85hp upgraded to 120hp what size prop for max top speed.

Brianzerbe

Cadet
Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
14
i have a 1989 Blu Fin Sportsman 19' Aluminum V bottom boat that has a 89 Force 85hp with a 13.25dia x 17pitch prop. i upgraded to a 120HP 1997 Force outboard. what size prop should i get. or how do i test and comfirm which prop i should buy.
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,559
Your 85 was probably running a 2.33:1 gear ratio. Your 120 is probably running a 2:1 ratio. Difference is prop shaft is turning 17% faster. The HP difference is 120/85 = 41%. So your thrust effect is 41-17 = 24%. Increasing your pitch by 24% would put you in a 21P.

I'm running a similar rig with a 20P SS Mercury Laser !! at 5250 RPM lightly loaded and get stellar performance. You can expect the hull to ride higher in the water with your same load so you will get more performance per inch of prop pitch, same style prop, with this higher HP. So it's sort of a crap shoot. If you do most of your running at/near WOT, and want a guess at an appropriate prop, in a low cost aluminum in the 13+ diameter, and for a hundred buck crap shoot, a 3 blade General purpose aluminum this ought to work for you:

http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/Fo...130-21_Propeller/194/37959/?cart_id=428920861

If you do a lot of mid range running, like cruising, at lower speeds and want better control of the boat attitude...speed stays constant just over planing speed, doesn't drop back and increasing throttle causes it to run away requiring throttle to be cut back etc. etc. then this one:

http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/Fo...130-19_Propeller/194/37958/?cart_id=428920861

They don't offer a 20P in this prop. The iboats listing goes no higher than 1996, but the 1996 lower unit should be the latest LU design having the through hub exhaust, not the snout your 85 probably has, and the 15 tooth spline.

You furnished no performance information which would significantly help in answering your question specifically, but what I offered should/will work. Question is, will you be happy with it.
 

Brianzerbe

Cadet
Joined
Jun 22, 2008
Messages
14
Got the 120 in the water today, my 85 did 34mph. 120 hit 36, but it's at 7500rpm ish.. so like you said I think I'm needing the 21 pitch. It takes 8seconds from 0-36. What's the pros and cons 4bld vrs 3bld.
 

WesNewell

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 3, 2018
Messages
497
According to my research the 85hp is a 3 cylinder and the 120 is a 4 cylinder. If you didn't reset your tachs settings, I'd suspect your tach reading isn't right.Get that straight first.
 

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,559
Stators are 16 amp and the same number of poles so no tach tweak is necessary.....on Mercury engines of that HP/yearmodel/2 stroke anyway.

My 20P at 5250 ran 47 with ambient temps in the 40's and 5000-5100 and 45 during the summer with about 8% slip at WOT and best trim. I don't have a Force reference but your WOT upper limit is probably 5500. If you actually hit 7500, and my 2002 yearmodel Mercury tach pegged at 7000.....wouldn't show 7500 if you had one. You are doing some kind of ventilating. Being 4" low on pitch and if using a high trim angle at the hole shot, if you hammered down on it, I could understand some "blow out" (ventilation) giving you that.
 
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