Which outdrive ratio for a 4.3 V6 Alpha?

[marco_0521]

I have a 4.3L Mercruiser Alpha engine which I recently bought new. I am also buying a new outdrive. The current one is a 1.81 ratio and was matched to the old 4.3L Alpha engine.

I am getting a good deal on a 1.62 alpha. I called the dealer, and he told me that my engine could use either a 1.62, a 1.81 or a 2.0 ratio.

My boat is a deck boat, 22 feet. I use it for family fun and not for speeding, or competitive fishing.

Can someone help me in understanding what changes I will see by changing from a 1.81 to a 1.62 ratio? Higher / lower cruising speed? faster / slower getting to plane?

Thanks,

 

[RJLeuwen]

Re: Which outdrive ratio for a 4.3 V6 Alpha?

Does not matter what you use the boat for.

If you go with the 1:62 gears you will have play with the propeller pitch to allow the engine to turn in the upper end of the recomended W.O.T rpm range.

RJ

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Which outdrive ratio for a 4.3 V6 Alpha?

Just factor another prop into your budget. not a trmendous difference, but it will be noticable. If say you're running a 19" pitch prop now, you would probably need to go to a 17" of similar design to get similar performance...