Todays findings
I need a bigger prop and here is why I think so.
Yesterday I ran it with a 35 and a 40mm prop and with what turned out to be over depth rear ride pads.

I made a new set of ride pads that sit about 6mm or ¼” above the tail shaft.
Big changes.
With the tail shaft flat at 0 deg the boat has enough speed to get up on the front and rear ride positions, however the prop is still a little low in the water to make maximum effect as a surface drive prop.

I angled the tail shaft a little prop down to create more lift but this just held the prop lower with the same result.

I angled the tail shaft a little prop up and got great rpm but little effect as the prop cavitated a lot.

Back to 0 deg and it runs well with great rpm and an occasional cavitation. I got a few good straight runs from it and it fair flys !!
The big rooster tail is nearly here !!

Therefore I feel that I have enough rpm in the bank to go for a bigger prop.

I am going to get a 45mm prop in the same series that I am running so that will make it 45 x 1.4 = 45/63mm or 1.7”/2.4”

If this is too much of a bite and kills the rpm then that is good. I will “machine” it down to a 44, 43, 42 or whatever it takes to get this little boat up and running well.

I am not afraid to up-prop as I have done it before with my Great Planes Wildcat. With that one I upped the rpm with more cells and got nowhere. I changed the props against advice from some “experts” and got fantastic changes in performance. This is still a work in progress.
See here.
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_58...tm.htm#5890379

I will be back in a day or two to report my latest findings.

Bring on the BIG rooster tail !!