I have a 2007 Gator tail with 120 hours..speeds of 21-23mph on a 14x42 alweld with two people. New two blade prop from GT...sounds accurate??? After researching, some of these copperhead motors are putting out 26-29mph on the same boat with a 23hp. Something sounds off to me...

Well, for starters, that motors too big for that boat. Put it on a 1748 and let us know how it does.

Thanks Handiman. I've heard they run faster on wider boats...

Try running with everything moved to the front of the boat. Still too small of a boat but moving the weight around might help. Maybe even adding some weight to the front would help. I have a 1650 with a huntdeck and I even run faster with my ice chest up front than I do without it at all

Ok bass master. Yeh by myself I look like a bass boat taking off. About to get the front deck cut so I can move fuel tank up there. Thanks guys

The good news is that you've got a good motor. The bad news is that your boat is simply not displacing enough water to float level with an almost 300 lb. motor hanging off the transom. The 23 Copperhead motor weighs 138 pounds, where your GT is close to 265 pounds. This is basically like having another person standing behind you while you're running the boat

Even when you move a few pounds of gas up to the front, you're still gonna be sitting ass heavy in the back, which in turn is gonna create more drag than a properly balanced rig. You're also creating more turbulent water behind the boat, which is not exactly a good thing with these surface piercing props.

Long story short, you need to find yourself a longer and wider boat.

Sounds good Handiman. Yes it throws a huge wake wake by myself and your explanation makes perfect sense. A bigger boat is already in the works but this was a quick throw together rig.

Better than putting too small of a motor on and then being screwed when you get a bigger boat!

Do you guys think a gtr25 would push it better??

Nope