Fishinfireman
Well-known member
Well here is the update on my search for the best prop. I ran two Rev 4 props since my last post and I was disappointed in both of them. I ran a 17P and an 18P and neither one did as well as the Suzuki prop. The Rev 4s gave the boat a lot of bow lift until you got up into the higher speeds and then the bow came down and the stern seemed to lift. I could not trim the motor up very far with the 4 blades either.
All of the Merc props I have tried seem to run well with a light load but when I ran them with my typical charter load, the slip was pretty bad.
My last two trips were run with the 17P Suzuki prop and it works much better than the Merc props but it needs some adjustment to get me in the correct rpm range.
I fished today with a fairly heavy load (6 men including me and a full load of fuel) and we had the best sea we have had in a while. My best cruise #s were:
4600 rpm - 25kts - 14.9 gph - 1.67 nmpg - 1.92 mpg
I ran the boat with just me aboard this afternoon after my charter. I was carrying a big fish box with maybe 100# of ice and 115 gallons of fuel. Seas were smooth in the channel were I ran. Here are the #s :
4600 rpm - 28.4 kts - 14.7 gph - 1.93 nmpg - 2.22 mpg
5000 rpm - 31 kts - 18.3 gph - 1.69 nmpg - 1.94 mpg
5600 rpm(wot) - 34.6 kts - 23.9 gph - 1.44 nmpg - 1.66 mpg
I discussed my situation with a prop man who was highly recommended and I am going to let him adjust this prop as soon as I get another one to run.
One other thing I should mention is the dealer who sold me this motor put 20/50 oil in it and sold me 20/50 to do the 20 hour oil change. I have since found out that I should be running 10/40 oil. I don't know how much this will affect the way the motor runs but it may free it up some. We'll see. I now have about 70 hours on this motor and I am very impressed with it. It's a big improvement over my old OX66.
All of the Merc props I have tried seem to run well with a light load but when I ran them with my typical charter load, the slip was pretty bad.
My last two trips were run with the 17P Suzuki prop and it works much better than the Merc props but it needs some adjustment to get me in the correct rpm range.
I fished today with a fairly heavy load (6 men including me and a full load of fuel) and we had the best sea we have had in a while. My best cruise #s were:
4600 rpm - 25kts - 14.9 gph - 1.67 nmpg - 1.92 mpg
I ran the boat with just me aboard this afternoon after my charter. I was carrying a big fish box with maybe 100# of ice and 115 gallons of fuel. Seas were smooth in the channel were I ran. Here are the #s :
4600 rpm - 28.4 kts - 14.7 gph - 1.93 nmpg - 2.22 mpg
5000 rpm - 31 kts - 18.3 gph - 1.69 nmpg - 1.94 mpg
5600 rpm(wot) - 34.6 kts - 23.9 gph - 1.44 nmpg - 1.66 mpg
I discussed my situation with a prop man who was highly recommended and I am going to let him adjust this prop as soon as I get another one to run.
One other thing I should mention is the dealer who sold me this motor put 20/50 oil in it and sold me 20/50 to do the 20 hour oil change. I have since found out that I should be running 10/40 oil. I don't know how much this will affect the way the motor runs but it may free it up some. We'll see. I now have about 70 hours on this motor and I am very impressed with it. It's a big improvement over my old OX66.