Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hello all, Jason from Louisiana. I have a 2010 24' Bentley Encore pontoon that I recently repowered with a Merc 150 4 stroke. After discussions with motor dealer and talking with Bentley reps, the prop I have on it now is a 15.75"15 pitch SS prop. My problem is that the best I can do before prop blowout occurs is about 4200 RPM's with a full tank of fuel and 4 passengers sitting towards the rear. As I consume fuel or passengers move forward, performance suffers. I am considering adding lifting strakes.
Question 1---will 6" strakes make more of a difference than 4" strakes will.
Question 2---does it matter if I install them only on the inner side or outer side of each of the 2 pontoons.
Thanks in advance

What ever you do not install Tap Fins

Think you need a dealer that knows how to select the right prop for the boat. I think that prop is for something already straked or tritoon setup and that you go with less pitch on a regular pontoon. Two ways to go about it, prop is a lot cheaper. I'm definitely no expert but I would think the way it should go would be to get it prop'ed right first and then think about strakes if desired. Maybe there's an option similar to Bennington's express tube that is an add on center tube with strakes.

I agree with Steiner. Work on making 100% sure you have the right prop for your boat. The other thing I would check is to make sure your motor is at the right height. The anti-ventilation plate should be lined up with the bottom of your pontoons.

Sounds like engine is too high, and the prop is made for a boat not a pontoon.

Find a dealer that will let you try props till you find the one that works my dealer will let me do that.

I forgot to mention engine height on my initial post. Motor is as low as it can go.
I called the Bentley manufacturing plant and they called one of their local distributors that they deal with and trust. That's how I got to the 15.75", 15 pitch prop.

jleonard wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 13, 2020 7:12 am

I forgot to mention engine height on my initial post. Motor is as low as it can go.
I called the Bentley manufacturing plant and they called one of their local distributors that they deal with and trust. That's how I got to the 15.75", 15 pitch prop.

Motor may be too low. Would like to see a pic of where cavitation plate on motor is with respect to the bottom of the motor pod. It should be even, If motor is too low water going around lower unit will not be smooth and the faster you go the quicker the water flow will be interrupted and you will cavitate.

On my toon I can trim out so much I redline and get an overrev alarm--around 5800. Without blowing out I have a 20 ft 2 tube Lowe and I run 27 WOT.. I cruise at 4200 rpm at 18 mph. I run a 13 x 16 prop.

Good luck..

lakerunner wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 09, 2020 5:32 pm

What ever you do not install Tap Fins

Funny to see you mention but not long ago this guy surfaced on one of the pontoon pages on FB and he was all but comical when questioned as all he would do is reference old claims...