Help with my Triton

I bought the TR 196 Triton with a 200HP Mercury OPTIMAX in June and want to ask a question. I'm only able to get the boat up to 60 MPH (GPS reading) and I'm not sure if this is right. I don't have a Jack Plate and only have a 3 blade prop, but it seems to me it should go faster. I only keep 1/4 tank of gas and have 9 trays of tackle. Also when it gets to the 60 MPH mark it starts swaying back an forth, which I assume is the chime walking everyone talks about with Triton. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE VERY APPRECIATIATED. I don't know if I should take the boat back to the dealer for service or if this is all I can get out of the boat.

That boat should be in the upper 60's. Jack plate would help some, but sounds to me like motor is sitting way to low or has wrong prop. Take it back to the dealer and have them set it. If your dealer won't or can't, call a Triton or Merc dealer about getting it done.

One of my best friends bought the same boat in 05 except it come with a jackplate. As far as fishing and storage it is great and it has a good ride at low speeds but when it gets around 55 or 60 mph it walks like a drunk person. Other triton owners and the dealer said you have to learn to drive them, but let me tell you I tried to do it and there is no way, he has tried and it walks so bad that you almost turn over. I can get my ZX200 skeeter up to about 68-70mph before it starts walking at all. We are going to try to adjust the jackplate this spring to see what can be done. He is really upset because he paid so much for the boat and can't run it. The prop on the boat is a tempest plus 3 blade 25 pitch. Jackplate may help you some. Good luck with boat.

Give me a call, I can give you a few pointers with the set up. The 06 Triton should have come with a jack plate. It is a must on a Tr-196 to achieve proper set up and a 8" plate is better than a 6". A tr-196 properly set up should run with a 200 opti around 67-72 mph. Your motor is most likely way to low on the transom causing both the extreme walk and slow speeds. If any of you have any questions please feel free to give me a call, I will help you all I can.

Richie Young
Plapps Pro Outdoors
859-240-0043

ive got 04 196 with 200 opti. i run 73mph GPS. my current setup is 6" plate, holeshot plate, 26 tempest (all 3 plugs are small size). they do take a bit to learn how to drive. my walks starting about 60-62mph but i've learned to drive it. i run my plate about 5.25" above. mine came with 25p but i hit rev limiter too easy. so Matt at Plapps swapped me to a 26 but think i need to contact him again cause i'm still having probs hitting limiter. good luck and hope you get it figured out. feel free to contact me if you have any questions.