ZX 250 Skeeter

Have 2018 ZX 250 Skeeter with 250 Yamaha Sho 3 blade SS prop. Currently i'm only getting 65MPH top end @ 62 RPMS with just myself and tackle, I think this boat should get closer to 70 top end but not sure. Don't get me wrong 65 is plenty fast enough and i'm not a speed freak just was thinking top end should be a little more. If any of you have the same boat and Motor let me know if 65 Top end is al it's going to get Tks!

Mine is a 2019 but loaded with my gear and a full tank of fuel i am hitting 72-73mph easily even in the heat. That is with 2 Power Pole Blades as well. I feel like it has another mph or two in it.

I have the same boat and that is way to many rpms...is that a 25 pitch? If it is you might want to lower the engine or you could be over trimming the engine.

My 2019 ZX250 will hit 70 no problem with me and my 185 lb son with me; including all tackle and 2 power poles. Maybe you aren't getting your trim adjusted right. Do you have a hydrolic or manual jack plate?

Mark do you have a Manual Or hydraulic Jack Plate if Manual do you know what dot your Motor height is set at as in how many dots are showing? I was told that at 63 RPMS and Top end speed of 63mph that motor may be setting on dot 7 and that I may need to drop it down a couple of dots and maybe have my Prop re cupped. Going to look when I get home see what height motor is set at may drop it down a couple of dots and give it a test run. I assume it's at factory settings.

That sounds like alot of RPMs for 65mph. I have a 2013 w/ a 250hp and a 26p fxp prop. It will run about 72mph around 6000rpms, 65mph I'm usually running about 5600rpms.

Manual...mine is set on the 7th dot.

Mine is Manual Jack Plate also I will check it tomorrow and see what dot mine is set on make and adjustment with a test run and see if any improvements. I talked with a guy at a Prop shop and he seemed to think if it is sitting on 7 I may need to lower it a bit. By lowering the motor would that show more dots or less?

I'm running the 25P SHO prop on mine. Everything is stock.

I’ve got the same setup as Mark. Turning 6000 +/- hitting 69-70 with two people loaded heavy. One thing I’ve noticed with this boat is that it’s easy to over trim. Backing it down will gain you 2-3 mph.

Too many rpms for sure and you are lacking 5-8 mph, maybe a prop issue. On my Skeeter ZX 225, when running wide open, il trim it up completely, then hit the the down trim about 3 or 4 times and then tweak 1 up or 1 down while watching speed to find its max.

Can’t figure out why anyone wants to go 70 in a bass boat.

I can’t figure out why anyone would want to go below 70 in a bass boat.

Yep

I don't know where the limiter is set on a sho. And i agree that the rpm's are high for the speed. I don't get why everyone says he is spinning it to high. If he isn't hitting the limiter then he isn't turning to many rpm

You 70 mph boys have fun with that @$&$......

https://youtu.be/YobMW95xV8Q

I wish my boat would do 65! That’s why I keep mine on KPH. 100 looks cooler.

You can do that at 40mph too.

Not sure how that video has anything to do with running 70.

Right on Super Freak. That why I cruise at 35.

The only reason I go 70s in my boat is because it won’t run 80.........or I’d be runnin 80......

Now I am absolutely entertained. 😜

The lady angler section is a bit further down....

Been on a lot of forums over the years. Testosterone levels at all time high here boys. Egos away. Again I’ll say, have fun at 60 mph plus. You boys will grow up one of these days.

I (you left that out of your incomplete sentence ) can't figure out why anyone needs to worry about others wants.


#possibleliberal

Like to come on here and mix it up. It’s friday night and I’ve had a few. Just having some fun as some of these guys are too. You can take your liberal comment and cram it it up your @&&.

I guess you are trying to make a point about using the kill switch? Good idea...and it's actually the law now.

6150 should be the limiter. Are you looking at a manual tack or a nmea or command link? First things I would check are ptp and making sure your getting wot.

