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Just bought a 79 20' enchanter need a good starting place

T

tfmech

New member
I been looking for a checkmate for a while. Was looking for a little smaller boat but got a good deal on the enchanter figured I would put my 135 horse on it till I can dig up a bigger motor. The boat is a 79 enchanter motor is a 1976 135 evinrude with boysen reeds and a little extra compression.

I am going to buy a manual jack plate for the boat. How much setback should I get? How high would be a good place to start with the motor?

I was pushing a 19 pitch stock OMC stainless on the 15.5 foot bass boat to 65 with it but I don't think it will push it on this one. I was wanting to get a performance prop for it this time anyway. Any good ideas on a starting place.

The next question the boat has dual steering cables on it because it used to have a 175 black max on it. Is there a kit for the dual cables on my old 135 hp.

I have all winter to get it ready for spring so tell me what you guys think. I was thinking I might do a low water pickup but don't know if I really will need it with the 135. Tell me what you guys think.

Thanks,
Kris
 
Welcome!

A quick search seems to reveal you need OMC part number 0174798 to hook up a dual cable setup, which I highly recommend keeping. Available on eBay. Makes a big difference on my Checkmates.

I have a 86 Enchanter. My Mariner (Mercury) 175 pushes it to right about 60 with a 25 pitch prop. I'd try to get a power jackplate if you bother with one at all. I know I can jack mine higher once I get moving, and pick up even more speed. If I try to pull skiers at that setting, though, it'll just start slipping the prop like mad.
 
jumbofordman said:
Welcome!

A quick search seems to reveal you need OMC part number 0174798 to hook up a dual cable setup, which I highly recommend keeping. Available on eBay. Makes a big difference on my Checkmates.

I have a 86 Enchanter. My Mariner (Mercury) 175 pushes it to right about 60 with a 25 pitch prop. I'd try to get a power jackplate if you bother with one at all. I know I can jack mine higher once I get moving, and pick up even more speed. If I try to pull skiers at that setting, though, it'll just start slipping the prop like mad.
Click to expand...

Well I will have to order up one of those kits for the steering. I guess I might have to give the prop a try that I have on there to see where it is at before I go looking for a better one.

I might get a power jack plate guess I will just see how money on the project is when I get to that point. I am looking for a good top speed with this boat as we don't do much skiing or pulling tubes. We use the pontoon for that. When I do buy one weather power or manual how much set back should I be looking for??
 
I'm not a Pro here by any means but I'll give you my thoughts. If your purpose is pretty much to only go fast then I would not spend the money on a hydraulic plate, I'd by a manual plate that you set it once and leave it alone. On my Pulsare I put a 10" plate carrying my Merc 200 EFI (410 pounds). Assuming your transom has structural integrity I think you could go even farther assuming your rigging can reach that far.

My 10" plate worked well for me. I believe the farther back you go the more potential you have to porpoise at slower speeds. If you never go slow, then keep going back. For me, I run in some pretty rough water at times and it was important to keep some slower speed maneuverability. I was able to stay on plane at about 3000 rpms doing about 30 mph.
 
In addition to what was said above I wouldn't go spending a lot of money trying to maximize a 135 on that boat as it's grossly underpowered at that point and money would be far better spent towards a 200 or bigger. Not trying to rain on your parade, just trying to be a realist.

John
 
I agree with the others on what's stated above. My humble opinion I would look to trade up that 135 for 200,225 or 250, if the goal is to go fast. I would make sure the transom is solid and add some beef back there to handle the weight and setback. Lastly I would add hydraulic steering if and when you go to a larger motor. Good luck!:thumb:
 
I would defiantly trade up if I ran across a good 200 for a good price. I really don't know how much I could get for the 135 I have. I agree it will be way under powered with the 135. I am really not worried about swapping motors. I like doing that stuff. I really just want to buy the right stuff from the beginning so I don't have to buy a different plate, different steering, and all when I do get a bigger motor. I may find a bigger motor before I bolt the 135 on but I just want to get the right stuff so all I have to do is adjust the stuff I have and not buy a bunch of new stuff.
 
