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Prop recommendation for Montauk with 90 Honda
cclaser	#1  Posted on 10/26/11 - 7:32 AM
Member Posts: 11 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/26/11	Hello, I have been searching the site, but haven't been able to find any information on this combination. We have a 2001 17' Montauk with a new 2010 Honda 4 stroke. We have a 13 pitch prop right now, but I don't think that it is right. Someone mentioned that a 17 pitch might be a better way to go. Just hoping someone has this combination or could offer input before I buy a new prop. Also, the motor is mounted 1 hole up. I am not sure if that is right either. Thanks!
Tom W Clark	#2  Posted on 10/26/11 - 7:56 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Good god! How did you end up with a 13" pitch propeller on that boat? The 2010 Honda BF90 and its 2.33:1 gear ratio and 6300 RPM redline will do best with a 19" pitch propeller if using a basic aluminum prop but will performa much better with a 13-1/4" x 17" Stiletto Advantage or Turbo 1 (the Honda Turbo, part # 08M60-ZW7-A10, is essentially the same propeller.) At only one hole up the motor is far too low on the transom. I recommend it be raised as high as it can go.
cclaser	#3  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:03 AM
Member Posts: 11 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/26/11	Thank you Tom! I purchased the motor off of a manufacturer picture boat. It only has a few hours on it and that is the prop that it came with. I also have a new 21 P aluminum mercury propeller, but that probably will not work. How high up do you think I can you go in hole position? The motor was installed by a good local mechanic, but he isn't a whaler dealer. He is the one that menioned needing a 17. Edited by cclaser on 10/26/11 - 8:12 AM
Tom W Clark	#4  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:12 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	The BF90 has four sets of mounting holes so it can go up another 1-1/2". In other words, the mounting bolts should go through the lowest set of holes in the motor. o o <-- "One Hole Up" The mounting bolts are currently here o o o o o o <-- You want the mounting bolts here. You mechanic may very well push back on this recommendation. Hold your ground and ask him to do it anyway; with the 13-1/4" x 17" Stiletto/Turbo prop it will perform MUCH better with better acceleration and less bow rise, better fuel economy, lighter steering effort and faster top speed.
cclaser	#5  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:20 AM
Member Posts: 11 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/26/11	That is great to know! Wow, that is a big difference in height. The stilletto might not be in the budget this year. What is the avantage or difference between the 17 & 19 aluminum? Edited by cclaser on 10/26/11 - 8:21 AM
Tom W Clark	#6  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:30 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	You can buy a Stiletto for less than $250. You'll spend over half of that on an aluminum prop. Given the $5,000-$10,000 you just spent on the new motor, how can the extra $100 or so be considered an extravagance, especially when it has such a profound effect on the boat's performance?
cclaser	#7  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:46 AM
Member Posts: 11 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/26/11	That is a good point, just the wallet is feeling lighter. If you are certain that the 17 stilletto is the right prop, I will probably go that direction. Thank you for all of the input. Edited by cclaser on 10/26/11 - 8:47 AM
mtown	#8  Posted on 10/26/11 - 8:59 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 613 Comments: 5 Joined: 07/06/08	Tom, I have read many of your comments on motor mounting height and have this situation. 1966 16' with 2 stroke yamaha. I have used the boat one time so far and it seems very fast and responsive. The motor is currently mounted with the bolts thru the top most holes and the cavitation plate is at the bottom of the keel line. This also results in the motor sitting on the splash well cutout. The second set of bolts are 6" lower in the splash well and seem to be threaded into tapped holes available for them that are part of the motor. On the motor also are slots that would receive a thru bolt with nut and washer, if the motor was raised several inches. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks. Sorry yamaha is 90 HP Edited by mtown on 10/26/11 - 9:02 AM
Tom W Clark	#9  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:03 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Yes, I am certain the 13-1/4" x 17" is the right prop. If can buy the Stiletto branded version is the Advantage 4.25 part # D811317 with a DE-507 hub kit. You can also buy the Turbo branded version, but it will cost a little more money. If you want a chuckle, call your local Honda dealer and ask for a price quote on the aforementioned Honda Turbo in the same size. All three props are made by Precision Propeller Industries Inc. (PPI) and are the same design.
