Eight Questions About Propellers for a 170 MONTAUK
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2022 12:54 pm
My boat is 2006 Montauk 170 with a Tohatsu 90-HP. I’ve been experimenting with various four-bladed propellers from 13 x 19 to 13 x 15. Ultimately I chose a 13.25 x 13. My assumptions are lower pitch:
Q1: are my assumptions valid?
Q2: are changes [in boat performance caused by changes in propeller pitch and diameter] too subtle that the effect is probably not noticeable?
Of course the 7-MPH lower boat speed at full-throttle is noticeable, but a top boat speed of 35-MPH top speed is okay for me.
Q3: can a stainless steel propeller be taken to a prop shop and re-pitched?
Q4: how is re-pitching of a propeller done?
Q5: is a propeller re-pitched at a propeller shop by putting the propeller into a propeller re-pitch machine?
Q6: are the propeller blades bent during re-pitching
Q7: do you recommend having a propeller re-pitched?
Q8: do you recommend against propeller re-pitching and recommend buying a new unmodified propeller?
- reduces top speed
- improves [acceleration from a standing start at full-throttle]
- improves trolling speed
- improves docking maneuverability, and especially with a heavy load of people and fuel aboard.
Q1: are my assumptions valid?
Q2: are changes [in boat performance caused by changes in propeller pitch and diameter] too subtle that the effect is probably not noticeable?
Of course the 7-MPH lower boat speed at full-throttle is noticeable, but a top boat speed of 35-MPH top speed is okay for me.
Q3: can a stainless steel propeller be taken to a prop shop and re-pitched?
Q4: how is re-pitching of a propeller done?
Q5: is a propeller re-pitched at a propeller shop by putting the propeller into a propeller re-pitch machine?
Q6: are the propeller blades bent during re-pitching
Q7: do you recommend having a propeller re-pitched?
Q8: do you recommend against propeller re-pitching and recommend buying a new unmodified propeller?