Problem is you should just get it over with and go to hydraulic steering (or at least dual cable) if you're planning on running over 65 or so but there's a good chance that steering won't work on the next motor you get if you switch motor brands. There's even a chance that you won't be able to reuse it if you go from a 135 Rude to a 200 Rude. You should do some research and find out. Whatever prop you get for the 135 will likely be useless on the next motor as well. So basically at this point its looking like the only thing you can definitely reuse is the jack.

John
 
I already has dual cable steering. I will probably sell off what ever prop I buy with the 135 since it will be to small for the v6 gear case 13 1/4 is max on the v4 gear case. I am sure I am going to have to get a 14 or bigger for the next animal.

So if all I will be able to reuse is the jack plate which one should I get or is it a further back you can go the better thing.
 
Prevent sadness

Hi,

The very first thing you need, before a bracket, before a tow vehicle, before a Jack, before gas, is a bigger motor.

There is nothing cool about running 43.5 miles an hour in a boat that wants to go 65. The math is simple, 135 HP, 23 pitch, 2:1, 20%slip, 43.56 MPH in the BBladeds calculator world. Using a more sophisticated program proved out on my Enchanter I got 44.53. that calculation is hull-form and displacement based using your HP.

I run with just about a 100 more HP and that hull will take more. I run a pretty dialed in setup for all round and still want for more HP.

You need a 200 Black Max.

Cheers.

Rex II

PS check my video in the "Checkmates in action" section, when I'm coasting back to the camera i'm doing 45. That boat needs and you deserve more HP!
 
RexII said:
Hi,

The very first thing you need, before a bracket, before a tow vehicle, before a Jack, before gas, is a bigger motor.

There is nothing cool about running 43.5 miles an hour in a boat that wants to go 65. The math is simple, 135 HP, 23 pitch, 2:1, 20%slip, 43.56 MPH in the BBladeds calculator world. Using a more sophisticated program proved out on my Enchanter I got 44.53. that calculation is hull-form and displacement based using your HP.

I run with just about a 100 more HP and that hull will take more. I run a pretty dialed in setup for all round and still want for more HP.

You need a 200 Black Max.

Cheers.

Rex II

PS check my video in the "Checkmates in action" section, when I'm coasting back to the camera i'm doing 45. That boat needs and you deserve more HP!
Click to expand...

I do agree with everyone I do need a bigger motor. I have been on the hunt for one around Indianapolis but they seem hard to find. I am pretty much on a four hour circle around Indy and anywhere in between here and Memphis that I can pick something up but really haven't found a lot. I will take a motor running or not just has to be repairable. I have found a couple beyond repair. If you guys know of any 200hp and above send them my way.
 
Ok so now I need some setup ideas. I just picked up a early 80s 200 HP evinrude. Ideas on props, set back motor height??
 
I have a custom 14 inch Vance Jack plate, but the 12 inch are available on ebay for $300.

I run different heights depending on prop but in the 1-3 inch below the pad range.

My go to is a worked 24 Chopper II set at 1.75 below.

My boat is very light for an Enchanter and for best speeds so far im spinning a 26 and looking to go to a 28 for top speed light loads.

Hope that is a starting point for you.

Cheers,

Rex II
 
That sounds just like what I was looking looking for I was looking at either a 10-12 which they seem to be about the same price. The motor I bought came with a 4 blade ventilated 25 pitch bass boat prop. I will probably try it first just to see where it is at before I make a trip to the prop shop. I guess I will get it all mounted on the boat and set it about 2 inches to start and try it.

Thanks for the help.
 
Go with the 12. That vented 25 is a great base prop you will be very happy, I relocated the jack, but the OEM Holes in the transom will give you plenty of lift . I'm set in the second hole down on the motor bracket and raised all the way i'm 1" below the pad. start out at 3 below.


Make sure you have a pressure gauge and use it to limit the amount of lift. I like to see 15 PSI at full throttle and 20 plus running at 4000.

It's a cool boat, Keep An Eye On that Transom!
 
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