Propeller pitch ignornace

[gerg]

I picked up my pontoon from the dealer that I had a new Mercury 60 Command Thrust installed on. When I bought the motor they said they would use their prop calculator and install the best prop. When I picked it up it was busy and I only looked to see the motor was there and black.

When I got home and did a walk around I noticed the prop looked a little small, and was only a 3-blade. I got curious.
I just checked the invoice and they installed a 3-blade Black Max 13", 19P!(48-77346A45) WTF was the installer thinking? One of the main reasons for a Command Thrust is so you can run a larger prop!

I checked the prop calculator myself and it recommends 13.8" to 14" props of ~11P.
I also plan to get the Spitfire 4-blade prop instead of a 3-blade.

I'm glad I noticed this now and not the first of April when trying to get to my slip/break in the new motor!

I'll be on the phone Monday morning with the salesman getting this straightened out.

[Bamaman]

The installer probably though the prop was a 13 pitch instead of a 19 pitch, 13" prop. As you said, things were busy.

Tracker dealers should be experienced enough with setup to know exactly what propeller is right for your boat. Just make sure after the initial break in that your propeller will allow the engine to hit the redline or very close to it.

[Bryden24shp]

[quote="Bamaman"]Tracker dealers should be experienced enough with setup to know exactly what propeller is right for your boat. .[/quote]

I'm glad you used the word "should". I have heard of a lot of prop problems with Bass Pro Shops set ups. A relative of mine bought an aluminum bass boat that had a left hand rotation prop on it. His first trip out, he couldn't get it off the trailer in reverse, until he ran it with the shifter in forward. They fixed it right away, but talk about pissed off. And I have heard of several sold without thrust washer kits. One poor guy pretty much welded a prop to his lower unit after running a mile downstream after launching, then they tried to blame him, saying he hit something. With no blade damage or skeg nicks? Until they pulled the pulled the prop and noticed what the prep guy did. Then they smoothened out the grooves and installed a thrust washer and said "Good to go!" A month later the lower unit locked up because they torqued the prop nut so tight it ruined the bearings. Mercury wouldn't cover it and Bass Pro had to eat the cost of a new lower unit, after a lot of bitching. One little finger spin after the original prop was installed could have saved all this frustration. Also, unrelated to boating, a guy bought a Kymco SXS from a "Big Box Store" and the first time out lost a wheel that wasn't torqued and rolled it and was seriously hurt. They found the 3 other wheels lugs tight, just missed that one. I don't trust these stores selling and servicing boats and ATV's. A kid behind a cash register takes over for a service guy that calls in sick and.... Here we go!

[boocat]

My new 60ct came standard with the 14x11 3 blade, I guess it's a black max. I did inquire about a "better" prop and my dealer/tech had a pretty strong opinion about that prop being the best match.
I guess it may have some marginal benefit?? One guy says he lost rpm, the next guy says he gained? Who knows. I don't really need faster "hole shot" on a pontoon. One guy says he had a BIG gain mpg,, how big is big?

https://www.amazon.com/Mercury-Spitfire ... B00EA5FZ4M

[gerg]

I didn't use a Tracker dealer even though there is one nearby.(I've heard too many bad things about them) I did use a local reputable authorized Mercury dealer.

On my previous pontoon I had a 60 BigFoot with a 3 blade prop and I just want to try the four blade Spitfire for the advertised better low speed handling.(trolling, docking)

[boocat]

If you try, let me know how it works.

[sirmoses1]

I have 2016 Mercury command thrust running a 14 x 9 works perfect. 22ft Misty harbor.