Prop pitch question

[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]As Troll has already indicated, prop pitch is all about getting your motor to achieve an RPM as close to MAX as possible WITHOUT going over the max. And your max speed will come with the proper trim applied.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]As to the prop metal, the problem with stainless steel props is the fact that there is no give to them when the come in contact with something hard, such as rocks. What happens then is something inside the lower unit (i.e., gears a/o shafts) of your motor can, and do, break. The repair/replacement of a lower unit can be 10 times the cost of replacing an aluminum prop. But they do give you slightly better performance than aluminum with all other factors being equal. Let your wallet be your guide on this issue.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]For the way I use my boat (16 ft Tracker w/ 75 hp Optimax), aluminum will always be my choice. I just made my first prop replacement a month ago after 11 years of service - $175.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Try the Mercury recommendation of a 14X13 and see where your RPMs fall. That should bring you closer to the max for that motor. Then trim for best speed without cavitating the motor.[/#800000][/font]
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