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Posts: 8
| I inherited a 17 ft. StarCraft star fire side counsel a yr. ago.
This boat is a 2007 and really never saw the water, it came equipped with a 2006 60 horse 4 stroke Mercury on it and a 2006 9.9 horse 4 stroke kicker. The person before bought it for walleye trolling and only used it a handful of times. Otherwise stored inside.
After the usual TLC….Changed the old gas out of the tank and filled with new premium gas with some fuel stabilizer added. Lower end oil changed and total upgrade of the batteries etc.
I’ve taken it out a few times and the thing has a hard time getting on plane, real doggy and when the throttle is pegged the engine doesn’t even seem like its spooled up. You would think with a 60 horse on a 17 ft aluminum hull boat would be enough to get on plane quick and move?
Any suggestions??
I’m thinking I’m going to look at the throttle box and cable next, anyone else have problems with a Mercury 4 stroke not putting out the power you want??
Thanks
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | You could start by losing the kicker. |
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| I have that motor on a 16’ DC that weighs around a half ton ready to fish. I put a Merc 4 blade trophy sport prop on it and performance was better. I can’t recall if it was a 13 or 14 pitch. |
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Posts: 1087
Location: Hayward, WI | First you need to make sure the motor is running properly and it is properly setup. Are cables adjusted properly, is it running on all cylinders, is compression good, are fuel injectors clean, is fuel pressure good.... If that checks out then look at propping. |
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Posts: 117
Location: Northwest Wisconsin | You might be over pitched on the prop. |
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Posts: 5874
| Ditto on the prop. What is it? |
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Posts: 8
| Ill have to go check the prop tonight, how do you tell the pitch on it now??? not familiar with this stuff. I do know the whole lover the number the better whole shot you have and the higher pitch the better speed on the top end.
Edited by GL_Angler 3/5/2014 2:05 PM
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Posts: 152
| Nearly all of the time right down on the prop it will say a bunch of numbers identifying the prop/motor its for then at the end there is usually a number with a P after it, i.e. 13P (13pitch), etc. At least thats how it has been for all of my props I've owned. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Do you have a tach ? how many RPM are you getting at wide open throttle that will tell you if you are propped correctly. |
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Posts: 944
| I had that same motor years ago on a Esox Magnum. I put a whale fin on the back and it made a huge difference. Got up on plane a ton faster. A friend of mine did the same thing and it solved his problem also.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com
Edited by Jeff Hanson 3/5/2014 4:51 PM
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Propping. Get the right prop. |
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Posts: 8
| So I cheked the prop last night and its a 3 blade mercury prop, 13 pitch. the boat dogs on the start and takes a while to get it on plane, but when it gets on plane she will run 28 to 30 mph, but with 3 people on the boat it wont even get on plane.
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Does the boat have a tach? |
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Posts: 1087
Location: Hayward, WI | Might want to try a 11 pitch Mercury Spitfire prop. A tach reading would help get you the best answers. |
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Posts: 8
| Yeah I have a Tac, If i can remember right when i have it pegged its sitting in the high 3000. I would go run it right now but our waters are all covered with 20+ inches of ice now. |
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Posts: 62
Location: Madison, WI | Had the same motor. Bought the 4 bladed spitfire prop and hole shot was much better. |
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Posts: 32885
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Way too low, in fact low enough to be hard on the engine. I'd suggest trying a 11 pitch 4 blade if the tach is reading accurately. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
First thing I would be looking at is the pole setting on the tach. If it is only reaching 3000 but you are seeing 28 to 30 mph, the motor is definitely at a higher rpm than what the tach is reading.
That boat weights about 900 pounds, so the speed you are seeing is relatively close overall...maybe should be seeing 32 or so, but much of that as some have stated could be more of a prop related issue.
I would definitely start there with a lower pitch to see how things perform. A 4 blade as mentioned as well is definitely a good thought, although with the weight of the boat, I think you might be decent with a 3 blade.
In a general sense, going down in pitch (keeping same # of blades and diameter) you generally see a change of 200 rpm for every inch of pitch you change...in your situation, an increase. But...if you tie on another blade, the rpm increase you will see will be reduced some..probably to the tune of 100 RPM give or take. I honestly don't think you are going to be too far off the mark overall, but I could see that when you get 3 guys, all of their stuff, a full livewell, full gas tank, etc. a lower pitch just for that might be in order... That's a lot of extra weight...especially if the guys carry a little extra poundage themselves... 
So...First thing I would consider is the Tach...ensure your pole setting is correct, then consider the prop. An accurate tach reading is essential to properly setting up prop to rig.
Steve |
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Posts: 8
| thanks everyone for the help and suggestions. Once the ice is gone and the boat hits the water ill let you know what i come up with. |
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