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I am currently rigging a 1985 Whaler 15 Super sport with a 2013 Mercury 4 Stroke 60 HP 1.83:1 (non bigfoot)motor on it. Motor is mounted in 3rd hole up. What would be the appropriate prop for general overall performance? IE: tubing, fishing etc. Mercury site prop selector recommends 10" x 16 or 17 pitch. Does this seem right?
No, that does not seem right and is a perfect example of why I do not like the Mercury Propeller Selector; it usually gives bad advice.
The only 10" x 16" and 10" x 17" propellers Mercury makes is the three blade aluminum. If you wanted to be cheap and use an aluminum prop then you would want either their 10-1/4" x 14" or 10-1/8" x 15" size.
The only stainless steel prop Mercury offers for your motor is the old Vengeance and in that model you would want the 10-1/2" x 13" size.
A better performing and less expensive choice might be the 10-1/2" x 12" Stiletto Triad 3.5.
Hi Tom, Thanks for the response. The dealer that supplied the engine provided me with the aluminum 10 1/8" x 15 so you were right on. I was reluctant to go stainless because my kids will be using this boat and I am afraid of them ruining the lower unit when they hit rocks etc. I will use the one provided for now and then upgrade to one of your recommendations once break-in is complete.
Gibby, I think the rumor about a stainless prop causing lower unit problems if something is hit is hogwash. What outboard manufacturer in their right mind would not prohibit stainless props if that were true? I purposely avoided a local dealer and opted for one much farther away because the salesman said he would recommend an aluminum prop because if I use stainless and hit an underwater object with the prop it would ruin the lower unit. Isn't the hub in the prop supposed to protect the motor from impact?
I winter in Ft. Myers and summer in St. Joseph, Michigan. It’s now about 12 years since I’ve joined this group. I gave my 1972 whaler to my daughter and sold the 17’. Bought an O’Day 28 sailboat and sailed on Lake Michigan. Yesterday I bought a 2005 130 Sport.
Yes, the idea that an aluminum prop will save your lower unit is indeed hogwash - although you hear it all the time. The best direct evidence I have seen of it being foolishness is in a post by dgoodhue in this thread:
