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Author	Topic:   Maximizing fuel economy
cc13	posted 04-01-2003 04:25 PM ET (US)         I am much more interested in maximizing fuel economy rather than in top end speed. My "other" boat is a 17 foot V hull w/90 Yamaha. It came standard with a 17" pitch prop. I had a hard time pulling slalom skiers up. (A lot of dragging). I switched to a 15" pitch and that problem is solved. My wife, who is a good skier, can easily get up behind that boat yet has trouble pulling up behind those big, wide, heavy, cushion filled I/O's. When I switched from 17 to 15 pitch on the "other" boat, I assumed that would probably increase fuel economy. Reading between the lines from a few posts on this forum I have seen recently, my assumption may be wrong. I now have a pre-smirk 1972 16'7" whaler powered by 70 Yamaha. It has a 17" pitch prop. For safety reasons, I am going to buy another prop. What pitch should I buy? As I said, I am interested in maximizing fuel economy/range. I normally cruise between 3500 and 4000 rpm (depending on water conditions). I do not use a fuel flow meter but have always assumed that a good level plane with no engine straining was appropriate to maximize range. Does fuel usage increase or decrease with prop pitch? Should I buy a 15" or 19" pitch, or should I just by another 17" as a spare?
JBCornwell	posted 04-01-2003 06:29 PM ET (US)             Howdy, CC13. Get a 17" ComProp for a spare. 17" seems about ideal for a 16-17 with 70hp. Red sky at night. . . JB

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