26 Glacier Bay, RPM too low, need prop advice

[Mike Trautwein]

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I have a 26 Glacier Bay with 2000 Evinrude 150 fichts. Boat is new to me. Motors were the bad 98 models and in 2000 were replaced with the fully dressed pinned powerheads. 400 hours.

At WOT, port is 4800 stbd is 4600. That is trimmed up with about 3/4 load of fuel and gear, 3 people on board.

It has counter rotating 3 blade SS props, just the standard OMC version. I think they are 17's.

Shouldn't I be in the 5500 range? Like I said, the boat is new to me, but wont that make the motors lug, especially when I load her down and trim back down when it's rough?

What do yall think? Drop down to 15 pitch?

[Max]

You should be running higher rpms. What's your speed @ wot? How's the hole shot loaded the way you explained?

[ken2]

What is your speed at that rpm?

Going to a 15 pitch would be an improvement. That is definately low rpm.

[Mike Trautwein]

You should be running higher rpms. What's your speed @ wot? How's the hole shot loaded the way you explained?

32 knts wot 4600-4800.

25 knts at 4000.

[Mike Trautwein]

You should be running higher rpms. What's your speed @ wot? How's the hole shot loaded the way you explained?

hole shot and speeds are acceptable. Glacier bays are not fast hulls.

I ran another 26 GB with 130 Hondas with similar speeds but higher rpm.

With the hondas, it would cruise at 25 knts but that was at 5000. A little high for cruise so we usually dropped down to 22-23 kts.

[ken2]

Well, I just looked up the specs on that motor.

Is this right?

Manufacturer: Evinrude

Model: "Ficht-Ram"

Year: 2000

Horsepower: 150.0

Cylinders: 6

Type: 2 stroke

Gear Ratio: 1.86:1

Min WOT RPM: 4750

Max WOT RPM: 5250

Spline Count: 15

Drive Type: Outboard

I thought the Fitch motors normally went up to 5500 or 5700 rpm, but if these specs are true, then the rpm range is pretty small. If you dropped down 2 inches in pitch you'd be on the high end of it.

[ken2]

Manufacturer: Evinrude

Model: "150 OCEANPRO, & 150 ficht"

Year: 1998

Horsepower: 150.0

Cylinders: 6

Type: 2 stroke

Gear Ratio: 1.86:1

Min WOT RPM: 4500

Max WOT RPM: 5500

Spline Count: 15

Drive Type: Outboard

If these are the specs, then that sounds more realistic.

I'd still drop down in pitch. 4800/4600 rpm is too low.

You'll get better acceleration, better fuel economy, and probably better top speed if you drop down to 15 pitch.