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Prop Selection for a 15 Sport
Berger	#1  Posted on 04/10/15 - 1:37 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/20/15	Hi all Getting my 1978 15' Sport ready for summer and have a question on prop selection. I just purchased a 2003 Mercury four stroke 60hp Bigfoot outboard and would like to get the most out of it. Does anybody else have this setup and if so what would be the best prop for speed? Cheers Brian (changed abbreviated year to full 4 digit year for clarification) Edited by Joe Kriz on 04/10/15 - 3:05 PM
Finnegan	#2  Posted on 04/10/15 - 2:03 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	For top speed and best overall perfromance on a light hull like that, and with the Mercury 60HP 4-stroke, you should have selected the standard gearcase, which can use the hot Mercury Trophy Sport 4 blade SS prop. Whoever steered you to a Bigfoot gave you bad advice. With the Bigfoot gear case, the same one used on larger engines 75-125HP, a larger 4-1/4" hub prop is used, with more drag and less efficiency. Bigfoots are generally recommended for pontoon boats, or heavier smaller boats like the Whaler 150's that need the larger blade area. The fastest prop for these mid-size gearcases is genrally a Mercury Laser II, but the lowest pitch in which they are offered is 19". That could be too much for your application - I just don't know. But if you can turn a 19, the Laser II is what you want. If you need less pitch, the 15" Stiletto Advantage I might work (runs like a 17" prop). Otherwise you will be looking at the Mercury Vengeance line, Black Max aluminum or 4 blade Spitfire aluminum. Here are the best prices you will find on Mercury SS props: http://jacosmarine.com/new_mercury_pr...r_sale.cfm For Mercury manufactured Quicksilver aluminum props (same as the Black max line), this place has good pricing: http://www.dansdiscountprops.com/BuyN...icksilverA See the 40-140 HP line.
Berger	#3  Posted on 04/10/15 - 2:17 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/20/15	Thanks Fin I got the Bigfoot with 70 hours total time for 2K. Thats why I went with this OB.
Finnegan	#4  Posted on 04/10/15 - 3:19 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	Your engine would have the Mercury 2.33 ratio gearcase and can turn 6000 RPM. I was just looking at the Whaler perfronce information on the Super Sport 150, a considerably heavier boat than yours (weighs about the same as a classic Montauk), and it does 36 MPH with 4-stroke 50 Bigfoot. So you will definitely be able to turn at least a 17" prop for around 40 MPH, and maybe even the 19" Laser II and get 44 MPH top end. But before spending the money for that, buy a $100 alum 17 from Dan's, and see how she does. If that will turn up close to 6000, the 15" Stiletto may be your best bet, and should give you over 40 MPH top end. http://www.bostonwhaler.com/boat_grap...0121AM.pdf I would also go to Mercury's website prop selection guide, and see what it gives you. Also, the Bigfoot's have a "taller" midsection height, so the engine has to be installed higher on the transom. I would use the 3rd or 4th bolt holes up. Edited by Finnegan on 04/10/15 - 3:34 PM
EJO	#5  Posted on 04/10/15 - 4:28 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 669 Comments: 6 Joined: 11/25/12	Finnegan With the top speeds you mention do you also have quick out of the hole acceleration with these props I run the mercury vengeance on mine (60HP bigfoot EPL) and heavy loaded with one person I top out at about 29.9 knots (34.4 mph) but holeshot is awful. Edited by EJO on 04/10/15 - 4:30 PM Skipper E-J m/v "Clumsy Cleat" a 2008 Montauk 150
Finnegan	#6  Posted on 04/10/15 - 5:01 PM
Member Posts: 1926 Comments: 16 Joined: 05/02/08	EJO - Whaler shows your boat running 35 MPH with a 14" Vengeance, so you seem to be getting just about what they do. http://www.bostonwhaler.com/boat_grap...0046AM.pdf Since that test was done, Mercury has come out with a 4 blade aluminum "Spitfire" prop, which might give you better acceleration with no loss of top end. One might be worth a try. Raising the engine a little might help also. I hear that Whaler installs engines quite conservatively. Edited by Finnegan on 04/10/15 - 5:02 PM
Berger	#7  Posted on 04/10/15 - 5:22 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/20/15	Thanks Fin I will be be mounting the OB once i finish with the deck. My plan was to mount the cavitation plate at the same level as the bottom of the hull or slightly lower. What's your thought?
dgoodhue	#8  Posted on 04/10/15 - 6:41 PM
Member Posts: 278 Comments: 0 Joined: 10/04/05	Your top speed shoukd be about 40 mph with right engine height and prop. Dave
Berger	#9  Posted on 04/11/15 - 6:54 PM
Member Posts: 61 Comments: 1 Joined: 02/20/15	Thanks Dave The right height and prop is what I'm trying to figure out.