Mercury 650 3 cyl 72-76 What prop do you have?

[deisenba]

So I have a 15' 1972 Glasply with the Mercury 650 - 3 cylinder. When I got it, it needed a prop and I bought a 10 X 17. Well, with 3 people on the boat it won't plane out and is a bit on the slow side, so I am curious what other people have for their props. I see that I can get up to an 11.75 X 11 prop (thinking a larger diameter will help). I am fairly new to boats and have searched some, but have not found any good answers so I thought I'd ask for peoples input.

 

[hibbert6]

Re: Mercury 650 3 cyl 72-76 What prop do you have?

I have a very similar boat - 15' tri hull with the merc 650. I replaced my dinged aluminum 10x13 prop with a 3 blade composite prop (Piranha) of the same size. I'm quite happy with it. I also have those fins that bolt to the anti-cav plate.

That 10x17 is too much prop - you'll get no low-end power. The 13 pitch seems to be pretty a pretty good match - I can pull up a skier and I get on plane quickly. (I had the aluminum version for 8 years before switching to the comp prop, so lots of experience with it.) Top end isn't spectacular, but it's fast enough (maybe 28mph?) and I can pull a tube and be on plane even with 6-7 people in the boat.

There's also a "Comp-Prop" available in 4 blade (better hole-shot & low-end pull). And, I saw one that had adjustable pitch - way cool, but I'd already mounted my Piranha.

Good luck!

Dave