Category: Crestliner PT 20

Crestliner PT20 Prop

Crestliner PT20 Prop

Crestliner PT20

As most of you know I have tested many different props trying to find the one that will get this Mercury Pro XS turning 5600 to 5800.

When I was recently fishing down at Lake Guntersville, I began seeing some issues that I knew wasn’t right.  At one stop we made when I looked back at the engine I seen fuel skim on the water.  I went back and made sure connection was all good.  Which it was but never seen where it was coming from around the Mercury Pro XS.

I also noticed a slight miss on the engine from time to time that made me wonder if I had a bad plug or something.  The engine would still turn 5300 to 5400 but that was about all it would do and this was with my Tempest Plus 19p prop.

When I returned from Guntersville early April, I decided I would change out the plugs thinking maybe going through engine break in they may have been fouled up.  My engine has about 34 hours of operation on it.  It will be a year old end of June when I picked it up.

When I removed top right plug and looked at it I about died.

As you can see it has seen better days.  By the way these plugs are about $140 for six so I hope they don’t need changed out too often.

Well I knew it was bad, since the entire metal anode and such was not there and it had only one place to go.  I got on phone with my dealer who told me to get it down there so they can take a better look at this.  Once they got it tore down and pictures sent to Mercury.  Mercury arranged for a new powerhead and injectors to be replaced and got them there the next week.  I was out about a couple weeks but due to timing of me getting to my dealer nearly 5 hours from me we needed to work it into my schedule.  Dealer Unlimted Marine offered to provide me a loaner boat while mine was being repaired.

John Stivers & the Unlimited Marine Team took care of everything in quick order and let me say knock on wood it is now running great.

Once I got it back I did have to go through break in period again, I think this had been a issue for some time even while I was going through testing many different props.

I am now running a Tempest Plus 19P turning 5800 easily now.  Have seen 57 mph with just me and with full tournament load myself and co-anger runs about 54.  Have hydralic Jackplate ran up about 2 inches.  Hole shot is super quick and has great bow lift.

May want to play with a 4 blade 19P or a 3 Blade 20P down the road.  But very happy with the performance that I am seeing since this repair is behind us.

Big Bass Splash Lake Guntersville

Big Bass Splash Lake Guntersville

Big Bass Splash

If you never have taken part in one of the Big Bass Splash tournaments you should find one close and participate.  I think this was our 4th year and my partner and I have managed to cash a check each year.  Once year we actually cashed in on 5 checks.  But this past year in March 2017 fishing from my Crestliner PT20 I actually caught my personal best catch.

Lake Guntersville Big Bass Splash – First Place 7.97#

If you get the time enter one of the tournaments your only fishing for one bite!

 

 

Crestliner PT20 Fuel Cap

Crestliner PT20 Fuel Cap

Crestliner PT20 Fuel Cap

If you own a Crestliner PT20 or PT18 and your having a hard time putting fuel in your boat. Check with your dealer they have another cap available that they should install for you under warranty.

My PT20 took forever to put fuel into it.  I had to pull the nozzle almost all the way out and baby it going into the tank.

As you can see when the above is mounted in the boat the hose will easily go into it without a bend.

The one on the right is original and the hose had to bend up since this was a straight connection.  New one on the left the hose fits without a bend.

As you will see in video below it now has no issues when filling the tank.

Check with your dealer for this replacement.

Crestliner PT20 Electronic Upgrade

Crestliner PT20 Electronic Upgrade

Lowrance 3 D Bundle Upgrade

I took advantage from being on Ohio Bass Nation State team this past year and decided to upgrade to the Lowrance 3D Bundle.

I moved my HDS9 Gen 3 from console to the front to replace my TI7 Elite.  Now have them all networked together and ready to hit the water to test out Lowrance 3D.

Like to thank the staff at Transducer Shield and Saver for all their assistance in picking the right transducer for the 3D.

Crestliner PT 20

Crestliner PT 20

Crestliner PT 20 Prop Test

Its been awhile since I have posted about where I am at with props on my Crestliner PT 20.

Trophy Plus 23 Pitch 4 blade prop

 

Here is my findings so far with prop test:

Fury 24 3 Blade – 5100 – 58 mph

Tempest Plus 26 – 3 Blade – 5000 – 60.5 mph

Trophy Plus 23 Pitch 4 Blade – 5350 – 57 mph

Tempest Plus 21 Pitch 3 Blade – 5450 – 57 mph (Most bow lift and best handling)

I have a 19 pitch on order and according to Mercury that is the correct prop.

Keep you posted.