Prop Selection for 90hp Mercury Optimax

[Ray Esboldt]

I don't even have the boat yet, and already I'm thinking about prop options. Kind of silly.

This 90hp Optimax is going to be pushing a 1850 Crestliner Fish Hawk. The motor is a tiller (steering wheels are for cars). Does anyone have this motor in a tiller? Have you experimented with props? The boat weighs 1260 lbs and the motor is just shy of 400. I would say I'm looking at about 2200 lbs once the thing is floating with occupants.

All I know is if my brother's 1775 with an 80hp Yamaha passes me, I will be in the market for a prop. I believe he purchased a stainless steel prop upon hearing of my purchase.

[rms]

Ray,

I run an 18' Ranger tiller with a 90 Merc. I have a high 5 stainless in a 19 pitch. I've had the boat up to 38 mph on GPS with two people and a fair amount of gear. The nice thing about the high five is the boat comes on plane quickly and will stay on plane at lower speeds compared to a three blade prop. I bought the boat with a three blade 20 pitch stainless and it didn't come up on plane very quickly with three guys in the boat. I did not lose any top end with the high 5( maybe due to the prop lifting more of the boat out of the water).

I know your rig is lighter than mine, but if you usually fish with a fully loaded boat or three guys I would look at the high five. Nelson Marine in White bear Lake will let you demo props.

[Mille Lacs Guy]

I had a 90 Merc two stroke on a 18.5 foot Warrior tiller boat and I ran a 20 pitch 3 blade prop which was stainless steel. It pushed the boat around 36-37 mph. I can't remember the exact name of the prop but it was a Mercury brand prop. The hole shot was very good with this prop as well. I think a 20 pitch would be a good choice for the boat you are referring to.

[Ray Esboldt]

Thanks guys, that's very good information to have going forward. I was told by a Crestliner factory guy that their prototype boat did 41mph with 3 guys and eight gallons of gas pushed by a Mercury 4 stroke. They thought the Optimax was good for another 3 mph and the right stainless might up it another 1.5 mph. 45+ sounds a little high to me for a 18.5 foot boat with a 90 horse.

Does anyone own this rig yet? They thought I was the first one to buy one, so it might be a little hard to compare notes.

[delcecchi]

Sounds a little high to me to.