More speed?

[worm1]

Hey guys, just a quick question. I have a 05 tracker 175 with a 60hp merc, it comes out of the hole great but i would like a little more top end. Right now it will run 34-36mph (gps). It has the factory alum. prop, i would like a ss prop. Can i get a higher pitch, or is there a better way to get a few more mph? Thanks for any info.

[MrSplitshot]

Are you trimming it up all you can once you're wide open full throttle?

I've got an '05 PT175 with a 50HP Mercury 2-stroke (stock prop). On calm water, everything strapped down, wide open and trimmed up just right, she'll see about 34. She'll run 32 trimmed all the way down and I gain those last 2mph by trimming it up as far as I can without porpoising.

I've been thinking about putting a hydrofoil on it to help the hole shot a bit, and allow me to stay on plane at a bit lower speed for some of the smaller creek fishing I do. They say that a hydrofoil will get you a little more speed and I suppose that a stainless prop would too.

Go see Neil or Randy at Stokley's and they'll fix you up.

[worm1]

Thanks split, at WOT trimmed down it runs 27/28 mph. My buddy was telling me maybe a jackplate, but i think/know a prop will be alot easier to install. I may look into a hydrofoil also if i go with a larger pitch prop to help keep my holeshot.

[fish24/7]

I would change out the prop to a SS prop and call a dealer to find the correct pitch or the manufacturer. A jackplate will help you pick up a little more speed. I would change the prop first. Determine what you want to spend because all of this can add into some $$$ only for a few more miles per hour.

[Moose1am]

I agree with Fish on this about gettting the stainless steel prop. Talk to the manufacture to make sure you get the right pitch etc to make the engine run at the right RPM at full speed. That's really important when you change props. A three blade SS prop will give you more speed.

I had my aluminu prop taken off and put on a stainless steel three blade prop and had it turned to give me the right rpm at full speed. You don't want to over rev the engine or underrev it while going full speed.

You will get better gas mileage too. And the SS prop won't break as easily as the Aluminum one. the blads on the SS prop are thinner and more effecient.

Anything you add to the back of the engine that's under the water will increase the drag and slow you down some. It might change how fast your boat gets on plane but then as you increase speed anything that in the water behind the boat is going to create some drag. And drag will slow you down some.

I would change out the prop to a SS prop and call a dealer to find the correct pitch or the manufacturer. A jackplate will help you pick up a little more speed. I would change the prop first. Determine what you want to spend because all of this can add into some $$$ only for a few more miles per hour.

[worm1]

OK guys, I put a 15p prop on and it runs 39mph @ 4900rpm. However i can't get the bow all the way out of the water which i think is hurting rpm, mph & mpg. Not to mention it makes the boat pull hard to the right. Is this something a hydrofoil would fix? The boat still comes out of the hole good. Thanks for any info!

[CTFSHWHISKER]

keep as much weight toward the rear as possible,being that it probably doesn't have a high performance steering system if you put a prop with more bite on it you will feel it in the steering wheel.prop it as close to the max rpm as you can get,even 150 rpm on the high side won't hurt,that will allow for extra weight and weather conditions.As someone said earlier a hydro foil will actually slow top end unless the engine is high enough to be above water.before putting on a jackplate check with tracker,it can blow your hull warranty.plus it would not probably make enough difference for the money.raise the motor on the transom a hole up at a time to see if it gains.
on the weight don't load down the rear too much and if you are by yourself put things on the left side to offset your weight.

[R19]

OK guys, I put a 15p prop on and it runs 39mph @ 4900rpm.

When going from aluminum to stainless steel you need to drop down 1 pitch. An aluminum prop has a lot of flex and when you reve it up under a load the diamiter of the prop will get smaller. Stainless steel will not give and remains the same diamiter. Example if your aluminum prop is 20 pitch you want a 19 pitch stainless.

Same thing for a 3 blade versues 4 blade in stainless props. If you are running a stainless. If running a stainless 24 pitch 3 blade you want a 23 pitch stainless 4 blade.

Not all props are the same. I have seen a 25 pitch Tempest get trashed beyond repair. Bought the same prop and it was 150-200 rpm higher same load same time of year same conditions. Props will vary even if they are the same pitch and same manufacture.

If you can find someone with a used prop that would let you test drive it that would help. If you want some expert advice contact Mark Croften (not for sure about last name) he is the Master Yoda when it comes to getting a prop/boat set up correctly. He can be located at bassboatcentral.com Click on BBC Boards then Prop set up Fourm and post your question. To give you a good answer on set up he will need to know what kind/ size of boat and size hp motor you have. Let him know if you have a water pressuse gauge and how many psi you are running at wide open throttle. Let him know if you have a jackplate or not. If you know your motor height let him know and if you dont know your motor height they have an illistration that shows how to level the boat and motor and measure the height of the propshaft in relation to the pad of the boat.

I know that is alot of information to provide but if you want your rig to preform to the max speed he is the man to talk to.

R19

[cumberlandguy1]

trade it to a triton...lol..I have the same engine on a triton 175 and it runs 43mph with all of my gear on 2 big guys on board.

[worm1]

It was coin flip when i bought a new boat heads tracker tails triton. I've been very happy with my tracker but those tritons sure are nice!!

[RC5]

I'm not for sure how much it costs but you can get your prop blue printed which means they balance the prop. I've heard some guys have got 5 more mph out of it but no guarantees, I don’t really know what would happen with your smaller engine either.

[Jbyrd]

Hey guys, just a quick question. I have a 05 tracker 175 with a 60hp merc, it comes out of the hole great but i would like a little more top end. Right now it will run 34-36mph (gps). It has the factory alum. prop, i would like a ss prop. Can i get a higher pitch, or is there a better way to get a few more mph? Thanks for any info.

Why bother ? Why end up spending 3-4 hundred dollars to gain 3-4 mph. If you do the math calculations it may take you 3 or 4 miniutes longer to run 10-15 miles. But it is your money just stop and do the math first people would be surprised!!!