This is my first post here, but thank everyone in advance for taking the time to read this and possibly point me in the right direction. I’ve been running a long tail for years, but have just recently bought a 2006 35 GTR mounted on a 16’x48” welded flat boat. The transom is at 15 degrees and is 20.5” measured along the transom surface and 19.5” measured along a plumb dropped to the bottom plane of the hull. The attached photos show the engine trimmed all the way up and all the way down.

When trying to run the boat from a dead stop and with the motor trimmed either down, up, or any way in between, I don’t seem to be getting any thrust from the motor. It gets up to 3700-4000 RPMs, but just plows through the water and has a ton of trouble getting the boat onto plane. It almost seems to be sucking air. After a good bit of effort and trim adjusting, I can get the boat onto plane, but it almost immediately begins to porpoise. I can trim away some of the porpoising, but the boat easily falls off of plane and I start all over again.

I apologize if I’m missing something obvious, but again appreciate any hints you may be able to provide. I’m admittedly very green to these surface drive set-ups. and hope that I'm providing enough information for discussion.

have u tried moving the pin down in either of the next 2 holes, i see its in the top hole now.

Yes. The pin started in the bottom hole but was moved to the top hole in one of my attempts to figure out what was going on. The problem was the same with the pin at either setting.

Transom needs to be 21" tall, and 20 degrees.

Y'all all wrong. It's the prop

Raise the motor to were you 21" with the plumb measurement and order you a new prop!!

Yea he has the old style prop. They suck

Yea it's a 11 but I bet it's only bout 10" or so lol

Prop for sure
X2^^

'06 year ?? Diffently the prop ..... Good props didn't come 'till '07 .... that's when the Gator-Tails sho-nuff set sail !!!! Gonna be yore best money spent !!!!

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I just ordered a new 12" prop from Gator-Tail, so hopefully that will do the trick. I must comment on how nice the lady was that I spoke with. It took maybe two minutes to place to order and have it on its way.

Let us know how it does with the new prop.

I finally got a chance to run the boat with the new prop, and you guys were right. The boat runs awesome. The only other problem I have is that the motor is very hard to steer. Not just hard to steer when underway, but even sitting on the trailer it takes some effort to get it to turn. I don't notice any grease fittings anywhere to lube it, so is there something that I'm missing?
Thanks again for all of the help.

There is two of them. One at the bottom of the pipe and one on top of the pipe where the engine pivots.

My motor (2006) has a locknut on the top and bottom, but no grease fittings.

They have a 90*Grease fitting on the top and a stright one on the botton. Yours may have been broken and never replaced. They are tapped into the threaded vertical shaft.

Thanks again for all of the responses. I checked again, and I'm certain that there are no grease fittings on the motor pivot thing, nor is there any evidence that there once were grease fittings. All I have is a lock nut on top and bottom (I took photos, but can't post them at the moment). Maybe the older motors (2006) didn't have them? I loosened each about a quarter turn and noticed only a very slight improvement, so before I keep loosening them or disassemble the shaft I'd hoped that there was another fix.
Thanks.