Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Posted: **Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:29 am**

Hey there - I apologize as I'm sure this topic has been covered a million times. I have done lots of searches but haven't really figured this out yet to be comfortable buying a new prop that I'm confident will make a difference.

Anyway, I am fairly new to boating and I have a 24 ft suntracker tritoon with a 200 HP merc verado (2016). All toons have strakes. ALso, it has ultra legs installed which weigh about 400 lbs so I'm basically always running with 3 good sized dudes on there even when it's just me.

Can get 40 mph with just me on there at about 6000rpm
Get my family of 6 on there, which is a typical load, and i can barely get 5500 RPM at 34-35 mph
Get a full load on there 10+ and i struggle to top 5000 rpm at 26-27 mph.

I would gladly give up top end with just myself on there, to be more efficient with my typical load of folks 6-10 people. It feels like i need more 'head room' on the rpms since I never have hit the WOT range for the motor of 6400. Range is 5800-6400 I believe. My WOT is often below 5600 with my family of 6 on there even on smooth water.

Current prop is mercury enertia SS 48-898992 16P

Any thoughts on a different prop I could try to meet my objectives?

Thanks so much!

Posted: **Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:33 am**

I'm not a prop expert, so I'll let others comment and make suggestions. But one thing to consider and check is how you are measuring your RPMs. If you have an analog RPM gauge on your dash it may not be accurate. I added a NEMA2000 network to my boat so I could view engine data on my Simrad, the digital info shows my RPMs to be about 300 higher than what my analog gauge shows.

Posted: **Thu Jul 15, 2021 6:01 am**

tha_waco_kid wrote: ↑
Wed Jul 14, 2021 8:29 am
Hey there - I apologize as I'm sure this topic has been covered a million times. I have done lots of searches but haven't really figured this out yet to be comfortable buying a new prop that I'm confident will make a difference.

Anyway, I am fairly new to boating and I have a 24 ft suntracker tritoon with a 200 HP merc verado (2016). All toons have strakes. ALso, it has ultra legs installed which weigh about 400 lbs so I'm basically always running with 3 good sized dudes on there even when it's just me.

Can get 40 mph with just me on there at about 6000rpm
Get my family of 6 on there, which is a typical load, and i can barely get 5500 RPM at 34-35 mph
Get a full load on there 10+ and i struggle to top 5000 rpm at 26-27 mph.

I would gladly give up top end with just myself on there, to be more efficient with my typical load of folks 6-10 people. It feels like i need more 'head room' on the rpms since I never have hit the WOT range for the motor of 6400. Range is 5800-6400 I believe. My WOT is often below 5600 with my family of 6 on there even on smooth water.

Current prop is mercury enertia SS 48-898992 16P

Any thoughts on a different prop I could try to meet my objectives?

Thanks so much!

With those speeds I would be in heaven!!!!!!!!!!!!

try a 13-15 pitch they're built for heavier loads.

Posted: **Fri Jul 16, 2021 11:55 am**

I would tend to leave well enough alone. Props are, in most cases, a compromise. If you go for top speed, then when you have a full load, your engine will struggle to teach top RPM. Yet go with a lower pitch to help get your revs up while carrying a heavy load and when light, you hit your rev limiter.
Sounds to me like you’re about where you need to be. If you are now running an aluminum prop, switching to a stainless steel prop might help you when heavy, but when you are alone, your engine will likely over rev if you are hitting 6K now.
With the above said, I will add that my advise is worth what you paid for it. Good luck in your search for your unicorn. Please keep us advised, we all want to learn from other’s successes and failures.

Posted: **Fri Jul 16, 2021 4:11 pm**

I would drop pitch in a similar prop. you are running 16p now so I would try 14 in the same or very similar prop if you can get it. Ken at propgods is the expert and is very helpful in suggesting the correct prop for your goals. https://propgods.com/

Posted: **Sun Jul 18, 2021 11:41 am**

I would love numbers like that

it is a relaxing pontoon after all

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