Tom W Clark	#10  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:07 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	mtown -- Your lower bolts thread into what we call the "Blind Holes" that are auxiliary bolt locations used when the lower slot in not accessible on boats with shallow splashwells. OMC pioneered the auxiliary bolt locations back in 1960 and Yamaha followed suit for a while. The remedy is simple: remove the motor from the transom, fill those lower bolt holes and drill two new one that are on the BIA industry standard bolt layout. Read this article for a more precise description: http://www.whalercentral.com/articles...icle_id=82
mtown	#11  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:26 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 613 Comments: 5 Joined: 07/06/08	Thanks Tom, I was reading that exact article a minute ago. It looks like I could raise the motor all the way up to the fourth hole and get the bottom bolts to still be within the splash well and use the very top of the motor slots. Is that too high in your opinion?For the record, my other 16 of similar vintage has lags at the lower holes and was just repowered after 27 years and I have never had issues with them.
A Little Madness	#12  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:31 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 96 Comments: 0 Joined: 04/01/07	When we bought our Honda, the Honda Regional Rep recommended a Honda Titan Solas 13 1/4 15R Stainless Steel Prop, which is what we've got. Not a hard stats guy, but it's still going strong w/a great hole shot and smooth high speed cruising. Good Luck! Chris & Dale Schnell "A Little Madness" - 1989 Montauk 17'
Tom W Clark	#13  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:35 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	mtown -- Yes you raise the motor all the way up after drilling two new bolt holes 6-1/2" below the top bolt holes. You will always be able to lower it back down a hole if need be.
Tom W Clark	#14  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:37 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Dale - I also recommend you raise your motor 2-1/4" to its highest possible mounting position and switch to the 13-1/4" x 17" Stiletto Advantage or Turbo.
mtown	#15  Posted on 10/26/11 - 9:39 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 613 Comments: 5 Joined: 07/06/08	Thank you Tom
Finnegan	#16  Posted on 10/26/11 - 1:20 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	Tom - With a 90 Honda on a Montauk turning 6300 through 2.33 gears and 19" prop, what kind of top speed does that enigne produce. Seems pretty fast, way over 42 MPH? A 2-stroke Merc 90, running the same gearcase and 19" Laser II prop, shows 42 MPH at 5500. That Honda must be one fast engine, something they are not known for.
Tom W Clark	#17  Posted on 10/26/11 - 1:29 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	Larry -- I estimate a classic Montauk with a Honda BF90 should do about 42 MPH, just as you report the Mercury 90 does.
cclaser	#18  Posted on 10/26/11 - 1:51 PM
Member Posts: 11 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/26/11	In thinking about the motor height, my only concern is that the Chesapeake can be quite choppy at times. I just don't want to be too high. It would be great to hear from others with the same motor. I am hoping that I didn't make a mistake getting rid of our 2001 Merc 90 2 stroke. I have read a lot of varied opinions on that. With a 2 year old it is nice having a quiet non smoky engine. The 5 year warranty is nice too.
Tom W Clark	#19  Posted on 10/26/11 - 2:09 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 4280 Comments: 7 Joined: 09/30/05	You won't be too high. If you are you can always lower it one hole. If you only move it up one hole then you'll never know if it would be better at two more holes up. You only have the two options from where you are now at one hole up.
Finnegan	#20  Posted on 10/26/11 - 4:54 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	Then Tom, a much lower pitch prop would be needed on the Honda, as compared to the Mercury, to go 42mph at 6300? A 17 Stiletto runs like everybody else's 19? 800 RPM is worth 4" pitch? Which means the Honda should be running a 13 Stiletto or a regular 15"? Or the Honda is lot faster than 42.