I have a new 23 mini surface drive , the dilemma i am having is in shallow water is I can use the shallow water release lock and drop the motor down and it performs around 18 mph . But with motor in normal mounted position and prop half in and out of water I get 10 mph deeper water. what all am I doing wrong . My boat is 1448 and I already moved batteries and tank all the way to the front. I plan to later get a longer hull , but for now I am doing something wrong. Am I right to drive in open water with motor in up position half prop in water and shallow release shallow water lock and drop it. Something is wrong thanks !!!!

What is the transom height?

tall transom

Sounds like a tall transom boat short transom motor problem.

If you are on step, you dont release that trim lever. Only when you need to bump and grind out at low speeds.

How far up do I measure to check motor is tall or short. I paid for a tall model and my mud buddy dealer installed.

if you slide the shallow water in for normal operation, your prop should be still submerged in water, and will surfacedrive once you plane off. My 24hp mini runs 24 mph on an old beat up 1542. With the trim in normal operation the prop is submerged , not half out the water. So sounds like a short transom on a long transom boat.

Thats what I was getting at Woodie

Count the bolts on the back of the belt housing. 11 for short transom, 13 for tall.

Thats for the sport frame Owen, I doubt a mini is the same.

Maybe Team Bitchin'mustache will chime in

You have a lock knob to lock motor for trailering/storing. Then there is the shallow water release, which slides back and forth behind the transom mount. Just wondering if you locking the right one.

Uhhh

I know, I am not trying to be a smartass. Just never know sometimes.

Are you setting the prop while running or putting it half out the water while stopped?

If you are setting it stopped and your RPM's are high, the prop may not be in the water enough. That would explain why its faster trimmed down.

No I wasn't talking about the travel lock , and I was setting the prop half in the water when stopped

OOOOOHHHHH 3 points Woodie!!!!

You set the prop to run 1/2 while on plane, its submerged while stopped.

I would trim it all the way down and run down the channel trimming up until you find the "sweet spot" then you dont fool with it unless load changes or you dig out of a hole.

Will try thank you.....

Yep, score one for woodie. A good place to start is with it on the trailer set the prop nut a few inches below bottom of boat. Them you just trim it up or down as needed.

Team Bitchin Moustache.

Sent from my Commando

Yep it was me the rookie who was the problem thanks guys. Ran a small hp long tail up till now. Surface drives are definitely nice but a little more tricky . Was running 22 to blind this morning.

Good!

What kinda load were you pushing this morning?

Me 170 lbs , daughter 70 lbs ,two batteries up front 40 ea ( 80 lbs ) dozen decoys , 6 gallons of gas up front ,layout blind and boat alweld .100 aluminum about 350 lbs. Didnt hit any real mud but went through solid hydrilla like butter.

Woodie asked how he set the trim from the get go & pretty much nailed it with his guess. Since when did this turn into "look at me...I answered 1st" instead of helpin the guy with his issue? Don't get ya drawers in a knot.

U are correct, the prop needs to be submerged. I have run countless 23 MB and not one would run at the surface like the bigger surface drives or the copperheads do, they all ran top speeds with the prop sumerged. My guess is that they were not meant to be a true surface drive to begin with.

PW

Not pissed or anything, just messing around . Just glad the ole boy got helped out. Gets boring offshore, got to pass the time.

Hah!

but He acknowledged ME first, so that means I'm better than you.