2006 NX 750 holeshot

[BassinBob]

I know there are active topics right now concerning this subject but to make keeping tabs on "mine" easier I thought I'd start yet another one....

I have a 2006 NX 750 with the Optimax 90 (the only motor available from Nitro on this model)

I have a major hole shot problem. I have not fished a tournament with a parter from this boat yet so I don't know what to expect other than worse.

With me, full gas and a full livewell the boat just wallows bow high FOREVER before climbing out of the hole. It's turning a 19" aluminum prop, and alone I can reach the overspeed horn just about touching 50mph (actually 48.8 GPS).

I thought about going to a bigger prop for the top end limit, but I would lose what holeshot I have. Do ya'll think a hydrofoil would solve this problem? A smaller prop is not an option - the one on it now was repaired already but it was balanced and tuned afterwards.

Aside from the holeshot issue I love the boat. It's big enough to handle Seminole or Eufaula on most days, small enough to fish just about anyplace I care. Fuel consumption - AWESOME! I fished 4 seperate trips plus one tournament and never burned 20 gallons of gas (did a lot of running around too). My 285 Stratos (yep, I have 2 boats since I'm putting the Stratos back together) with the 150 would have required a second mortgage to run that much in 2 weeks.

My only complaint is with the "out of the hole" performance. The motor tucks all the way under (no stop pin), spools up fine but she's very reluctant to plane out with the livewell full. Comes up fairly okay when its empty. Would moving one of my trolling motor batteries to the front make much difference?

Beside this issue its a 100% fishing machine that feels every bit as big and fishable as my 19' Stratos. It performes great for what it is - not a speed demon by a long shot but speed don't win tournaments and with gas heading back towards $3.00 a gallon at the end of the day I'll have spent considerably less to fish .

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions.

Sincerely
Bassin' Bob Smith - Crestview, FL

[bassmaster350]

A hydrofoil should help it out some and putting the battery in the front. But it should plain off without it either. The boats around 17 ft aint it? The prop could be the problem.

[BassinBob]

Its 17' 6" yes. I am seriouly considering the foil, and a new prop. I want to go with a stainless prop too, it may help some by not flexing when I dump the throttle and biting sooner. The Battery I will move forward someplace. SInce its a 12v motor I can always see what happens and just do a battery swap when I need the fresh one. The only thing I worry about with the battery forward is that that part of the boat takes a pounding in chop or rough water. There is the possibility of structural damage from the weight of the battery - even if is secured - I think.

I agree it should plane out anyway. Its been a dog out of the hole from day one (about a month ago). I'll bring it up when I take it in for its scheduled maintenance - and install the hydrofoil in the meanwhile.

Bob

[mitchell]

BB, I have a 05 750 w/125 and I put a fin on it. If you read my board you'll see the results. I would leave your battery where it is and put a SS prop on it. I agree it is about the perfect size boat for me and the waters I like to fish here in Louisiana. The boat is rated for a 135HP max so you could have gotten that put on but it would have really cost you. Hope this helps.

Mitch

[BassinBob]

The holeshot is better? Don't ask me what happened but the other day the wife, my son and I, full fuel and full livewell --- she climbed out fine, a bit slower than usual with just me but thats normal. No idea what happened, but I like it

Yes Mitchell, the '06 750 is rated for 135, but the ONLY motor available from Tracker Marine is the 90 OptiMax - nothing else is an option from TM since they went to either the 4-stroke or OptiMax (no other 2-strokes available) on all their bass rigs this year. If I keep this boat long enough to repower it'll get a 135 most likely.

The fin and SS prop are at the top of my shopping list still, should make a big improvement.

Fishing Lake Seminole this coming Sat, guess I'll find out how she handles big water. Shouldn't be too bad, I've run Seminole and Eufaula in 17' rigs before...

Bob

[mitchell]

Did they say why the 135 optimax wasn't available? Thats why I did everything I could to get a 05 model. Didn't want to pay the extra 3000 for the 135. I had to search a lot of places for 1 of only 2 125hp left in my area that would ship to BPS and it is a saltwater model from Texas. I took some time but it was worth it. Even with a 125 it was slow out of the hole with 2 people and gear but the fin help that a lot. It also helps on the control at WOT. The only thing i've noticed is it pulls to the left a little while getting up on plane but it said that would happen so no big deal.

Mitch

[BassinBob]

Due to the weight of the OptiMax and 4-stroke the 90 is as large as they can go without hanging too much weight on the back end. It is a huge motor for its hp to be sure. The Johnson 150 on my Stratos is smaller in size then the optimax 90!

