I have a 1978 15' Glasstron Bass Boat. Two livewells, trolling motor, two batteries, and will likely have anywhere from two to 3 passengers at any time. Me and my son weigh about two hundred pounds, and my father weighs about 150 pounds. <br /><br />I bought this boat without a lower unit. So now that I have replaced the lower unit, I need to know where to start with propping it out. <br /><br />The motor weighs 250 lbs, the batteries and trolling motor would weigh another 100 or so. The passengers would be from 400 to 550 lbs. We usually carry a couple of hundred pounds of gear. <br /><br />With a full gas tank, and the livewells full, I would expect another 150 or 200 pounds. <br /><br />Having added all that up and coming up with a weight of 1000 lbs or so. What would the hull weight be? 800 lbs? It is a normal looking Bass boat from that era, just a little short at 15'.<br /><br />I would guess that fully loaded, we could be looking at 1700 lbs. Does this sound about right?<br /><br />I have been told by Mercury, that my 85hp, really only puts out about 80hp, because it is rated at the crank, and not the prop. <br /><br />So, does starting at a 15 pitch aluminum prop, sound about right, for a 1700 lb Bass boat with a 80hp engine? Or, perhaps a 17 pitch prop?<br /><br />I will have a tach to keep my RPMs about 5500 like it is supposed to be, at WOT.I just wanted a starting point. <br /><br />I will keep another prop around for those days, when the boat will not be loaded so much, but I will mainly be using it loaded, and wanted a starting point.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />I was thinking about starting with a 17 pitch, because I wanted to get two different pitches, and I thought the 17 would work good when it wasn't loaded so much, and might just be good enough for when it is loaded. Then I would get a 19 for when it is empty.<br /><br />Or maybe 15 pitch when loaded and a 17 pitch when empty.
