Yesterday was the coldest I've had this boat out in and I hit the rev limiter every WOT run and was missing a few MPH. Do y'all run the same prop all year or do you bump up in the winter?

A lot of people will go up a pitch in the cooler months.

Same prop all year.

Yep. I Had a winter prop and a summer prop.

I run a 25 Fury through the warmer months and switch to either a 26 Fury or a 26 Trophy when it cools off. If I had to only choose one though it would likely be the 25 Fury.

25 T1 in summer, 27 T1 in winter. Both worked by Steve Glenn. 250 SHO on a 21' Skeeter FX. Haven't needed to run the 27 in a long time cuz I stay in when it's that cold.

Why do you have to change props with the season? New one on me.

Water density changes as the water cools down. Suspending baits and a bait's rate of fall are affected by water temps as well.

Cooler ambient temps allow your motor to produce more horsepower and more RPMs than in the heat of summer. The reason is air density. This temp change calls for different pitch props to achieve maximum and ideal performance from your boat. You want to be just hitting the rev limiter at WOT. In cold water I can hit the rev limiter with a 25 pitch without achieving WOT. This calls for more pitch to reduce RPMs relative to WOT, hence the 27 to achieve optimum performance.

Conversely, I could be at WOT and never be able to reach the rev limiter trying to turn that 27 pitch in the summer. A general rule of thumb is 200RPMs up or down for every increment (inch) of pitch. Need more RPMs to get to WOT- less pitch...Need fewer RPMs to reach WOT - more pitch.

I learn something new every day.

I was thinking air density and oxy content. Thanks.

You were thinking right, Cast.

I wonder what type of air mixture I should be switching to in my float tube, 5% helium maybe to increase buoyancy? Also switching to winter fins, a 5mm wider flipper than the summer for me to offset the weight of the neoprene vs. breathable waders. Interesting to think about, good topic.

Prop shaft Dyno testing on a Merc 200 showed a drop of almost 30 HP on a Hot humid day compared to a cold crisp day. (Can't find the article)

That is why most boats will turn a higher pitch prop in the winter versus summer and gain as much as 5 mph on top end.

I run a 26 Fury year round and I don't want to go any faster during the winter its already hard enough to do important things when it is cold, I don't need to be any colder.