestion
1. Hydraulic steering
2. Hot Foot
3. Seat time
4. Heed the advice given
Way2slow reply :
Now, don't go expecting 70+ mph from your 295, even with 225 carbs and a perfect setup, unless you throw everything in it out but a small amount of gas and a cranking battery. The New hulls are a little faster than the older hulls and those are probably speedo readings on the 294, GPS will probably top it out at about 70. A 27" Tempest @ 5,800 rpm (just guessing on that since that about the max to turn that motor) and 10% slip (which is about as good as you can get on bass boats and is usually closer to 13%) is only 71 mph
As mentioned though, even if you get another 5mph from it, you're going to be in for a shock. 67 - 68 is about the speed the boat is going to be getting up completely on the pad and off the outer strakes. When that happens you learn the true definition of "chine walk". The outer strakes have little turned down hooks to improve hole shot and keep the boat nice and stable at WOT. When there's enough lift for it to come off those, you have a whole different kind of boat to learn to drive.
You also learn a whole new meaning to boat setup. If you have steering cables, they can't have any play in them, the helm (steering wheel) can't have any play in it. Motor mounts have to be nice a firm, no soft mounts etc. Anything that will let that motor wiggle on it's on without input from the steering wheel can make it totally undriveable. You may even get to learn what a skegg trim tab is.
70 mph bass boats are nothing like driving your standard lake cruiser.
Tin reply :
All this talk about Tempest props...anyone every try the Fury?
That thing is super light.
Nitro 882 reply :
QuoteThanks for the advice ill defenitly have to look into doing that I would like to hit the 70mph mark right now my motor with the 4 blade will on hit 65 gps at 5700 top so im thinking i need to start with the new prop (have to start small so wife doesnt kill me)
Don't worry about your wife killin' ya---70mph should take care of that.
done reply :
QuoteQuoteThanks for the advice ill defenitly have to look into doing that I would like to hit the 70mph mark right now my motor with the 4 blade will on hit 65 gps at 5700 top so im thinking i need to start with the new prop (have to start small so wife doesnt kill me)Don't worry about your wife killin' ya---70mph should take care of that.
The other thing I think of is that YouTube vid that has made the rounds on here a couple times with the dude going WAY to fast for conditions and the boat her had. Crosses a wake poorly and spins the boat. I think they tried to use it as an example of why to wear you vest and kill switch. To me it was an example of know what the hell you are doing before you go tearing across the water.
I reckon it is like anything else, you need to learn before you go too far.
Tpayneful reply :
A Stratos 294XL or XL EVO with 200HO Etec, Jackplate set with prop to pad 2.75" with a 27 Tempest Plus does 76 - 78 GPS. C & O Marine it TN sets them up in this configuration and the boat will go that fast. The only problem is having enough seat time to learn how to stop the chine walk.
Nitro 882 reply :
QuoteA Stratos 294XL or XL EVO with 200HO Etec, Jackplate set with prop to pad 2.75" with a 27 Tempest Plus does 76 - 78 GPS. C & O Marine it TN sets them up in this configuration and the boat will go that fast. The only problem is having enough seat time to learn how to stop the chine walk.
They tend to stop chine walkin' when they're upside down.
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