What is best prop for 99 Monterey montura 196 with 4.3 merc

mudturtle79

Recruit
Joined
Apr 17, 2014
Messages
1
Hey everyone, I have a 99 Monterey Montura 196 with a 4.3 and alpha one with 1.81 gear ratio. It currently has a 15x19 Solace prop. It runs 45 mph on GPS and TACHS about 4600 wot. Would like to get it to 50 or 55 mph if that's even possible. Any suggestions?
 

dan02gt

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 30, 2012
Messages
463
Re: What is best prop for 99 Monterey montura 196 with 4.3 merc

mudturtle79, Your numbers don't really add up when I put them through a prop slip calculator like the one here: Prop Slip Calculator

About the best a boat like yours is going to see is 10% slip. Using 10% as your slip number and your GPS verified 45 mph I come up with your motor actually turning 5000 RPMs. So I think your tach maybe a little off, and you're reving the motor a little higher than you should be.

I'm sure you can pick up more speed if you went to a higher pitch prop. Something like a 21P 3 blade would be your best bet for top speed. It would lower RPMs a little and should get you closer to that 50 MPH number you're after. I would also recommend a stainless steel prop to get you the best performance. The Mercury Enertia or Laser II would be good choices as would the Powertech SFS3.

You will lose a little hole shot though.
 

jestor68

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
2,308
Re: What is best prop for 99 Monterey montura 196 with 4.3 merc

You'll not likely never get 50 mph out of that boat/motor combination.

If it's a 190 hp, the projection is 44 mph with a 19 pitch Laser II.

If it's a 220 hp, the projection is 46 mph with a 21 pitch Laser II.

Those projections (from the Merc prop selector) assume a fresh motor.

The weights used were; 2700 dry, 500 lbs people/gear, and 25 gal gas, for a total of 3342 lbs.
 
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