Excel Vanguard 395 / Tohatsu 15hp Efi

[Mattallica]

Hey guys now I have the SIB setup on the trailer with the outboard on I have noticed that the outboard cavitation plate is 30mm below the hull. I have had some advice on the Facebook groups to raise it level with the hull. Does anyone else with an Excel and Tohatsu raise the outboard or have any experience in doing so? What do you guys think? I have only been out in it once and I think that I did experience cavitation but it could have also been that the weight wasn't distributed evenly. I am a complete novice with all this.

[Mattallica]

1” or 25mm is generally deemed acceptable, anything more then you need to try lift the outboard by placing a spacer block between transom and outboard.

Martin

[Mattallica]

Your ventilation issues are more likely to be a result of the time setting on the engine rather than the AV plate running too deep in the water. What hole are you running the engine on? (On the bracket there are a series of 4 or 5 holes with a bar through one of them. This determines the trim. The one nearest the transom is referred to as “in” or first and the one furthest from the transom is “out” or “nth” - depending on the number of holes)

Deep is better than shallow; it just means a bit more drag and possibly some splashing of water over the transom.

[Mattallica]

Hi it's 30mm I think I will try it with a 1 " spacer that should leave it about 5mm below. I can always take it off if it causes problems. Really need to take someone out on it that knows their stuff and can advise the best setup. I will try and get some videos of it next time I am out.

I currently have it set on the second hole from the transom.

[harrison]

Agree, think it should benefit raising a little. Most of our boat/motor combos have performed best with the av plate within 10mm below keel, and easy to do with a 20mm or so spacer.

Trim wise try and get the av plate parallel to the water surface whilst on the plane. To test start well trimmed ‘in’ on say hole 2, then trim ‘out’ one hole at a time until the motor starts to ventilate. When this happens trim back in one hole and this should be the optimum setting. You may find it’s ok in a straight line but ventilates excessively in the turns, in which case, trim in one more hole. To be honest it’s often a compromise. We tend to accept a bit of ventilation in tight turns under power to get better straight line speed.

An hour or so of on water testing soon sorts all this out.

Zodiac/Suzuki within 10mm with 20mm spacer

[Mattallica]

Agree, think it should benefit raising a little. Most of our boat/motor combos have performed best with the av plate within 10mm below keel, and easy to do with a 20mm or so spacer.

Trim wise try and get the av plate parallel to the water surface whilst on the plane. To test start well trimmed ‘in’ on say hole 2, then trim ‘out’ one hole at a time until the motor starts to ventilate. When this happens trim back in one hole and this should be the optimum setting. You may find it’s ok in a straight line but ventilates excessively in the turns, in which case, trim in one more hole. To be honest it’s often a compromise. We tend to accept a bit of ventilation in tight turns under power to get better straight line speed.

An hour or so of on water testing soon sorts all this out.



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Cheers for the advice mate appreciate it I will do some experimenting if the weather ever gets better again

[Golferboy]

Hi there ive have the same boat..(black) and a Suzuki 20hp which is still in the dealers shop awaiting the ease of lockdown.. so a interesting read for me.

[Furyan]

Having just bought the same sib Excel vanguard 395 what size out board would anyone suggest ?, There will be max 2 people and transported by car .
Thank you.

[harrison]

Probably depends on how fast ya wanna go and how strong you are.

Whilst the 395 is rated up to 25hp, which at around 60kg are far to heavy for me to lug around solo. Personally I’d be going for one of the current 20hp efi motors which tip the scales between 43/47kg and will go well on the Excel.

PS: Current 15 and 20hp motors of the same make weigh the same.

[Martin]

Probably depends on how fast ya wanna go and how strong you are.

Whilst the 395 is rated up to 25hp, which at around 60kg are far to heavy for me to lug around solo. Personally I’d be going for one of the current 20hp efi motors which tip the scales between 43/47kg and will go well on the Excel.

PS: Current 15 and 20hp motors of the same make weigh the same.

Absolutely..
The boats are heavy enough on their own, Keeping it down to the max power out of a twin cylinder outboard kinda makes power/weight ratio sense.
The Suzuki and Tohatsu efi's are the lightest in their class, coming in around 42-44kg. If you're happy to handle more weight, then Yamaha are now doing a 2cyl 25hp outboard, but that weighs in at a hefty 57kg.

Martin