2007 Pioneer Cape Island with Yamaha Vmax 150

This boat was tested on February 25, 2010, full of fuel (48gallons). The air was 65 degrees and the wind was out of the NW at 17-19mph, 1 person (225lbs), all safety gear, polling platform, 4 batteries. LOADED and heavy.

Boat has a Bob’s 6” Hydraulic Jack Plate

1st prop was a Yamaha vented 21” 3 blade (taken at different jack plate heights)

RPM                Knots               MPH

3000                22.2                 25.5

3500                27.8                 31.97

4000                33.4                 38.41

4500                36.9                 42.44

5000                40.01               46.01              

5700                43.8                 50.37

This was a good prop, but had a lot of slip when lifting the motor with the jack plate. It also lost a lot of bite in turns and wanted to blow out. When running WOT the boat would want to porpoise.

New prop is a Mercury Rev 4 21” 4 Blade (taken at different jack plate heights)

RPM                Knots               MPH

3000                22.7                 26.11

3500                27.8                 31.97

4000                33.7                 38.76

4500                37.0                 42.55

5000                41.4                 47.61

5500                43.6                 50.14

56-5800           45.7                 52.56

This prop was great. It added more stern and bow lift and seemed to make the boat more glued to the water. I can add 4 ½” of lift on the jack plate and still use full tilt on the motor to get top speed and I have no porpoising.  When turning the prop does not slip or blow out.         

I am happy with the overall performance of the Rev 4 and know that the numbers will be even better when not so loaded down. I am also going to remove to ventilation plugs and see how the hole shot is effected.

Thanks for the help Ken.

Travis