Who do I listen to???

[Nebrittany]

1) Performance issue you are trying to correct.

Get WOT back with in manufacture's recommended range of 5500-6000rpm's. Possibly do a little better with the top speed.

2) Current prop manufacturer, model, aluminum or stainless as a minimum.

Mercury Black Max 3-blade, 10.375"X13", SKU# 73136A45, Aluminum.

3) Current prop diameter and pitch (required).

See question #2.

4) Wide open throttle RPM and speed with an average load (very helpful)

6200-6300RPM's Average. 32-33mph via Speedo.

5) Engine/drive make, model, year, and HP

2009 Mercury 60hp 4-Stroke, 1.83:1 Lower...

6) Boat make model, year, length and weight

Tracker 2010 Pro Team™ 175 TXW
Length 17' 7''
Bottom width 60"
Max. recommended HP 75 HP
Package width 7' 5''
Fuel capacity 19 Gallons
Deadrise 10 Degrees
Beam 89"

Approx. weight 993 Lbs.
Approx. package weight 1769 Lbs.
Max. person capacity 4 Persons
Pkg. length w/swing-away 19' 7''
Hull material 0.100 5052 Marine Alloy
Transom height 22"
Max. weight capacity 1050 Lbs.
Max. person weight 560 Lbs.



The last three times I had my boat out last year, at WOT it would exceed the manufactures recommended RPM Band of 5500-6000rpm, every time it would average 6200-6300rpm.

When I "originally" contacted the dealer/service center about his matter, they told me not to worry about it.

So I asked Mercury, "if "over trimming" could cause an engine to exceed the recommended rpm band by 200-300rpm?" And when they responded, they completely avoided that question, and went into pushing the need for an increase in pitch of prop on me. At this current moment, that's not a realistic option ...... My reason why.

That's when I went back to the dealer and reiterated to them what Mercury said, and brought to the dealers attention that my O/B is still under warranty until 2015. Their first question was, "am I over trimming?" I told them, "I'm not sure, all I know is that it planes out, rides smooth, and feels okay to me especially on choppy water" That's when they suggested putting in a trim gauge to eliminate the possibility of over trimming. :facepalm:

So, at this point do I listen to what Mercury is pushing at me, or what the dealer is pushing at me?
Cause I half way feel as if I'm getting the "BS" treatment from both of them in some way or another.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Who do I listen to???

A couple of thoughts.I'm not acquainted with the Merc 60 but I believe the motor has a rev limiter.I don't know where it would cut in
but it seems at 6300 you would feel it. the prop calculator says that at 10% slip (my guess) you would be running about 38mph.
I wonder if the tach is just reading high.I don't think the tach is involved with the rev limiter.
If the tach is correct you would be running at 22% slip A very high number.I think unlikely on a new setup.
Maybe you could get the dealer to varify the tach.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Who do I listen to???

That is a very standard prop for that size boat and motor and 200 - 300 rpm over the WOT recommendation is not a big deal. Yes -- over trimming can cause an engine to over rev. How much it over revs depends on how much you over trim. You can over trim to the point where the prop "blows out" meaning it loses bite entirely. That should be immediately apparent to you. You can "bump" the trim up after getting on plane and after each bump, note the tach and speedometer readings. When increasing trim fails to increase speed with a resulting increase in rpm, then you are over trimmed. A 15P prop would pull about 400 rpm off the top end, it might give you a tad more speed and would likely hurt hole shot especially when fully loaded. My suggestion? Be happy with what you have.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Who do I listen to???

I would check it with another tach. If indeed, you are running 6300 RPM(and it bothers you)....just back off the throttle a bit.

No law saying that you have to push the throttle all the way to it's limit.

 

[Nebrittany]

Re: Who do I listen to???

I don't know if throwing this bit of information in to the mix will help or not.....

When I originally purchased the boat, the prop that they had on it, I could go out for a Saturday of fishing and by the time I was ready to come back in I had consumed close to half a tank of fuel.

The "original" prop they had on there (Per tach readings) wouldn't allow the engine to exceed 5000rpm. What pitch it was, I don't recall.

But when I questioned that setup, I got the same spiel .... "Not to worry about it." But after getting Mercury involved in that ordeal, they changed it to the current 13" pitch in which my fuel consumption hit rock bottom. I can run around all day and never move needle.

Point is .... I've had issues with props ever since I've purchased this boat. If it wasn't under warranty at the moment, I'd personally care less about that 200-300 over 6000.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Who do I listen to???

I would guess the original prop was about a 19". It must have been pretty sluggish and the motor wasn't even in the power band.
Besides not being in the power band the motor was struggling with too much prop.

 

[ensea1]

Re: Who do I listen to???

I had same problem. My motor was supposed to max at 6000 but hit 6200. However, motor lasted over 20 years without a hitch.

Get WOT back with in manufacture's recommended range of 5500-6000rpm's. Possibly do a little better with the top speed.

2) Current prop manufacturer, model, aluminum or stainless as a minimum.

Mercury Black Max 3-blade, 10.375"X13", SKU# 73136A45, Aluminum.

3) Current prop diameter and pitch (required).

See question #2.

4) Wide open throttle RPM and speed with an average load (very helpful)

6200-6300RPM's Average. 32-33mph via Speedo.

5) Engine/drive make, model, year, and HP

2009 Mercury 60hp 4-Stroke, 1.83:1 Lower...

6) Boat make model, year, length and weight

Tracker 2010 Pro Team? 175 TXW
Length 17' 7''
Bottom width 60"
Max. recommended HP 75 HP
Package width 7' 5''
Fuel capacity 19 Gallons
Deadrise 10 Degrees
Beam 89"

Approx. weight 993 Lbs.
Approx. package weight 1769 Lbs.
Max. person capacity 4 Persons
Pkg. length w/swing-away 19' 7''
Hull material 0.100 5052 Marine Alloy
Transom height 22"
Max. weight capacity 1050 Lbs.
Max. person weight 560 Lbs.



The last three times I had my boat out last year, at WOT it would exceed the manufactures recommended RPM Band of 5500-6000rpm, every time it would average 6200-6300rpm.

When I "originally" contacted the dealer/service center about his matter, they told me not to worry about it.

So I asked Mercury, "if "over trimming" could cause an engine to exceed the recommended rpm band by 200-300rpm?" And when they responded, they completely avoided that question, and went into pushing the need for an increase in pitch of prop on me. At this current moment, that's not a realistic option ...... My reason why.

That's when I went back to the dealer and reiterated to them what Mercury said, and brought to the dealers attention that my O/B is still under warranty until 2015. Their first question was, "am I over trimming?" I told them, "I'm not sure, all I know is that it planes out, rides smooth, and feels okay to me especially on choppy water" That's when they suggested putting in a trim gauge to eliminate the possibility of over trimming. :facepalm:

So, at this point do I listen to what Mercury is pushing at me, or what the dealer is pushing at me?
Cause I half way feel as if I'm getting the "BS" treatment from both of them in some way or another.[/QUOTE]