I have a 1988 Bass Tracker Pro 17 with a 1988 Mercury 35hp and needing prop advice. I got the boat a little over a year ago and had a few issues with it due to it sitting for a while and this spring I rebuilt the powerhead, replaced all electronics and fuel related items.
The motor came with a Quicksilver 10.5 x 13p prop that spun 4560 rpms & 23mph. The boat would plane out but took forever. I talked to a local prop shop and put on a Quicksilver 11.25 x 10p and the boat gets on plane much quicker with this prop. This prop spins 5210 rpms & a little over 24 mph. Going from the 13p to 10p averaged 216 rpms per pitch decrease. These numbers are with the trim pin in hole #3, hole #4 the prop blows out when turning.
Since I am below the WOT rpm should I go down to a 9p? My local shop says as long as I'm above 5000 rpms I am good. I don't want to put too much strain on the motor due to low rpms.
The motor came with a Quicksilver 10.5 x 13p prop that spun 4560 rpms & 23mph. The boat would plane out but took forever. I talked to a local prop shop and put on a Quicksilver 11.25 x 10p and the boat gets on plane much quicker with this prop. This prop spins 5210 rpms & a little over 24 mph. Going from the 13p to 10p averaged 216 rpms per pitch decrease. These numbers are with the trim pin in hole #3, hole #4 the prop blows out when turning.
Since I am below the WOT rpm should I go down to a 9p? My local shop says as long as I'm above 5000 rpms I am good. I don't want to put too much strain on the motor due to low rpms.