[Big Bubba]

Hello to all,
I have a question to ask you guys. I own a new to me 1991 Lowes model 202 Pontoon Boat or I guess it is a 20 foot Pontoon Boat with a 70 horsepower Johnson 1983 year model J70ELCTD. Anyway, I took the boat out today for the first time with the new to me Johnson 70 horsepower outboard and it ran good except the motor felt guttless that is it took somewhat of a delay to get up to 18 miles per hour at 5100 RPMs max wide open throttle. The prop on it currently has a 13 1/4 X 17 prop. I was wondering if I would do good to go with a 13 3/4 X 15 pitch since it would add more RPMs and possibly more speed maybe, not too sure. The 70 horsepower motor was on a trihull speed boat 17 inch Bonita boat when I bought it from the guy so I am thinking that the prop has maybe too much pitch or not enough pitch becuase I called a local marina in town and they said the pitch neds to come down to a 13 pitch. Basically the pontoon boats they sale have 11 or 13 pitch props on it. Let me know becuase I want to get out this weekend. Also I did have to adjust the timing on it and the idle becuase it was idling way to high at the time when I bought the motor and when I put it on my Pontoon boat. But the motor rasn flawlessly and I ran hard for about 1 hour at wide open throttle but not the entire hour. Let me know Bob

[steelespike]

Assuming the tach is accurate and no ventilation it appears a 15 would get you about 5,500.The motor would be happier and feel more spirited.
If you have no venting problems you may want to raise the motor a hole at a time to just before venting appears.

[Silvertip]

If you normally carry a light load (just a couple of folks) the 15P might work for you. But if you carry more than that, you would be better off with the 13P. While wide open throttle revs might get high with a light load, you can always throttle back to avoid overrev. But if you go 15P and routinely carry a heavier load, you will still be lugging the engine which is not good for its longevity. I would think a 13P four blade pontoon prop would be ideal.

[Big Bubba]

hello to everyone,
I wanted to let you guys know that I bought a brand new genuine aluminum Johnson/Evinrude 13.75 X 13 prop today. What do you guys think I should be good to go with the info I have provided in this posting? Thanks, Bob

[walleyehed]

I'd think that'll do anything you'd ever want.....

[Big Bubba]

O.K. guys went out to the lake today and what a difference the 13.75 X 13 Aluminum 3 blade prop did for me today. My boat actaully felt better but the only thing is if I go wide open throttle with her she will run at 6700 rpms wide open throttle. Today it was my wife, myself, my 2 young daughters and 1 of there friends that was on the boat for a total of 5 people two adults and 3 young kids. What do you guys think? Should I taker the prop back and get a 15 pitch or keep what I got and just don't go above 6000 rpms with a light load. I had the throttle at roughly 3/4 of a throttle from being wide open throttle so I am just worried about over reving the engine. By the way the engine ran great today even over reving at 6700 rpms. Let me know I am very curiouis about this. Bob