proper height for prop?

[CarlR]

Hey I've got a Sylvan Expedition 1600 fishing boat, with a 2002 4-stroke Mercury 60 Bigfoot outboard.

I'm looking to find out the proper height the prop should be below the water.
What are the boat characteristics of a prop too low? What about too high?

Thanks for any help.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: proper height for prop?

Hey I've got a Sylvan Expedition 1600 fishing boat, with a 2002 4-stroke Mercury 60 Bigfoot outboard.

I'm looking to find out the proper height the prop should be below the water.
What are the boat characteristics of a prop too low? What about too high?

Thanks for any help.

Rule of thumb in my opinion is that the anti cavitation plate on your motor should be in line with the bottom of the hull give or take an inch.
If your motor is too low in the water then you will lose performance and may see a rooster tail behind you. Too high and you may not draw enough cooling water into the motor which will cause untold serious problems.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: proper height for prop?

That would be right. Even for average use, one hole lower for rough water and pulling loads, up one hole for speed. But there's only so much you can do with a Pushing motor on a Planing boat. Your only real option is to get a well-cupped stainless of the appropriate pitch and raise the motor a hole above. The more of that monster gearcase you get out of the water, the faster you'll go. It's made for twice the motor you have. It's basically a 75-125Hp gearcase adapted for use on smaller models for pushing heavy loads. An appropriate model would probably give you at least another 5mph.