CONTINUOUSWAVE

Just picked up a 2004 150 Sport Whaler for my friend's son. It has a Mercury 60-HP three-cylinder two-stroke-power-cycle engine. The aluminum propeller that came with [the 2004 150 SPORT] had limited markings on it--no diameter or pitch--[just] we 10 S 1400.

What propeller pitch and diameter is recommended?

Should [my friend] stick with an aluminum propeller?

Is it worth it to go to a stainless steel propeller?

Thanks, Mike

According to Boston Whaler, the 2004 150 Sport came with the option of a Mercury 60 two-stroke or a Mercury 60 FOURSTROKE. For the two-stroke motor, the factory shipped a 10-3/8 x 13 Mercury Black Max aluminum propellor.

The common advice to Boston Whaler owners is to select a stainless steel propeller for best overall performance. The adage of aluminum propellers preventing damage to the motor if struck is spurious.

Propeller sizing is a challenge. It is not universal across brands or even manufacturers. The same size propeller in a Black Max will not perform the same as a Stiletto or Solas or XXX propeller due to the differences in blade design.

I would definitely go with stainless, just not sure of make, model or size.

Phil--Thanks for the info.--- Mike

What kind of performance are you getting with the current prop? Rpm at Wot? How long to plane? Can you see the A/V plate when you are on plane?

While I do agree that the "conventional wisdom" of using an aluminum propellor to avoid lower unit damage is without merit, I would like to add that in the case of a 60 hp motor on a 15 ft hull, I do not believe a stainless steel propeller is warranted.

It's my experience that aluminum will do just fine on this configuration.