Help with Prop on Crestliner with Merc 125

[larry1302]

I will be taking delivery of a 2003 Crestliner 1750 Sportfish in ~month. Motor will be a Merc 125 classic 2 stroke. I have been reading all I can on prop selection and now I'm more confused that ever. Dealer suggested based on "The Chart" a standard Merc 3 blade with a 19" pitch. I ran several options thru Merc's prop selector and @ 2300lbs, boat+motor=1650 + 2 adults + gear + gas, max should be 2300lbs. @ this weight on an Aluminum boat Merc suggests a 23" Black Max or a 22" Laser II for "Overall Good Performance". The boat will be a mix between fish, ski, and tube. Max speed is not what I'm looking for, more a balance between holeshot and cruising. My concern is there is a big spread between a 19" Amuminum and a 22" Laser II. BTW the dealer has offered to let me try several props to find the best one, I am just trying to narrow the search before I end up taking 10 props to the lake. Can anyone offer some recomendations????????????

 

[ICEMAN]

Re: Help with Prop on Crestliner with Merc 125

In all circumstances the chart is what it is. A reference chart. Propping out a boat is not completed via a chart. The chart is a beginning. The correct way to prop out the boat is to try various props. This way you can see the differences and get the one that fits your needs. There are a few different props available. Plastic,Aluminum and stainless steel. THese all have different characteristics when moving a boat through the water. On top of that, there are props with added blades, which again change performance. My recomendation is that if you want to get the prop that suits your needs, you have to take the time to try the various props.

 

[Waterbugtoo]

Re: Help with Prop on Crestliner with Merc 125

Contact Crestliner and they will give you the best answer you're gonna get.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help with Prop on Crestliner with Merc 125

Larry<br />I bet the dealer is right on. He is usually useing chart supplied by Crestliner. As long as he agrees to let you try another prop really no risk. Just deside if you want Stainless steel or aluminum.<br />My 21 foot Crestliner 2800 Lb dry aluminum runabout with a 140 HP I/O came with a 13 1/4 by 17 Aluminum and it was the right prop. I later got a 13 by 19 Stainless Steel, it lowered RPM by 400 but still in reccommended WOT RPM range. Still WOT Speed increased by 2 mile per hour. I use it mostly in ocean where we make long runs and fuel maleage is important. Also in ocean never run wide open so kind of like my over drive prop. Last prop I got was a 13 3/8 by 17 Stainless and again puts me at the top of the WOT RPM. I use it in river and lakes where lots of starts and stops and not real long runs.

 

[Hillfisher]

Re: Help with Prop on Crestliner with Merc 125

Go with what the dealer recommends and adjust from there. The only way to get it right is to try different props. Make sure you run the boat with a load of people and gear because the prop that runs good with a light load may not run well at all with 2 or 3 people and a bunch of gear in the boat. You also need to be in the right rpm range. Just my $0.02.