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Help ! My 1988 [Outrage] 20 WD hull is giving me fits... With a looper 200 and a 17 prop I can't get over 4200 rpm and 29 mph. She drags out of the water unless trimmed up and then of course she sucks air. Where am I going with this project, something has changed and I don't know what... Yes there has been a new lower unit installed and some other things... What about prop size? Do the pictures help with the mounting height? The angle seems to be burying the bow... Help !

Moderator corrected full model name. It is important to post full model name.

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We need a lot more information to give you accurate advice.

Is this a original whaler drive (with a full transom) or a bracket?
What is the engine model year and brand?
What is the gear ratio of the new to you lower unit?
What is the prop manufacturer name, model and pitch? Aluminum or Stainless Steel?
Where is the engine mounted? How many holes are empty above the top engine bolt? None = all the way down.
What are the "some other things"?

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I am trying to get a handle on uploading a picture...I guess I'll figure it out.
Ok this is an original WD closed stern 20' hull. The motor is original but has had the cowling changed to look newer. She runs well and has good compression with one a little low. I have run with 2 props, both used, a 17 & a19. Each one produces a top rpm of 4200 and on a flat water surface runs 27-29 on gps. No change for either prop. Gear ratio I can't say, mounting height is an adjustable type not holes, and the pics would show the motor bracket to be sitting up over the transom about 1 1/2 inches. The view from under water has the top of a 3 blade prop even with the bottom of the hulls V. The WD bottom is a little higher than the v and pics will show its relation. She won't jump up unless trimmed up, hammer it and the motor goes to 2000 and crawls up to 3000 while trying to plane, turning will help her rise and once up she runs wot at 4200 trimmed.

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Has the boat been run prior to the lower unit change? What was the WOT rpm's and speed?

What make and model of prop? Both same manufacturer?

I presume the engine is tuned and running well?

How does the boat sit it the water?

The easiest way to show photos is create an album on a photo hosting site (flicker, google, photobucket etc) and then copy and paste a link in a post.

We need the history of the boat work/water time to know what variable is the cause.

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Years ago I had a 18 foot Mako which I kept in a slip in Barnegat, NJ. One summer I pulled the boat up on a sand bar, (alright, alright, I ran it aground) and rubbed a patch of bottom paint off about the size of a post card right on the bottom of the V and just a couple inches forward of the transom. I began to notice the boat was sluggish and it got to the point it wouldn't plane at all. I realized that it doesn't take much bottom alteration to really screw up performance. Rest of the summer I had to reach under with a scrubber to knock off the growth in that area. Has your boat's bottom changed in any way at all?

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Ok sorry for I the delays...
Thanks for all your interest in my situation. All indications show that the motor is mounted at the right height, the best prop is a 17, and the motor is simply worn out. No numbers match from the top to the bottom so there is a mix match of components. With a little bit of luck I will find a newer motor on her soon. Looking to go to a 250 and enjoy the ride... Thanks again

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You didn't answer many of the questions.

IF throwing out ideas I would say the motor is too LOW. The prop is the wrong brand/model, too small and the wrong blade design.

We can't really help if you don't give us detailed information.

Referring to the best prop being a "17" is not helpful to anyone. There are probably 300 props available with 17 degrees of pitch. Of these 300, only 6 or 7 would be appropriate for this boat/motor combination.