Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I am planning a trip on the icw --and I will be operating engine at high idle for fuel savings and not in a hurry...but I would like to get the most push at a slow engine speed....I have a 2001 70 hp tohatsu --any suggestions...I never cared about what top speed I got... Bruce

What pitch are you running, you can always go down in pitch to move more water at lower speed, if you have a prop shop near you, they may work with you to find the right pitch by letting you try different props he has on hand

idle speed might not be the most efficient rpm for your motor. A lot of the time 3000rpm or so offers better MPG's when fitted with the correct prop. Remember your motor is not making much horsepower at that low of RPM.

My tohatsu 70hp has a13.75 x 15 prop on it

burning desire wrote:I am planning a trip on the icw --and I will be operating engine at high idle for fuel savings and not in a hurry...but I would like to get the most push at a slow engine speed....I have a 2001 70 hp tohatsu --any suggestions...I never cared about what top speed I got... Bruce

You're already using a prop that are more normally seen on 150hp class motors, I don't think you'd want to go any taller. Remember you or I may be very well satisfied with our speed but sometimes a brief burst of acceleration is often necessary to avoid potentially dangerous conditions thrown our way by the all to often uncourteous fellow boaters we share the water with. I've found applying throttle and swinging wide to come into their wake far behind them on my terms a lot less unsettling than dealing with their wake head-on up close and personal.