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Marbeleyes

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Nov 8, 2020
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I just bought a new 2021 Lowe FM1625WT. It has a 60hp, 2020, 4 stroke, Mercury command thrust motor, and I have been having hell with getting it propped right. The dealer initially gave me a cupped, 13 pitch, 3 blade prop. I live at an elevation of 3700'. With this prop, I was hitting about 20 mph at 4500 rpm. Mercury says it is rated at 5500-6000 rpm. Then the dealer gave me a 10 pitch, it topped out at 23mph and 6500rpm. took it back, and got an 11 pitch, 27mph and 6200 rpm. Then they gave me a 11 pitch cupped, I lost all lower end power, and still hit 6200 rpm. I went back to the dealer yesterday and a different parts guy said we might be in a different class. He gave me a 15 pitch, a 17 pitch, and also a 4 blade 15 pitch. They don't seem to know what the hell is going on. Does anyone have any idea on what I am needing? Thanks for you help.
Scott
 

WesNewell

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 3, 2018
Messages
497
Basically, you're screwed. That boat should never be sold with anything less than a 75hp engine, especially for use at 3700'. You are way under powereed and there's nothing you can do to increase the power on that engine. At least with a 75hp you could remove the air restricter to make up for the altitude and get decent performance. That said, the first thing you need to do is check the engine mount height. Unless the engine is mounted as high it can be mounted, it's probably mounted too low. You'll never get max performance out of the engine if it's mounted too low. Lower unit will cause too much drag. the prop you need will depend on how much of a load you normally have. I'd say a max of 16P even with the lightest load, and down to 13p with the heaviest load. With maybe a 15p all around use.If you're going to be pulling skiers and such then a 10-12p might be appropriate.
 

Sea Rider

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Gee a non friendly answer with very little technical aptitud for a newbie's first post requesting help at Iboats. Poster has not been or will be screwed with such boat/motor combo, to rule that out further data is needed :

Before going any further check when at full throttle if the carbs, carbs are fully opened, have found 2 Merc 60 similar as yours with badly installed motors only opening about 85% of the max 100% range that should be working with. The difference achieved was + 800 wot revs more, owner was about to switch to less diam props from a 3 blade SS 17 pitch prop.

1-Number of passengers on board when the motor wih a 3 blade 11 pitch achieved 27 mph at 6200 rpm. That wot range is excellent as the max is 6K with slight over revving and rev limiter not kicking in running at 3.7 K ft of elevation which is nothing.

2-Assume the motor was factory installed as a combo package, if so, sits flat even with transom, bit higher, how many notches are still available as to raise the motor if wanting doing so ?

That nice boat with a 4 stroke Merc 60 HP and 6 gallons of fuel only weights 720 Kg (1,584 Lbs) not a wow number powered with a 60 HP motor. It's rated for max 6 passengers. According to Lowe's tech specs that model can be powered with any motor ranging from 20 to 90 HP ones. Will depend entirely on the type of water performance and number of passengers on board to suit your particular needs.

Nope you can't bump a 60 to a 75 HP by just removing a cheap air restrictor specilly with EFI motors, motor manufacturers are not that stupid, for such to happen in real boating world, there's a 15 HP price difference that Must be Payed...

The following pics corresponds to your current Lowe's boat and Merc motor right ?

Happy Boating
 

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WesNewell

Chief Petty Officer
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497
I didn't know efi engines had carbs. I can't find them on my 2017 60hp efi 4S. maybe that's because they don't have carbs. And if his engine is mounted flush with the transom top, it's definitely mounted too low by at least 3 inches.
 

Sea Rider

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Correct no carbs it's an EFI motor, being a carb boater I'm always thinking about them LOL !! anyway check that at max hammer down the remote cable end stops the injector lever fully to the right. If not doing so need to perform a fine adjustment between the cable end and the lever where it connects to for that to happen.

Both Merc 60 and 75 HP models doesn't share the same CC powerhead. The 60 is around 1000 CC and the 75 way more, so the 60 it's non upgradable.

Let's wait till the OP chimes in and provide the requested missing data which it's of extreme tech importance for his particular boating needs...

Happy Boating
 

QBhoy

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Mar 10, 2016
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Going by your 27 mph and 6200 rpm (which will actually be 6150 rpm limiter)...forget all the cupped prop stuff...get a 13” pitch black max on her. Will get you near the top of the rpm range and as good as sh will get.
 

