So I have a 2017 PT 190 Tracker with a 2017 Mercury 115 hp 4 stroke mounted through the first hole (top hole) that had an Mercury Black Max aluminum 13.5 X 23P prop on it. Well I hit a submerged log and broke an inch off the tip of one of the three blades. Normally I could run about 5900 rpm at 44 mph. I think that calculates to about 30% slippage, not good right? Understand, I never paid much attention to the boat set up until this happened.
So, I took my prop to the prop shop to get this one repaired and buy a new prop as this repair was going to be two to three weeks as I was around 100 on the repair list. So he sold me a new, out of the box Laser II 13.5 X24P SS prop. I was told I would only lose a couple hundred RPM but should be fine. As it turns out I max out at about 5000 RPM and about 42 mph. I may have been able to trim a little more but it was getting a little squirrelly in my opinion.
Everyone with this same boat seems to running around 21P and motor sitting on the third hole. Does this sound about right? I know I may be a little heavy with me, 270 lbs, 3 batteries, and an 8 foot Talon on as well. So my questions are, and please understand I’m just trying to learn here:
- Is that prop even have a chance of working right for me or should I be looking at coming down on pitch?
- What does raising motor up to third hole do for me?
- Pitch go down if I go with 4 blade?
- Did I calculate slippage?
- The prop guy didn’t have a 23P but he may have a 21 or 22, which should I try trade up to?
I’ll leave it there and I appreciate all your suggestions and advice.
P.S.
I took the boat out again this morning to try and run it again while trying out some different trim settings. At one point I was at about 4600 RPM and 40 mph but it was feeling really squirrelly on the back end of the boat and really poor handling.