propeller pitch and trolling speed

[JOHN MIELNICKI]

My boat is trolling too fast at the lowest rpms of my 40hp 2 stroke mercury outboard. With all things being equal and with no concern with high end speed the question is:

If I change the prop pitch will it affect my trolling speed? If yes, should I increase or decrease the pitch to slow down the trolling speed?

 

[Bondo]

Re: propeller pitch and trolling speed

Ayuh,......
You'd Decrease the Pitch.......
But,....
It's Much Easier to just tie off a couple of Drift Socks to the forward cleats to slow you down.......
Then when you pull them in,.... Your motor will behave Normally.....

 

[Silvertip]

Re: propeller pitch and trolling speed

Or install a trolling plate. They are sort of a hinged hydrofoil attached to the AV plate. The plate folds down in back of the prop to block its thrust. When you retract it the motor behaves normally. The flaw with reducing pitch, especially if you don't have a tach, is that at wide open throttle the motor is very likely going to over rev. Without a tach you have no idea what rpm the engine is turning and you will undoubtedly forget the lesser pitch at least once. It may be that one time that does in the motor. But if you have a tach and monitor it at cruise speeds, this is all moot.