a little backstory... my 09 gtr 35 hp (with 300 hours) will run 27 mph (with 1650 xpress) up and down the river no problem with fishing load, coolers etc... jumps right up on plane.

last weekend duck hunting with 3 grown men, dog, boat blind, cooler, 3 dozen decoys, guns, etc. I could only hit 14 mph down stream. On the way back I moved my 2 buddies to the front of the boat hoping to get more prop out of water and all I could hit going back upstream was 10 mph!!!!!

my rpms were only going around 3100 and it felt like a rev limiter was being hit because i would get some reving up and down. Once we finally got back I unlaoded the 2 other guys and drove it on up to the ramp (everything else still in boat) and it popped right up spraying a rooster tail and acting as strong as ever....

Have I just found that amount of weight that it cant handle or do have other issues? I know thats vague and there are prob lots of variables at play... I would just have expected my rpms to be around 4k even with a load, and I wouldn't expect my mph to drop 17 mph.... thanks

Boat size? Trimmed up enough?

The lower rpm says it was biting good, just need a little more power.

1650 xpress boat. Trimmed all the way up but couldn't throw a rooster tail like normal.... so do I just need to find less fat friends?

My dad has a 1652. Just doesn't have enough power for that load. Will is right. Just need to put all your friends on major diets.

300 hrs sound like a valve job is in your near future.
Along with mods like what was said. These are mud motors, not outboards.

Have one of your friends buy a boat, or pay you for some mods LOL. That motor had its tongue hangin out

I have the same boat with a 07 35gtr and run around 23-24 with me and 2 guys and dog and gear
only time I have a issue with speed is when somebody decides to ride on the nose of the boat and makes me plow water but as long as my weight is balanced out it does perfect

Maybe I just gotta play around with the weight more... my buddies were on the nose going upstream when I was hitting 10 mph. Plowing I'm sure....

Anyone know what a value job and maybe some mods costs? Lol

500 to 4k..

Would it make me able to push the load better if I used the top pin hole on the transom mount instead of the middle one? I think that would help me get my prop out of the water more with a heavy load. In the middle slot I can only get it out when planed out and trimmed all the way up

I run mine in the middle hole lol

weight on the front of a boat will kill a surface drive just like you was seeing. put both of your freinds in the middle and i bet you would at least get on step

MB HD 35 Sport here on 1750 Gator Trax with /hunt Deck. Ran mine this weekend for the Alabama opener. At first had 2 guys and my dog up front, me and another guy in the stern. Boat was plowing hard and couldn't get about 7-10 mph! Moved both the guys up front to the middle and stepped up on plane quick and was steady running 19-20mph.

Weight placement is everything!

I played with weight placement a little more this weekend put my buddies in the middle and put decoys up front. still couldn't get it going... it's like i'm stuck in slow motion. couldn't get more than 2500 rpms on saturday. it hits 4200 out of the water but in the water its weak. i even unloaded my buddies and ran around the lake. still unable to get a rooster tail going with just me, couple dozen decoys, dog, and a boat blind.

beginning to wonder if my prop has gotten too worn or something. got a guy thats gonna look at it... i'm out of ideas.

measure your prop from tip to tip of blade when they are new it is 12 inches if its wore past the 11 mark I am sure that is your problem

i'll measure it when I get home? anyway to check the cup and see if its been slightly bent or anything... ?

while i'm thinking about it... would pods help get the prop out of the water and therefore get me faster? I know the old saying that pods give you more drag. but I can't get my prop out of the water with a hunting load even trimmed all the way up and in the top hole.

The load you're carrying is too much for the boat. Don't try to put a bandaid on a bullet wound. A 1650 isn't enough boat with that motor for that load. A valve job will help, but wont make 3 guys and gear plane out and run well with a 1650. It would take more power to handle that load on that boat.

I'm seeing/hearing lots of people say they are running low 20s with a load and a 1650 boat.... just wondering what they are doing different than me lol

Prop is 12" fyi.... both spark plugs are sparking too

A different load.

Seriously, do a compression test and post back the results.

my 07 35 carrys 3 guys with gear and dog just fine guys weigh 230,180, 170 plus a 70lb dog and gear prolly weighs total of 80lbs


do you have a tall or short transom tate?

Did a compression test this fall and both were good. I can recheck it again later this week.

Tall transom

Mine is a short transom so I don't know if that would make a difference


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Would valve lash cause me to lose HP? thats my next option i guess... my friendly gatortail mechancis said for $85 an hour they would tell me what was wrong with it...