D-Merc foot vs Yamato?

[STEVE FRENCH]

How does the Merc D foot compare to a 302/102 Yamato foot as far as "R" dim?....How far can both be narrowed and still be reliable for D-MOD?
....I also have a Y-80 foot I got from Dudley that is worked to AOF specs (nose sharpened) that I want to add a nose water pick-up, and wonder'n best way to do it?.....Looked at Jack Stotts gear foot and may duplicate his design.

19P

[pops67g]

Does the "R" dimension really matter?

I know there is a minimum dimension, but I set mine up with the nose of the gearcase well above the bottom. Two of my cases are narrowed but almost none of those surfaces are close to dragging through the water at speed. I know this sounds ridiculously high to some, but I have no control issues at this height.

[bh/]

I know there is a minimum dimension, but I set mine up with the nose of the gearcase well above the bottom. Two of my cases are narrowed but almost none of those surfaces are close to dragging through the water at speed. I know this sounds ridiculously high to some, but I have no control issues at this height.

Have you altered the skeg any?

[pops67g]

Stock skegs

If you keep going higher with the Merc you will reach a point where the back of the boat starts squirming around. It's trying to plane on the torpedo. Most guys then drop the motor back down. At this point I go a little higher and it will usually settle right down and track true. Of course some propellers won't let you go higher, and if your boat bottom is not straight that doesn't help either.