VMS - 2/22/2011 9:40 PM



In the situation you are working with, going down 3/4" in diameter will help keep your rpms up when you switch to steel. So in your case, you would see roughly a 300 - 500 RPM drop due to a switch to steel in the same pitch, but roughly a 300 RPM gain for reducing diameter (every 1/4" is roughly 100 RPMs). Should almost come out in a wash if you stayed 19 pitch, but there is a point of diminishing returns in this and performance goes down significantly if you get too much pitch for the motor. Going to 17 pitch might reduce your overall speed a little (very little... I think), but your hole shot would be great as compared.

Steve,

On the question of the Mercury Enertia with a 18 pitch, would it be better suited for the boat? Or do you think the 17 pitch would give better performance? Everything I've read about the Mercury Enertia has rave reviews.