Sea Rider

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With a 3 blade 11 pitch the motor it's already running towards it's max wot rpm range which is 6 K, at 6200 wot revs the rev limiter hasn't kicked in so seems that does so at slight more wot rpm. What we reliably need to know is how many souls were on board when achieved what the OP stated. A 13 pitch will lower too much the wot rpm towards the lugging side...

Happy Boating
 

QBhoy

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With a 3 blade 11 pitch the motor it's already running towards it's max wot rpm range which is 6 K, at 6200 wot revs the rev limiter hasn't kicked in so seems that does so at slight more wot rpm. What we reliably need to know is how many souls were on board when achieved what the OP stated. A 13 pitch will lower too much the wot rpm towards the lugging side...

Happy Boating
It defo kicks in at 6150 give or take. Assume the tachometer is a little off.
 

WesNewell

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 3, 2018
Messages
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Tach may indeed be off, but don't forget he has a CT engine which has a 2.33 GR. Merc prop selector suggest anywhere from a 16p prop for light load to a 13p prop for a max load.
 

Sea Rider

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Till the OP doesn't chime in and provide the requested load he was boating with or plans boating with this posts will go nowhere to get the max out of his combo at 3.7 K of elevation...

Happy Boating
 

QBhoy

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Tach may indeed be off, but don't forget he has a CT engine which has a 2.33 GR. Merc prop selector suggest anywhere from a 16p prop for light load to a 13p prop for a max load.
2.38 ratio on my CT. likely different gearbox on the smaller CT like this though. Still think a black max 13” will be ideal.
 

QBhoy

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2.38 ratio on my CT. likely different gearbox on the smaller CT like this though. Still think a black max 13” will be ideal.
In saying that. If it’s on the limiter with an 11” prop...no real way of assuming what it needs like I just did. It could easily hit the limiter with a 13 too. My 2.38 ratio CT will hit the limiter at 6150 exactly with a 19” tempest. And just about 6000 rpm running light with a 20” enertia.
 

Sea Rider

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You have to prop right your motor accordingly to the gear case ratio delivered with, motor height, load, boating elevation. So each boat/motor combo has a unique installation, useless making personal comparisons specially at sea level.....

Happy Boating
 

JimS123

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Its a freekin brand new boat. The OP shouldn't be asking the web, he should be complaining to the dealer.
 

Sea Rider

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Its a freekin brand new boat. The OP shouldn't be asking the web, he should be complaining to the dealer.
With a 3 blade 11 pitch, 27mph and 6200 rpm at 3.7 Ft of elevation the OP is in the right track, just need to state how many souls were on board when achieved those numbers. Scott agrees same. Some dealers just sells boat, motors are not that experienced propping right a motor to run at least middle to max wot rpm range factory stated. It's more of a trial and error thing along dumping money into the blue in the intent for boating perfection...

Happy Boating
 

QBhoy

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With a 3 blade 11 pitch, 27mph and 6200 rpm at 3.7 Ft of elevation the OP is in the right track, just need to state how many souls were on board when achieved those numbers. Scott agrees same. Some dealers just sells boat, motors are not that experienced propping right a motor to run at least middle to max wot rpm range factory stated. It's more of a trial and error thing along dumping money into the blue in the intent for boating perfection...

Happy Boating
Maybe being fussy...but I think something about the numbers isn’t right. As in. One of or more, of the indications of speed, rpm or ratio is not showing accurate
 

QBhoy

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Just read original post again there. I think you need to go out again and get some accurate numbers. Your engine definitely didn’t do 6500 rpm for certain. All the best.
 

WesNewell

Chief Petty Officer
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Jan 3, 2018
Messages
497
Here you go. This is with a single person (200# load) Prop pitch changes to 13.98 for 800# load and speed of 27.59 mph

Your setup​

  • Boat type: Aluminum - Console
  • Usage: Overall good performance/3700 ft
  • Engine Manufacturer:Mercury
  • Engine Type: Outboard
  • Engine Year: 2019
  • Number of Engines: One
  • Engine Family: FourStroke
  • Engine: 60 EFI 4cyl (995cc)
  • Drive / Gear Case: 40-60 HP FourStroke Command Thrust, 2.33 Ratio

Details​

  • Calculated Pitch: 15.82
  • Calculated Weight with engine(s): 1,766.40 lbs
  • Calculated Engine RPM: 5,750
  • Calculated Boat Speed: 31.22 mph
 
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