BobS

[Ron Fogelson]

BassinBob someone miss informed you or I'm not reading this and getting the whole story right.  The 750 is rated for a 135 now a 4stroke my have been to heavy but not the optimax.  Now the Opti is more expensive then the other Mercury 2 strokes but that is a cash issue not an availability issue.  Sounds as if the guys you deal with had your 750 set up with the 90h and just wanted to move it without having to change it out.  You can go right to the Nitroboats.com and see right on the site that the 135 is an option but comes standard with a 90 optimax for 06 here is the link to the standard set up.  http://nitroboats.com/boat/index.cfm?boat=1945

"NX 750 Compact in length and wide where it counts.

View promotions for this boat. Length: 17' 6''
Max HP: 135
Person Capacity: 5
$16,495 USA "

I had the Nitro 640 before going to the 929 and it's rated for a 50hp but I got it with the 75 and the max rated was 90.  With the 75 I still ended up going with a fin to help with the hole shot.  The extra battery you carry is also a weight factor one thing you could try as I did was replace the cranking battery with a deep cycle so I had more juice for the trolling motor when needed.  If you do this and wire both batteries together pos to pos and neg to neg you will reduce the weight carried by the crank battery and go back to only two batteries.  But make sure you carry a jump pack with you.  Would hate to see you get out on the water after a long day of fishing and not be able to start your big motor because you ran the battery down with the trolling motor.  The jump packs are around 29bucks now and don't weigh much.

You also said you were thinking of a stainless steal prop.  That is a good idea to help get ride of the flex you are having now but they are heavier and will not spin up as easy so you may have to go down in prop size a bit.  You should also check your setup if you're having a hard time getting on plane and getting too many RPMs once up on plane your motor could be set to high.

[BassinBob]

I may not have explained that last post clearly - Tracker Marine does not offer the 750 with any motor options other then 90 Opti or 90 4-stroke. Matter of fact, there are no "regular" 2-stroke option on any 2006 Nitro Bass Boats - you either get the OptiMax or the 4-Stroke. If it was offered with the 135 I would have opted that way to be sure. I know price is the factor that drives the engine size Tracker Marine offers standard on their boats (price looks great until you decide to upgraqde to enough hp to make it perform), but in this case there is no upgrade available from Tracker Marine other than to the 90 4-stroke.

Here are the Motor Options for the 2006 750

http://nitroboats.com/boat/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.motors&boat=1945

Been thinking about the prop issue and I may stay aluminum for right now; with a spare. If I can get a hold of a SS just to run, I may go that way but don't want to spend the $$ for the SS without knowing how she'll run.

I'm running 2 deep cycles for the trolling motor - since is a 12v 46lb motor I run on 3 or better most of the time and need the second battery to have power all day. I don't like really "sharing" the starting battery with the trolling motor (or anything else for that matter).

Last weekend with myself, wife and son - full fuel, full livewell - she climbed up fine (average) so I don't know why before that it had such a hard time. Go figure 

Overall I still feel pretty good about the choice - the size is not huge but I can run anyplace my 18'10" Stratos would have gone and I have absolutely no complaints about the fuel economy of the OptiMax - with 26 gal I have as much range as my 150 had with 40 - just won't get there near as fast 

BobS

[OutdoorFrontiers]

Bob,

Check with some of the prop shops in your area.  Many times you can consult with them, find a better prop for your boat and they'll let you try it out.  If the boat doesn't perform well, they can then let you try different styles and pitches until you get what you want.

Providing you don't damage the prop during testing, they should allow you to keep trying different models.  If you do however, you've just bought a prop! 

If you can't find a stainless prop that gives you better performance, I'd be willing to be that they'd allow you to trade it in on a spare aluminum similar to what you have now.

Steve

[J10B]

my 700lx 120hp has an awesome holeshot... as in the bow barely lifts and she is on plane....
has the motor been tuned?   It seems to be lagging.

[BassinBob]

PROBLEM SOLVED:

I added a Stingray Hydrofoil Stabalizer to the motor and all I can say is WOW! 

I didn't know what to expect from the hydrofoil, but it exceed any possible expectation I may have had. I went from no holeshot (bow high and plowing water  , to no holeshot because the boat just pops up with virtually NO bow lift!  ) For a "bolt-on" performance part the Stingray Hydrofoil is by far the best investment of $50.00 I have EVER made, without exception!!!

I lost about 1 mph on top end which is virtually nothing.

The boat used to porpoise badly in turns as well, with the hydrofoil she is rock solid around turns - tight or loose. In general it tremendously improved performance all around except for dropping a miniscule amout of top end because of the foils shape (turned down slightly at the trailing edge).

I ran with myself, another person (about 180lbs) full gas, full livewell and lots of tackle - almost a tournament load.

I would recommend the addition of the hydrofoil to ANY rig even if you think your holeshot is outstanding.

Bob Smith - a.k.a. BassinBob

[Ron Fogelson]

That is great news BassinBob, sure glad you got her all figured out!   

[BassinBob]

Thanks Fogy, I'm kind of glad as well

Bob

[Ron Fogelson]

LOL  I bet! 

I put one on my 640 / 75hp 1999 nitro, it made a  world of difference!