Just purchased a used boat - hole shot not good, speed questionable.

2010 Triton TR18 Pro

2010 Mercury 150 Optimax

Prop to pad 4" - no jack plate

WOT 5050

Top Speed 51 gps

Previous owner had Tempest 23P

* Previous owner had dinged up the tips of the prop.  I was getting the above info.  Wanted a better hole shot.  Put on a Trophy Plus 23P.  Hole shot worsened and felt like it was struggling to get up to speed.  Do I need to go down in pitch to get a better hole shot?

 

Before changing props, I always like to check the performance of the motor.  Compression, Timing, Throttle linkage, spark plugs etc.  Make sure it's making full power.  Too many times I've seen people chasing props for more hole shot and speed when their motor was the problem, something as simple as not going full throttle.  

However, to answer your question, yes, you go down in pitch for better hole shot.  You want the motor to be able to turn max rated RPM with a normal load in the boat.   Many times, this also adds more speed also because the motor is not having to strain as much,

14 hours ago, NCPHOTO said:

Do I need to go down in pitch to get a better hole shot?

Simple answer, yes.  See Kieth's reply above regarding motor performance, though. 

On 12/28/2021 at 7:37 AM, Way2slow said:

Before changing props, I always like to check the performance of the motor.  Compression, Timing, Throttle linkage, spark plugs etc.  Make sure it's making full power.  Too many times I've seen people chasing props for more hole shot and speed when their motor was the problem, something as simple as not going full throttle.  

However, to answer your question, yes, you go down in pitch for better hole shot.  You want the motor to be able to turn max rated RPM with a normal load in the boat.   Many times, this also adds more speed also because the motor is not having to strain as much,

Thank you