NEW BOAT,I THINK THE WRONG PROP IS ON IT

[ROBERTSTELLJR]

I JUST BOUGHT A 2001 18' MARADA BOWRIDER WITH A 125 MERCURY SALT WATER SERIES OB. THIS BOAT ONLY HAS 10 OR SO HRS OF TIME ON IT. I CARRIED IT OUT TODAY AND THE BOAT HAD NO BOTTOM END POWER AT ALL.IT SEEMED TO VENTILATE OR CAVITATE BADLY ONCE I DID GET GOING. ABOUT HALF THROTTLE I COULD THROW FULL THROTTLE TO IT AND IT WAS LIKE I WAS SPINNING WHEELS AND WASNT HOOKING UP.NOW IM LOOKING TO JUST PLAY AROUND WITH MY KIDS AND PULL THEM ON TUBES SO IM NOT TERRIBLY CONCERNED WITH A LOT OF MPH. THE PROP THAT IS ON THE BOAT IS A STAINLESS STEEL ONE AND HAS THESE NUMBERS ON IT BUT NO MANUFACTURER. 5120 20P THE MAX RPM IS 5250...CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT I SHOULD DO? THANKS ALOT, ROB

 

[walleyehed]

Re: NEW BOAT,I THINK THE WRONG PROP IS ON IT

Sounds like maybe a spun hub...not uncommon.<br />Best to take it to a prop shop, but you can verify slipage by marking the rear of the hub and make a mark on the housing in-line with each other..yellow grease pencil works well...then go run it and see if the marks still line up...if not, it's a spun hub. prop shop time.<br />And welcome aboard!!

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: NEW BOAT,I THINK THE WRONG PROP IS ON IT

Or maybe it's overventilated. Some stainless props have vent holes near the front of the blades. They can be plugged or restricted to fine-tune holeshot. A 20" pitch sounds a bit too steep for that set-up, the previous owner was probably going for speed. Only a good run with it not slipping would tell for sure. It's also possible that the motor is hanging too high in the back and the prop is grabbing air.

 

[ROBERTSTELLJR]

Re: NEW BOAT,I THINK THE WRONG PROP IS ON IT

YEA I JUST PUT A 19 PITCH ALUMINUM PROP ON AND IT STRAIGHTENED OUT ALL THE PROBLEMS, THANKS ALOT,ROB

 

[walleyehed]

Re: NEW BOAT,I THINK THE WRONG PROP IS ON IT

There is more to it than lowering 1" and fixing all the problems...something else was astray.<br />Just for giggles, what is your max RPM now?