Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | I have a 2005 1750 with a 115HP Merc and a 9.9 Merc 4-stroke kicker. I run a 17 pitch stainless prop and get 38mph flat-out when the water is a sheet of glass.
I have experimented with props ranging from 20 pitch down to 16, and found that the 17 pitch puts the boat on plane quickly, provides a smooth ride with easy handling, and keeps those rpms above 5000 (very important) when I am running at higher speeds.
I ran the boat for over a year with a 19pitch prop (the dealer's original selection) until my mechanic informed me that unless the engine is spiking at high speeds over that 5,000 rpm mark ... I could have engine problems in the future. Mercury's SmartCraft internal system keeps track of how many hours on your engine, how many hours at what speeds, and rpms at what speeds. My rpms were not going over the 5,000 mark at high speeds when I ran the dealer's 19 pitch prop.
My manual tells me that the best gas mileage out of the 115 comes at 22mph, so unless I am really beatin-feet, that's my cruising speed.
Tough boat to handle with the trolling motor on a really windy day, but all in all I am very pleased with the Crestliner.
Craig
Edited by cjrich 1/26/2008 9:25 AM
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