Prop Recommendation??

[jethrosixxx]

I'm repowering my '78 19-6 FF with a 175 hp Mercury.  Any prop recommendations??

[Ben87]

On a 1987 222 Osprey/150-HP OptMax, I've run both a 15x17P AL BlackMax and currently have a 15x16P Alpha 4 blade Aluminum, these are both Mercury props.  The 4-blade gets the boat out of the hole in a jiffy and the stern rides higher and the vibration is a lot lower and planing speed is lower as is fuel burn.  I've never run a S/S prop on this boat/motor, no need for us.

[Bushleaguer]

Hey Ben87-
My boat is identical to yours.  My power is a 115 Evinrude.  I'm thinking about a re-power.

How does that 150 push your rig?  My current setup gets about 26 knots at WOT, which is fine for me when I'm alone.  If you get two or three more guys in the boat though, it is a strain to maintain 20 knots.  

The max rating is 230 HP, so I've considered just about every option imaginable.  Twins (maybe 90 HP two strokes) single 150, 175 or 200.

Scuppers are right at the waterline, so I want to watch the weight.

Let me know your input when you can.
Thanks

[Ben87]

Originally we had the 1987 BlackMax 150-HP V6 on the boat.  We had it until we repowered in 2005 with a 150-HP OptiMax.  The 150-HP OptiMax is incredible.  The scuppers stay above the waterline at rest and even with weight in the boat, they do not go down much so the 430 lb motor is just fine weight-wise for the boat.  



At 4000 rpm, I get 30 mph and get about 5 mpg.  WOT is up around 38-39 with the aluminum 4-blade 15x16P Alpha 4/Mercury prop.  The prop launches the boat out of the hole and midrange response is fantastic.  No matter if I am alone or the boat is loaded up with 6+ persons and all the gear/fuel I need have I ever needed or wanted any more power than the 150-HP motor, it has all the sack I have ever needed.  With a 3-blade Black Max aluminum prop 15x17P, I had seen 45-46 mph, the 4 blade prop really dropped the top speed which is to be expected, but never ran WOT on that boat all too often anyway.  
Our boat too is rated for 235-HP and I can't imagine a 3.0L V6 on the back of the boat as for sure I can see the scuppers being under water at rest not to mention the now 21 year old transom just falling off from the power.  I think for this 12 degree deadrise boat that is 20+ years old, the 150-HP OptiMax was the perfect motor.  Had the Verado not been so heavy and so much more expensive, I would have gone that way but the boat could no way handle the extra weight.  I would not even consider twins in any case, maybe when it was new and the technology is what it is now.  Hope this helps.

[Bushleaguer]

Great info- thanks a million Ben!