That's about right. They won't run 70 unless they are being pulled by something faster.

I have the same boat 2017 250 zx and Mine will only do 67 with a tail wind and on a perfect day. I had an I-class 21 ft with the 250 hpdi and it would do 75-76 and it was a much wider and heavier boat. The zx is not near the quality of finish of the older I class carpet live-well valves etc. I have replaced the live-well valve twice already. The boat takes rough water very well but is slow as heck. The skeeter contingency money has about paid me enough to get a different boat. And yes I Know how to drive a boat and trim a boat. I had one of the first tritons with the hydraulic jack plates that would do 80. I drew a big co-angler and the zx would only do 60 you talking about a competitive disadvantage and a loss of fishing time!!!

Something’s up. My TZX190 with a 2003 F150, 12” jack plate, reliance prop, 3” PTP will run 60 GPS with a full load, two 200 lb guys, 4 batteries, two blades, two half tanks of fuel. It does get slower by about 1 mph per livewell full of water. 57-58 by the end of a tourney.

I’d imagine your boat should easily be a 70mph, fully loaded, rig.

so is your motor a four stroke or 2 stroke, I noticed when I had the I class with the two stroke 250 I could leave any skeeter with a sho in the morning at take-off. My zx is a completely tournament ready boat with twin blades, graphs batteries etc. but the I-class had the same equipment. I have no doubt your boat will run the numbers you are saying, because I started with similar boats and those were the numbers I got. I honestly believe my boat is engineered to run like that for liability reasons as it is incredibly stable running down the lake at that speed. Just about any novice could drive my current boat at WOT. It seems to run beside every other skeeter- sho in the morning, sometimes a guy in a fx may be going a mile or two faster but I think that's because of a hydraulic jack plate. Speed does make a difference on tournament day going to the same spot, long travel times etc. all take away from the number of casts I can make.

My boat has a four stroke. It is REALLY good from the hole and gets to 60 quickly. Then it’s just a wall. Doesn’t matter what little trim adjustments I make (to an extent), it doesn’t go faster.

I think your boat should be faster. I know a few friends with ZX250’s, FX21’s, ZX225’s, and they ALL are 70ish boats. That said, a couple of friends have brand new ZX190’s with 150 SHO’s and they are not even close to running with my older hull and F150. So, maybe the newer boats are heavier, or the SHO’s have been neutered. Ha. My team mate runs a 4-5 yr old ZX21 with an SHO 250 and that boat is noticeably FASTER than all the others with the same length/motor combo. So, maybe tolerance stacking works out better on some and has negative performance impacts on others boats.

Anyways. Good luck with the boat.


As for racing to a spot? It isn’t about getting one more cast, ITS ABOUT GETTING “THE SPOT”!!! Some lakes fish small. And one spot is getting paid and a spot close by ain’t getting a limit.

I could be wrong but I don't think the SHO's are quite as fast as the two strokes. My 04 ZX225 runs 70-72. My cousin just got a new ZX 225 and his is running 65-67.

2018 ZX 225. My boat is very load sensitive. 2 man full load in the summer, 67. Light load, me only, in the winter, 75+. I’m showing 9 dots on jp, came 7 from factory. Dual power poles. It’s a real sporty ride solo!

Update on my ZX250 Skeeter I send my MPH & RPMS to Josh @Steve Prop Service he suggested to drop my motor 1/4" and run it to see if number changed and they did I got 68 instead of 65 MPH and lowered RPMS also tried a Prop my neighbor had re cupped at Steve's Prop shop and it i got 71.5 @ 5900 RPMS so my Prop is going to Steve's for Prop work. Thanks to all of you for the information on how your boat preformed.

Good info. I have a question about the "need for speed" if you will. Let's say it's a small water tourney and a certain point is producing Fish and it's open water from ramp to the spot. Two or three boats take off and it's neck and neck all the way....who gets it?