Posts: 3511
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I would bet the motor has a max of 5500 rpms, which I would say if you are lightly loaded (just you and a light load), you are over propped by about 2 inches. What this would do is give you a bit more "umph" throughout the RPM range if you punch it, but where you will notice it the most is in holeshot. Your is right on the money with about 15% slip in the prop. If you drop to a 15 pitch, you would lose a little on top end, but in rough conditions, the ability to get the boat moving can be paramount, especially if you are in big waves and needing to travel with following seas. The last thing you would want is to have a motor that is slow to accelerate with a breaker coming over the stern as you try to climb the next wave...that is a bad, bad situation...
Now...if you are loaded fully with a guest, his/her gear, a full livewell and gas tank getting 5000 rpms, you are probably good to go with the prop you currently have on it. With the gear ratio that motor has at 1.86:1, a lower pitched prop is normally needed since the spin of the prop is not all that much slower than the spin of the motor, thus a higher rpm is needed to turn the prop efficiently.
Am I correct in assuming you are running an aluminum prop?
Steve
Edited by VMS 9/13/2012 8:59 PM
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