I have recently purchased a 18x60 GDSD boat with a 35hp GDSD. This is my first mud motor to own. I ran it for the first time last week and it performed great in the shallows, but the motor kept lifting up and blowing out when I was running in deeper water. Any advice would be appreciated.

my lt used to do this constantly, just bend the very end of the cavitation plate up or down til it feels right.

Do not bend the cavitation plate... It's not a longtail. Bend the trim tabs located in front of the prop. Bend them up just a hair it usually doesn't take much

oops my bad, im talking lt's here, sorry!

i have my trim set a little high and have no problems in the deep or the shallows.

If its like mine it didnt come with trim tabs. If not look at GD's website and build ya some like in the picture like I did.

Marsh Bandit - has your answer there, those two small V shaped
tabs below the prop on the skeg, just bend them up about 1/4" or so....

Also as prop wears out it tends to have more tendency to "blow out"...

It is a pain to measure the diameter of a three blade - but the blades are
3 1/2" wide when new - under 3" - prop is gone - change/rebuild...

Thanks for the help guys...I bent the tabs up and it's running alot better.

Great - with less than 100 days to Duck Season - we are all tweakin'

our rigs and getting everything ready.... Here is the info I just saw...



3 weekends of Teal - Sept 12- Sept27 2009
5 weekends of Reg - Oct 31 - Nov 29 2009
7 weekends of Reg - Dec 12 - Jan 24 2010

6 ducks per day.

May up Woodies to 3 per day, 5 mallards (2 hens)

I'm already having trouble sleeping...!!!!

How did your prop test go on Sunday Giga?

Good, hard to beat that GD 3 blade for diggin power...

The 2 blade is a bit faster though by 3 mph solo and 2 man...

Went yesterday to run my lines and dang there were 2 PDs and
several MMT types throwin bait like crazy lookin for them tagged fish...

River,

Well it might depend upon which 2 and 3 blade props you were comparing.

GD's 2 blade is 1 inch more pitch and 1 inch greater diameter than their
3 blade - so on a light rig the 2 blade is faster at WOT, at least on both
of my rigs. Now mid range or holeshot on that 3 gives greater acceleration
and could be phrased as "faster" in that regard.

I can not see much difference in vibration on either when they are new
or in good condition. Only vibration I have felt was on a worn prop and
it was likely way out of balance or bent from livin a hard life.

I had to bend the tabs in front of the prop. This makes a big difference. I also had some prop work done. I had 1 blade that was out of pitch by an inch and the rake was off on another. If your running a 3 blade SD prop you might contact Coastal Propeller in Bridge City, Tx to check yours out. Be sure not to add any more cup! This helped on the hole shot but would make the prop lift out of the water @ top speeds. I had to get them to take some cup out after they added cup.

By the way, I'm running the 18x60GDSD boat w/ a 35Hp SD and have seens speeds up to 29mph on a good day with the right chop.

Robert

Sounds like you got it "dialed in" now....

Duck Season is coming - can't wait ! ! !

The Go Devil 3 blade is 11" with 12 pitch. Not an 11 11.

I think I'll buy a new prop every year before I try to figure that math problem out. Preston, you either know your sheet, or you are a fantastic BSer. But I'm lost as a fart in hurricane, so you got me fooled.

Thats why I said to just measure across the fat part of the blade to
get the width - cause it is easier to tell where you are in the life of
the 3 blade GDSD prop....

Truth is you don't loose nearly as much diameter as blade width
as the prop wears down....

Blade is 3 1/2" wide new --- suffering at 3 1/4" --- gone at 3" wide

Pretty simple...

These props are forged?? Man...learn somethin new every day round here

I think I got one of those props, its tuff!

double post

I'm just impatient.... freakin slow ass internet connection out here

well hell...are they cast or forged?? Now I'm confused

extruded!