Mercury classic fifty on pontoon 9mph ????

Ltponline

Cadet
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Apr 3, 2016
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I have a mercury classic fifty on a 93 crest 22ft pontoon. My top speed is 9mph , is this normal for motor and pontoon combination? 5 people were on it
 

roscoe

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Oct 30, 2002
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21,864
Thats kind of a big heavy barge for a 50 hp.

I wouldn't expect too much more.

What were your rpm's when running at full throttle?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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what were the RPM's, and how deep was the cavitation plate? Pontoons are primarily a displacement hull (unless you have plenty of power and lifting strakes).

rough general rule the maximum speed of any displacement hull--commonly called its hull speed-is governed by a simple formula: hull speed in knots equals 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length in feet (HS = 1.34 x √LWL)

for your 22' pontoon, 6.3 knots (about 7.2mph)
 

jerryjerry05

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May 7, 2008
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RPM's at wide open??
​Prop on there now?
Boat stay in the water? Scum on the floats?
 

ondarvr

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Apr 6, 2005
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11,527
Had a 21' with a Merc 40HP, it went 17MPH with a light load. It was close to 9MPH with a 9.9 high thrust Yamaha.
 
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