Hole Shot Help...

[nofearengineer]

Hey guys,

As you may know, I drive a 2005 Tracker Avalanche...it's an 18.5' aluminum hull, with an Optimax 115 on it.

I use a 13.25 x 20 3-blade stainless Laser II prop.

I max out at 45 mph at 5800 rpm.

The motor is rated for 5750 rpm, so I think I must be pretty close to right.

I use an SE Sport 300 hydrofoil on it, so you'd figure it would have a reasonable hole shot... nothing amazing, but reasonable.

However, I just can't seem to get the thing to plane out very fast. Sometimes it seems like it takes me 10+ seconds to get up on plane. I trim it way down like I'm supposed to do and slam the throttle down, but it's still a dog.

I rode with Woody this past weekend in his Skeeter, which has a 150 VMax, and the thing was just ridiculously strong, even with both of us in the boat. I know he's got more ponies under the cowling, but his boat was planing out in just a hair over 3 seconds, fully loaded. (I may have to change my handle to "crylikealittlegirlengineer" after our runs across the lake though , Woody is one bassboat-drivin' dude, let me tell ya!)

For now, I'm pretty content to "putter around" below 50 mph (maybe 60 for a dawn run across a glassy lake), but I'd like a bit faster take-off, I guess. I would love in two years to buy a 175 Optimax (what the boat is rated for) and learn how to drive it really well, but I'm still interested in getting everything out of what I have now. I love just about everything else about the boat.

Are these slow hole shots just a symptom of too small motor? Or could I have a problem with my hull? Anways, I know there are a lot of experienced guys on here, and I value your opinions.