CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

[Barnacle_Bill]

How many RPMs are you turning at idle?

 

[mverostek]

CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

I own a 2001 Sea Swirl Striper 2300 which I purchased when I lived in California for ocean fishing. The engine is a 2001 Evindude 225 Ficht (outboard). The standard RPM for WOT is 5500 to 6000 and a gear ratio of 1.86. My top end is approx 37 mph. I now live in Arkansas and have my boat located in a slip at Beaver Lake. I still wish to use my boat for fishing/trolling but now at idle speed (just engaging the throtle) I travel through the water at a whopping 4.7 to 5.3 mph. Now that is great for ocean fishing but way to fast for striper fishing on Beaver Lake. Now that I have bored you silly, here is my question: Since the standard prop on my engine has to high of a degree of pitch and my boat is traveling to fast through the water, what size and pitch of a propeller should I purchase to slow me down to 2 to 4 mph and still have a good top end?

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Originally posted by IBNFSHN:<br /> How many RPMs are you turning at idle?

I think but not really sure approx 1500 rpm's

 

[Boatist]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Slow your idle down to 500 or 600 RPMS. Much better for your gear box and it will slow you way down. You can also add a trolling plate, or use a bucket.

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Thats a great idea plus it's a lot cheaper. I always thought that the idle speed was supposed to be between 1000 and 1500 rpm. Will the engine run a little rough being set that low? I have used a sea anchor before. Normally, I used a sea anchor to slow the drift of my boat when we drifted fished for halibut. Wouldn't a sea anchor foul the trolloing lines behind the boat? If I did readjust the idle speed, would you do it by the throtle cable or idle speed adjust on the engine its self? Just full of questions aren't I. They say that the fastest way to become a millionaire is to start with five million and buy a boat!

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Highly recommend you get a manual. You don't want to be turning the wrong screws.

 

[REELSPORT]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

I really liked the part about to become a millioniare start with 5 and buy a boat. ( you must be buying your parts from the same one I am )

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

I am wondering if the manual that came with the engine will have simple adjustments like idle speed setting or will I have to purchase the service bible? I did go to another web sight (outboardrepairs.com/topics/006761.html)and found "Evinrude idle adjustment" for a 1994 120. I does sound rather simple, I mean even I can follow those instructions providing the engines are set up the same. I guess I can always check with the local technician at the corner jip joint. I guess I will just keep inquiring. Thanks and a Bravo Zulu to those who have assisted me.

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Well I have decided to purchase a new propeller. My exsisting prop is 15 dia x 17 pitch. I can go to a 15 x 15 and stay just barely below my wot rpm, but the only 15 x 15 is in a stainless steal which I really do not need. Does anyone know if a 15 1/4 x 15 or a 15 1/2 x 15 fit my lower unit (2001-225hp-Evinrude Ficht)?

 

[rdgallo]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Marty, I have a Johnson 150 FastStrike on my Ranger bass boat and I have used it a lot at Bull Shoals Lake in the middle of July trolling. Mine idles (I think) about 600-650 RPM in gear. It pushes my boat at the right speed to pull deep diving lures while trolling. Usually at the resort I go to, I am the only one catching nice bass and walleyes in the middle of July during the hottest parts of the day.

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Ron, I have decided to purchase a new propeller to lower my overall idle speed which will enable me to troll for stripers here on Beaver Lake. When I was stationed in California, I used my boat in the ocean where idle speed was greater thus allowing me to fish for tuna and other sporting fish. Presently, my idle rpm's when in gear is also between 600 and 650 rpm's but my forward motion is just above 5.5 mph. With the new propeller, I can expect to slow down between 3 and 4 mph. And according to the so called lake experts, that is where I need to be. Even though fishing with artificials is the way to go, every now and then I use live bait and trolling at to high of a speed drowns the bait fish. And believe me, bait fish here is expensive unless you cast for them yourself. Well got to go, keep on fishing and maybe some where and some day we will run into one another (just a pun)here in Arkansas. Marty

 

[walleyehed]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Marty, your speedo or tach is off....600 RPM with the 17 you list on the 2300 should put you around 2.5MPH, maybe 3 at most....something is off here...I'm sure of it.

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Kenny, I have checked the speed with my Garmin onboard GPS, my hand held Garmin and speed o meter and they all seem to read almost the same reading. As far as my tach, at Wide Open Throttle(WOT) my tach reads 5550 rpm's which basically coinsides with my Evinrude manual which states that at WOT I should read between 5500 and 6000 rpm's. For rehash, my motor is a 2001 225 hp Evinrude Ficht salt water outboard with a 15 inch diameter and 17 pitch propeller. My boat is a 2001 Sea Swirl Striper 2300 walk around which is 24' 2"long with a beam of 102" and displaces 4000 lbs not including 105 gals of fuel when filled, plus all my fishing gear. I guess, even with all that weight being pushed it would seem that my trolling speed would be in the range of what you quoted, but everything I have tells me different. Thats why I am so perplexed with this problem. Appreciate the come back and I am willing to listen to all the information I can possibly get. Thanks for your input and keep the slack out of your lines! Marty

 

[Dhadley]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Kenny -- remember this is a Ficht.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

OK, are we talking a different gear ratio here???<br />I apologize if I spoke too soon..

 

[mverostek]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

Just a reminder, the gear ration of my engine is 1.86.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: CHOOSING THE PROPER PROPELLER

The same as the 175 confirmed today, I'm at 3.5 at 650 RPM with a 17P...<br /><br />Edit: That's on a light, 18ft aluminum.<br />EDIT #2: I previously stated the 200...when I run it I have a 22 SS on it and it IS fast at Idle, but only around 5.5-6