BuckyBadger
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2010
- Messages
- 46
We replaced the prop on our pontoon at the end of last season. I don't know what original prop was but it ran approx 17mph @ 5800 rpm - which seems a little low compared to some other set ups I have seen. The new prop is running well below the rpm range and unfortunately, the local business we used is going through a 'transition' so I am looking for some guidance.
As a secondary question what kinds of speeds are people seeing with similar setups?
1. Year, make and model of boat - 2008 Starcraft Limited 206 RE CR (pontoon)
2. Length, width and base weight of boat, look for boat decal on back of boat 20 ft; 8.5ft; 1800+ lbs
2a.What is the maximum recommended HP for your boat - 115
3. Number of people and gallons of gas normally on boat and what do you use the boat for
2 Adults and 2 children, frequently have additional passengers but for the most part just the family. Recreational boating. We bought it as a comfortable family boat thinking we could pull small children on a tube. Plan was to get something bigger once they were older but we could use this to get started.
4. Year, make. manufacturer and model of motor and recommended Wide Open Throttle (WOT) range
2008 Mercury 60hp Bigfoot 5500-6000
5. HP and gear ratio of motor IMPORTANT
60hp; 2.33:1
6. Anti-ventilation Plate height above keel of boat if it is an outboard in inches, use a straight edge under the keel and sticking out to the anti ventilation plate for a reference
Pontoon Boat - Not sure exactly but engine mounted on lowest set of holes and AV plate is well below bottom of pod
7. WOT RPM and speed from your current prop and how much gas and how many people were in the boat for the test data and is the speed by GPS. Make sure you trim the prop up until it starts ventilating and then just trim in until it quits ventilating.
RPM:5100-5200; Speed(GPS):16mph; No. of people: 2 Adults 2 Small Children; Gal. Gas: 12
8. Make, model, diameter, pitch, number of blades and whether SS or aluminum prop and does it have a hydrafoil, dolefin or trim tabs
Not sure of make but is 14 x 10 / 3 blade aluminum pontoon prop
9. Has your motor been tuned up lately and have you checked that the carburetor butterfly is opening all the way by just pushing the throttle at the helm and not at the carburetor, checked compression, and looked at the plugs and checked spark as well as timing and advance, all of the foregoing could be the reason your prop is not attaining full RPM
No - but engine is serviced regularly and appears to be running optimally
10. What problems are you trying to cure or what are you looking for the boat to do that it is not doing the way you think it should or to your expectations and does the prop show any damage that you can see.
Get back into correct rpm range and additional speed - From my experience 20 mph doesn't seem unrealistic, but I could be wrong.
As a secondary question what kinds of speeds are people seeing with similar setups?
1. Year, make and model of boat - 2008 Starcraft Limited 206 RE CR (pontoon)
2. Length, width and base weight of boat, look for boat decal on back of boat 20 ft; 8.5ft; 1800+ lbs
2a.What is the maximum recommended HP for your boat - 115
3. Number of people and gallons of gas normally on boat and what do you use the boat for
2 Adults and 2 children, frequently have additional passengers but for the most part just the family. Recreational boating. We bought it as a comfortable family boat thinking we could pull small children on a tube. Plan was to get something bigger once they were older but we could use this to get started.
4. Year, make. manufacturer and model of motor and recommended Wide Open Throttle (WOT) range
2008 Mercury 60hp Bigfoot 5500-6000
5. HP and gear ratio of motor IMPORTANT
60hp; 2.33:1
6. Anti-ventilation Plate height above keel of boat if it is an outboard in inches, use a straight edge under the keel and sticking out to the anti ventilation plate for a reference
Pontoon Boat - Not sure exactly but engine mounted on lowest set of holes and AV plate is well below bottom of pod
7. WOT RPM and speed from your current prop and how much gas and how many people were in the boat for the test data and is the speed by GPS. Make sure you trim the prop up until it starts ventilating and then just trim in until it quits ventilating.
RPM:5100-5200; Speed(GPS):16mph; No. of people: 2 Adults 2 Small Children; Gal. Gas: 12
8. Make, model, diameter, pitch, number of blades and whether SS or aluminum prop and does it have a hydrafoil, dolefin or trim tabs
Not sure of make but is 14 x 10 / 3 blade aluminum pontoon prop
9. Has your motor been tuned up lately and have you checked that the carburetor butterfly is opening all the way by just pushing the throttle at the helm and not at the carburetor, checked compression, and looked at the plugs and checked spark as well as timing and advance, all of the foregoing could be the reason your prop is not attaining full RPM
No - but engine is serviced regularly and appears to be running optimally
10. What problems are you trying to cure or what are you looking for the boat to do that it is not doing the way you think it should or to your expectations and does the prop show any damage that you can see.
Get back into correct rpm range and additional speed - From my experience 20 mph doesn't seem unrealistic, but I could be wrong.