Mako 17' with Mercury 90hp, Prop and Engine Height? (pic+data included)

[Ishman 306]

1999 Mako 171 with a 99' Mercury 90hp outboard.
13"x19p aluminum propeller and the engine is mounted with the
cavataion plate (bottom one) 1" below the bottom of the keel. With 2
adults, 100lbs of gear, and 35 gallons of fuel I estimate the total
weight at 2250lbs. The engine turns 5400-5600 rpm at WOT and speed is
32-34 mph.

The problem I am having is that it isn't horrible, but it taken longer
than I would like to get on a plane. When the boat is loaded down
with 5 people (kinda crowded) it takes a long time to get on plane.
My thought was to switch to a 17p SS propeller, but I don't want to
severely over rev the engine with 2 people on board. My goal would be
to get on plane faster and be able to pull a skier sometimes. I've
read into the Stiletto SS props and was told they are about 1-2 prop
sizes larger than they say...so if I bought a 17p it would be like an
18 or 19. Any thoughts or suggestions would be great!

 

[etracer68]

Re: Mako 17' with Mercury 90hp, Prop and Engine Height? (pic+data included)

Sometimes you just cant have your cake and eat it too. I dont have alot of expirance with SS props, but what I can tell you is. If your going to have 5 people onboard, you can swich props before you go out, or, tell some people to move to the bow(most people dont like that though),or run the smaller prop all the time, and back off to stay in your RPM range.