My criteria were:
- reaching optimum RPM for my ETEC - 5500-5700 RPM
- Handling at cruise, at low speed, at reverse, ability to hold the bow properly
- MPG
- WOT speed
I happily settled on the Mercury ENERTIA 15--it has been excellent all-round propeler. I liked the BRP REBEL as well but [the E-TEC 175 engine] didn't reach optimum RPM. I kept the Mercury MIRAGEplus 15 as a backup. The BRP SST performed well also. The BRP VIPER propellers did not feel very good, and had a significant lack of reverse thrust.
The boat was lightly loaded, roughly 1/3-FULL tank of fuel, 400-lbs crew, maybe another 350-lbs of equipment counting batteries oil tank.
Data was averaged up-current/upwind and down-current/doenwind.
Temperature was in the upper 80's, water was saltwater, waves were less than 6-inches.
Bimini top was down.
Engine mounting was all the way up.
Viper 19 test data may have been recorded at two-holes-up.
No fin added on gear case. Trim tabs retracted
1997 Outrage 20 E-TEC 175
ENERTIA 15
RPM MPH MPG % Slip
3500 23.8 3.8 12
4000 29.9 3.7 3
5675 42.7 2.6 2
REBEL 15
3400 25.8 3.9 1
4000 31.0 3.6 -1
MIRAGEplus 15
3200 23.5 3.6 4
4000 30.0 3.5 2
5350 38.0 7
5325 40.8 2.6 0
MIRAGEplus 17
3800 29.0 3.6 7
5200 41.0 4
OMC SST 17
3600 27.6 3.8 12
4000 29.9 3.6 14
5500 44.1 8
VIPER 16
3500 21.5 3.6 25
4000 28.3 3.6 14
5500 41.0 2.6 9
VIPER 19
3600 29.9 4.1 15
4000 33.0 3.6 15
4900 42.0 2.6 12