Re: Take it off, or leave it on?
Not running over 5000 RPM says the boat is already close prop-wise. Get this boat on the water and open it up, trim it out, to see what it does. The purpose of trim is to allow MAXIMUM performance from the boat, not to slow it down. You control engine rpm with the throttle. But it makes no sense to put a prop on the boat that purposely allows the engine to over rev and then have to slow it down with the throttle. The idea is, as I said, to install a prop that allows the engine to rev in the recommended RPM band which for that engine is 4500 - 5500 RPM. So you see -- if you have to hold it back so as not to exceep 5000 RPM, it will very likely run at 5500 if you turn it loose which is what it is supposed to do. Now if you install that 17P prop, you add another 800 RPM which puts you at 6400 RPM. Does the word KABOOM have any meaning for you? If you really can't get over 5000 at WOT then a four inch change of pitch would put you at 5800. But make sure the engine is properly tuned, setup is correct, and you are properly trimmed when making the test runs. Then change props to bring the revs up if necessary.
