Hey guys
I have a 1985 184.
Over the winter I rebuilt a 2.5 Mercury, 175hp. (30 over Weisco pistons, CCMS Reeds and stuffers)
It had a 150 OMC on it, so I have a 24 Raker that is on the new Merc motor now.
Right now I get excessive prop slip (happened with the OMC too) no matter what Prop I run. The OMC had the lowest slip numbers with a 23P 4 blade (ballistic), but I don't have a suitable 4 blade to try anymore. I thought I did, I have a 25 4 blade Renegade bass, but the hub barrel size is to small, so I get CRAZY slip on the Merc (45%) due to the exhaust going over the hub. (gets out of the hole nice, then I see like 45mph max and if I jump on the throttle it cavitates)
Current Setup: Prop to pad... I'm not sure, I had the motor too high, so I was loosing water pressure at WOT, so I dropped it 1/2". 8" manual Slidemaster Jack Plate. I mostly run 2 people, full fuel, full livewell. I fish tourneys, so I'm running 5 batteries (36v Trolling, 2 system due to 4 graphs and livescope), I removed the front fuel tank and built a battery tray for the additional batteries. So it's a little give and take for weight. If it had both tanks, vs the additional 3 batteries, I think it's a pretty even trade off.
With the 24P 3 Blade Raker I see 6200 RPM at 53MPH fully loaded. I calculate that to be about 28% slip. (OUCH!) I also see the same Speed and RPM with the livewell Empty and one person with half a tank of fuel.
I ran a 23P once and I had to back out of it because the RPM was headed WAY into the red. (Motor is Balanced and Blueprinted, but I don't want to spend much time over 6500, it makes me nervous...yes I know the racers run 9k... still not for me), but I saw 55mph at 6500 RPM, which is also 27%.
So my question is this... Should I try and find a larger diameter 25P 3 blade to borrow and try? Or is a 4 blade going to be better?
What are your thoughts on a Solas Scorpion on these rigs? Has anyone run one? I didn't see one in the database, but there isn't a way to search it either.
Thanks!