Quick pitch question

mp3mike05

Cadet
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
15
I just bought my first boat earlier this summer, and the prop is in pretty poor shape. The boat is a 1994 Maxum 1700 with the 3.0l mercruiser 135hp I/O.

I was going to buy a new prop for it so I went to look at the pitch, and it is currently 13.75 x 21. Does this pitch seem too high for the boat? It seems like it takes forever to plane and we slalom ski a lot so it would be nice if it had more acceleration. The boat does not have a tach though, so I'm afraid of overrevving the engine if we drop the pitch.

Do you think it would be safe to drop to a 19inch or 17inch pitch without overrevving at full throttle? The max rpms are 4400- 4800 i believe.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Quick pitch question


Welcome to iboats.......:)
I don't think I have ever heard of a boat that didnot have a tach......
You really should install one......
Or at least get a tester one for diagnostic purposes.....
14.25x 17 or 14x19 will give ya a better hole shot.....
I'm sure some guys with a similar boat/engine will chime in......;)
 

mp3mike05

Cadet
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
15
Re: Quick pitch question

A tach was definitely on the to do list, but I was planning on getting a new prop for the weekend. The prop is so beat up even a new prop should make a nice difference. Just hoping I could drop the pitch to 19 and not have to worry about overrevs.
 

Haut Medoc

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 29, 2004
Messages
10,645
Re: Quick pitch question

I think you will be OK with a 19, but......
Even worse than over revving would be 'lugging', where your boat cannot get to WOT....
That is bad for the engine......
Some of the newer timing lights have a tach built into them.....
Ya can never have enough diagnostic tools, IMHO.....;):)
 
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