Boat Speed????

[aclaimsman]

I have a 1984 v-16 Bass Tracker with a 35 hp Mercury, CMC PT 35 Tilt/Trim and 13 pitch SS prop. The boat was originally set up as a tiller, but former owner added a remote pulley steering system. The boat is rated for 1000 lbs, motor, gear, people. The boat itself probably weighs 500-600 lbs and setup with my weight, motor and gear, will add another 600 lbs. I just got the boat out of the shop yesterday and took it to the lake and boy was I dissapointed, 16 mph was all that it would do. I called the mechanic and was told that everything was adjusted to factory specs and not to expect more than that. I then called a local prop shop and to inquire about the prop and was told that a 13 was standard fare for this motor. Am I missing something ( like gears in the lower unit slipping), or is this normal? Any suggestions and or comments would be appreciated.

[CatFan]

What RPM is the motor turning, and is that speed GPS or from a boat speedometer?

It's common for there to be linkage issues with a throttle connection. Pull the cowl off the motor and make sure that the remote throttle is actually moving the motor throttle as far as it will go.

[aclaimsman]

GPS speed and 2500 RPM. I should also add that I just installed the tach and am not sure is is set correctly. I will say that the motor sounds like it is max out.

[huntinslabs]

that is not even near max RPM. Either you are overpropped or there is a fuel or spark problem. Unless the tach is off. Eliminate the tach issue first, thyen maybe see if any friends have a smaller prop you could try. Mine was running horrible yet sounded like it was runnung the rpm's up but was not and ended up being a stator or trigger.

[Barnacle Bill]

Most outboard tachs are shipped set for a 12 pole stator. Your motor has a 10 pole stator so the tach should be set to 5P (pulses). You make that setting on the back of the tach.

[aclaimsman]

Bill,

The tach is a Teleflex. Their instructions say to set it at 6P. Is that not right?

[Barnacle Bill]

For some reason I was looking at Evinrude/Johnson settings (age thing I guess). I just double checked and a 1984, 35 HP Merc should be set to 4P. So 6P is not correct. Sorry for the confusion.

[aclaimsman]

I will rest it and try again

[Crappie 1]

I have a 16' Starcraft 72"beam. It has a 30HP 4stroke Merc. With 2 people under 200 lbs, 1/2 dozen poles, 6Gal gas tank, I'm lucky to hit 17mph. The motor rpms,are 5400 it also has a 13 pitch prop. I took it back to the dealer and they took it out on the lake and tested it with gauges and told me it's just what it's supposed to be. I looked it up on Mercury web site-it said the same thing. I wish I would have gotten the 40 hp. when I bought the boat, never thought it would run that slow...

[skeetbum]

I had a 16' sea nymph (now lowe) aluminum with a 25 johnson and it ran 19 to 22mph gps. Weren't a lot of choices for pitch when I started looking, and it's several years back. 16mph isn't real fast but it beats sitting on the bank. I bet it runs cheap.