Bought a spotless Pro-V with less than 40 hours on it. The 115 may not have enough oomph. Currently works hard to plane with a 17p SST prop and only builds 4500rpm at 32mph. Picked up a 15p aluminum to experiment and/or raise the rpm. Looking for opinions and guidance to improve until it can be repowered to a 150. Or even a dealer recommendation that would take a like new 115 on trade without holding me up.
What’s the rated hsp limit? Rule of thumb is ussualy at least 75% of limit.
175hp
hugh, If it was me, I’d get serious about trading up. I’d be afraid of lugging that motor too much.
Hugh I would give Desty Foyt a call at Lacannes marine in Faibault he would give you some great advise. GOOD LUCK. 
Also talk to Dennis Hildebrand at 61 Marine 651-437-3522. This kid is a whiz at getting top performance out of Fichts. Also look at the mounting bolts on the transom. How high/low it is mounted will make a huge difference on how it works with your prop.
Tuck
Thanks Chris, did just that. After a test with the 15p it will be headed to 61 Marine for a good once-over.
Update: Got a break from soccer/basketball(parenthood trumps fishing!)and tested today. I added a Stingray fin and the 15pitch for testing. Quite a difference!! While not a 175hp speed demon by any means, the boat will jump right up on plane pulling at 3800-4000, very rapidly builds to 4900-5000rpm at which point I begin to trim it out. It will now pull 5500rpm and 38-39mph. Enough to satisfy until I repower to a 150 or 175. I probably still take it in for preventative maintenance and a good look/see. Thanks all.
Quite an improvement! 
Like a night and day difference. Previously the motor was so overloaded that the trim had virtually no affect. There are two prop shops in the Twin Cities that people seem to trust so I will ask regarding installing a 15p stainless. I guess at this point if anyone has a lighter boat that can swing an SST 13 7/8 X 17 prop #176572, I have one available. No idea what it is worth, I believe new they are around $350-375.
Latest: Motor now raised to hole #2 on transom, with 15p aluminum prop it turns 6000rpm trimmed out at 41mph. RPM is too high, I doubt if it will now pull the 17p stainless but perhaps a 15p stainless will be the final answer.
Boat put away for winter, last trip out to test with 17p SST and motor mounted in #2 hole on transom: motor would only pull 5100rpm compared to 6000rpm for 15p aluminum prop. Snagged a brand-new 15p SST prop on ebay which should hopefully put me right at 5500-5700 range. 
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
