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Author Topic:   23 Walkaround WD, Twin 225-HP

SeaLark posted 04-03-2007 10:29 PM ET (US)
[Editor's note: this article has been extensively edited to conform to the standard use of capital letters and punctuation in English writing--jimh.]
I have a 1992 23 Walkaround with Whaler Drive. Currently I have Mercury 150-HP motors and the propellers are a 19-inch pitch. I'm moving up to twin 225-HP OptiMax motors. No one from Chuck at Whaler to Mercury knows what prop to use. I'm hoping one of you guys have a better idea. Whaler guesses 23-inch-pitch with the idea of re-pitching down as needed at $200 per times two. Mercury say best guess is stay with the 19's currently on my 150's. Any help or ideas would be great.
Currently with the 150's I can run 47-MPH at 5,500-RPM
Boat is rated 300 to 600-HP
Loaded boat weight is about 8,500-lbs
Old gear ratio 1.87
New gear ratio 1.75
Tom W Clark posted 04-03-2007 10:51 PM ET (US)
Ron,
I am going to predict you will need 21" pitch props but the obvious and easy thing to do is use the 19" props you have now as testers and get some solid data on how the new motors perform. Be sure the motor are fully broken in before deciding anything.
I would think a pair of 21" Mercury Mirage Plus or 21" Revolution 4s would be excellent choices. I can offer you any Stiletto or Turbo props made at a fair price as well.
You don't say what 19" props you have now but if they are Mercury Mirage Plus props, they will be good for 54 MPH at the OptiMax 225's 5750 RPM redline. Do you need to go faster than that?
jimh posted 04-03-2007 11:19 PM ET (US)
You can't beat testing with the 19-inch propellers to get a base line for further predictions. As for going with more pitch, even if you never used the top speed capabilities, it might help with the fuel economy at cruise.
I look forward to seeing some test data with the new engines and the old propellers.
SeaLark posted 04-03-2007 11:33 PM ET (US)
Hahaha, I finnaly got a post right:)
I figure on exactly what you guys have suggested, breaking in with the 19's, They are 3 blade merc SS ? Out here on the west coast I dont need speed But I really really need fuel economy. May be once a year a tuna trip 50-60 miles out at 35+mph but normal speed is 15-26 mph.
As soon as break in is done I will document rpm/sped/gph via flow scan. 21 is where Chuck from whaler guesses but wanted to start at 23. Thanks Ron
Tom W Clark posted 04-03-2007 11:42 PM ET (US)
Ron,
Mercury Maine currently makes four different lines of three blade stainless steel propellers that will fit the OptiMax 225 There have been others in the past, so that does not really pin it down. We'll need a part number to identify them.
The other prop worth trying is the Mercury Tempest Plus. Your boat will definitely be fast enough to make good use of them.
Jim is correct, using the highest pitch prop you motors will comfortably tolerate will generally yield the best cruise speed fuel economy.

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Author	Topic: 23 Walkaround WD, Twin 225-HP
SeaLark	posted 04-03-2007 10:29 PM ET (US) [Editor's note: this article has been extensively edited to conform to the standard use of capital letters and punctuation in English writing--jimh.] I have a 1992 23 Walkaround with Whaler Drive. Currently I have Mercury 150-HP motors and the propellers are a 19-inch pitch. I'm moving up to twin 225-HP OptiMax motors. No one from Chuck at Whaler to Mercury knows what prop to use. I'm hoping one of you guys have a better idea. Whaler guesses 23-inch-pitch with the idea of re-pitching down as needed at $200 per times two. Mercury say best guess is stay with the 19's currently on my 150's. Any help or ideas would be great. Currently with the 150's I can run 47-MPH at 5,500-RPM Boat is rated 300 to 600-HP Loaded boat weight is about 8,500-lbs Old gear ratio 1.87 New gear ratio 1.75
Tom W Clark	posted 04-03-2007 10:51 PM ET (US) Ron, I am going to predict you will need 21" pitch props but the obvious and easy thing to do is use the 19" props you have now as testers and get some solid data on how the new motors perform. Be sure the motor are fully broken in before deciding anything. I would think a pair of 21" Mercury Mirage Plus or 21" Revolution 4s would be excellent choices. I can offer you any Stiletto or Turbo props made at a fair price as well. You don't say what 19" props you have now but if they are Mercury Mirage Plus props, they will be good for 54 MPH at the OptiMax 225's 5750 RPM redline. Do you need to go faster than that?
jimh	posted 04-03-2007 11:19 PM ET (US) You can't beat testing with the 19-inch propellers to get a base line for further predictions. As for going with more pitch, even if you never used the top speed capabilities, it might help with the fuel economy at cruise. I look forward to seeing some test data with the new engines and the old propellers.
SeaLark	posted 04-03-2007 11:33 PM ET (US) Hahaha, I finnaly got a post right:) I figure on exactly what you guys have suggested, breaking in with the 19's, They are 3 blade merc SS ? Out here on the west coast I dont need speed But I really really need fuel economy. May be once a year a tuna trip 50-60 miles out at 35+mph but normal speed is 15-26 mph. As soon as break in is done I will document rpm/sped/gph via flow scan. 21 is where Chuck from whaler guesses but wanted to start at 23. Thanks Ron
Tom W Clark	posted 04-03-2007 11:42 PM ET (US) Ron, Mercury Maine currently makes four different lines of three blade stainless steel propellers that will fit the OptiMax 225 There have been others in the past, so that does not really pin it down. We'll need a part number to identify them. The other prop worth trying is the Mercury Tempest Plus. Your boat will definitely be fast enough to make good use of them. Jim is correct, using the highest pitch prop you motors will comfortably tolerate will generally yield the best cruise speed fuel economy.