Name:   cobra - Subject:   Catboat, got a question Date:   3/24/2014 11:42:22 PM

I know its a shot in the dark but wanted to ask you anyway. I have a 20 foot pontoon boat I put a new power head on and just got it back in the water. It is a 2001 model 2 pontoon Sylvan with a mercury HP 2 cycle. I checked it wide open throttle Friday with just me in it and it run 5000 rpm's. I could only get 4800 with my family on it yesterday. I am breaking it in running about mostly at  3000 rpm's.   . The engine has a 12 degree 3 blade prop on it now and thats what it had one it when I bought it in 2005. You think a 9 or 10 degree would give better performance than the 12 degree I have on it now?  I did a calculation on one of the mercury forums and it showed in the 10 degree area but I know thats just a suggestion. I know a lower degree would give it out of the box faster speed. I just don't want to burn this engine up lugging it? Normally I only have two adults and two small children on this boat and we do a lot of cruising around looking at homes and such. Which one would you recommend? I value your choice. I will not only run gas without ethanol as I learned my lesson the hard way. Also you think I need to install a water separator filter in the line going to tank? I found out the engine timing was set about 12 degree's to high which had a lot to do with trashing this original power head. Thanks for any help on this. Cobra