Boston Whaler Outrage 23', 225 Merc Optimax, Top speed?
 

I have 23' 2000 Outrage, 225 Merc Optimax. The boat will go 29 Knots
@ 5000RPM. Is this about what I should expect for a speed or will a
different prop pitch make this higher (without suffering at the low
end too much).

What effect does twin engines have for top speed?

Thanks,
Jon

That sounds much too slow to me. That motor should hit the mid-5000 RPM
range at WOT. It sounds as if you're overpropped and need to drop down a
couple of inches in pitch. What size prop are you using?

Go to continuouswave.com, login to the forums, and ask your question in the
"performance" section. It's a Boston Whaler forum, and chances are that
someone there has the same exact set-up as you. If not, there are a lot of
guys there who seem to know a bunch about Props, particularly Mercury props.


"Jon.boston" wrote in message
om...
I have 23' 2000 Outrage, 225 Merc Optimax. The boat will go 29 Knots
@ 5000RPM. Is this about what I should expect for a speed or will a
different prop pitch make this higher (without suffering at the low
end too much).

What effect does twin engines have for top speed?

Thanks,
Jon

"Matt Lang" wrote in message
om...
(Jon.boston) wrote in message
. com...
I have 23' 2000 Outrage, 225 Merc Optimax. The boat will go 29 Knots
@ 5000RPM. Is this about what I should expect for a speed or will a
different prop pitch make this higher (without suffering at the low
end too much).

What effect does twin engines have for top speed?

Thanks,
Jon

WOT for this motor is 5750 RPM ... top speed wise you may be able to
go down 1 or 2 pitches and go faster. You would lose low end
acceleration ... its always a trade off.

Actually, it's just the opposite. If you drop pitch, you *gain* low end
acceleration. The only reason that you might go faster with a lower pitch
prop is that the lower pitch prop will allow the engine to turn at the
higher RPM


You probably get better fuel
economy with the prop you have right now...

Maybe. He may have a lot more prop slip with the current prop.


Maybe having 2 props may work for you .. one high and one low pitch
... put on the prop that fits your needs for the day and bring the
other as a spare.

You should put on the prop that allows the engine to turn at the recommended
maximum WOT operating RPM range.

"NOYB" wrote in message ...
"Matt Lang" wrote in message
om...
(Jon.boston) wrote in message
. com...
I have 23' 2000 Outrage, 225 Merc Optimax. The boat will go 29 Knots
@ 5000RPM. Is this about what I should expect for a speed or will a
different prop pitch make this higher (without suffering at the low
end too much).

What effect does twin engines have for top speed?

Thanks,
Jon

WOT for this motor is 5750 RPM ... top speed wise you may be able to
go down 1 or 2 pitches and go faster. You would lose low end
acceleration ... its always a trade off.

Actually, it's just the opposite. If you drop pitch, you *gain* low end
acceleration. The only reason that you might go faster with a lower pitch
prop is that the lower pitch prop will allow the engine to turn at the
higher RPM

yeah, thats what I meant ... Good catch :)

"NOYB" wrote in message ...
"Matt Lang" wrote in message
om...
(Jon.boston) wrote in message
. com...
I have 23' 2000 Outrage, 225 Merc Optimax. The boat will go 29 Knots
@ 5000RPM. Is this about what I should expect for a speed or will a
different prop pitch make this higher (without suffering at the low
end too much).

What effect does twin engines have for top speed?

Thanks,
Jon

WOT for this motor is 5750 RPM ... top speed wise you may be able to
go down 1 or 2 pitches and go faster. You would lose low end
acceleration ... its always a trade off.

Actually, it's just the opposite. If you drop pitch, you *gain* low end
acceleration. The only reason that you might go faster with a lower pitch
prop is that the lower pitch prop will allow the engine to turn at the
higher RPM


You probably get better fuel
economy with the prop you have right now...

Maybe. He may have a lot more prop slip with the current prop.


Maybe having 2 props may work for you .. one high and one low pitch
... put on the prop that fits your needs for the day and bring the
other as a spare.

You should put on the prop that allows the engine to turn at the recommended
maximum WOT operating RPM range.


remember too weight is a factor. typically when i prop a boat its
fairly unloaded, 1/4 tank of gas, not much gear, 1 or 2 people. i
usually try and aim a little higher then wot. all modern engines have
max rpm protection and will usually set a code if this is achieved
simply as a record.

other things to think about. its a 4 year old optimax. how many hours?
ive seen quite a few cracked reed problems with opti's, this will rob
power. the opti's are a very sophisticated engine with quite the
complex fuel delivery system.

my adice, take it too your local professional merc dealer.

The propeller on my boat has a 13" pitch.. When I use the calculator
the speed agrees with what I'm seeing.

My question now is: What prop pitches do people use on a 23Ft outrage
with a 225 Merc? I've seen notes mentioning 17" and 19" pitch.. Any
advice on what is put on as a stnadard would be great.

I bought this boat used, 55 hours on the engine, and I can't beleve
they would sell it with a 13" pitch prop... The list of props for
this engine don't seem to even go down to 13"!

Any clues would be appreciated...

Thanks,
Jon

On 12 Sep 2004 20:04:08 -0700, (Jon.boston)
wrote:
My question now is: What prop pitches do people use on a 23Ft outrage
with a 225 Merc? I've seen notes mentioning 17" and 19" pitch.. Any
advice on what is put on as a stnadard would be great.

=============================================

For what it's worth, I have a 17" pitch prop on my 24 ft I/O, 260 hp
Mercruiser. I'd think you could turn at least that much, maybe more.

The propeller on my boat has a 13" pitch.. When I use the calculator
the speed agrees with what I'm seeing.

My question now is: What prop pitches do people use on a 23Ft outrage
with a 225 Merc? I've seen notes mentioning 17" and 19" pitch.. Any
advice on what is put on as a stnadard would be great.

I bought this boat used, 55 hours on the engine, and I can't beleve
they would sell it with a 13" pitch prop... The list of props for
this engine don't seem to even go down to 13"!

Any clues would be appreciated...

Thanks,
Jon

Sounds like the previous owner frequently pulled skiers or wakeboards and needed
the "hole shot". Or maybe he didn't know any better when he got that deal on a
new prop!

Dan


Jon.boston wrote:
The propeller on my boat has a 13" pitch.. When I use the calculator
the speed agrees with what I'm seeing.

My question now is: What prop pitches do people use on a 23Ft outrage
with a 225 Merc? I've seen notes mentioning 17" and 19" pitch.. Any
advice on what is put on as a stnadard would be great.

I bought this boat used, 55 hours on the engine, and I can't beleve
they would sell it with a 13" pitch prop... The list of props for
this engine don't seem to even go down to 13"!

Any clues would be appreciated...

Thanks,
Jon