I am running an '03 225 mercury efi on a '95 stratos 201 pro xl. I have a 4 blade 27 pitch prop and with normal load, two people, and two full livewells I cannot get up on pad without my partner sitting up on the front deck until I can get up. Surely this is a prop issue cause I am running at top speed and rpm's once I'm on pad, and when I'm by myself I can get on pad quick and easy even with full livewells. I did the prop selector on mercury's website and it recommended a 27.5p Tempest or a fury 3. What do yall think?

What RPMs are you getting at WOT?

I don't know exact but somewhere around 5400

27 sounds a little high, I would try a 26 Fury.

5400 too low, you need to go down a pitch or maybe even 2. That motor will live up towards 6000, try like a 26 tempest.

Agreed. Most 4 blade props are not great for holeshot with a heavy load. Tempest or 3 blade Fury will fix it.

25P Tempest Plus

Drop to a 26p and you should be good. You want to be a close to 6000 rpm as possible. That will help your holeshot and top speed.

Was told by some prop pros that 4 blades don't hardly do anything for motors under 300hp.

If you are getting to top speed at your top RPM's on plane, sounds like your cavitation vent holes are not large enough. They allow exhaust gas to leak out just ahead of each blade to allow the prop to cavitate so the prop can turn easier at low speeds. Just drill them out slightly larger till the boat gets up on plane better.

Good info but he stated he was only turning 5,400 on top. That tells me he has too tall of a wheel. He needs to prop his boat so that with a light load he will be right at 6,000 rpm at 90% trim

You're 600 rpm's shy of what the motor should be running. Drop to a 25" pitch. You may loose a mph or two on top end but holeshot and midrange will be much better.

Thanks for the info guys. I've been wanting to run my buddies 25 tempest to see how it does before I made a purchase. I've thought that the 27 was way too much since I put this motor on my boat as I just pulled the prop off my old blown motor and have been using it since. The stratos is dying for a new prop.

How many pvs holes do you have in your prop? Sounds like you need a little more vent on holeshot. Bravo and promax are the two best fishing props I�ve ever ran from holeshot to top end

Call Josh At Steves custom props and he will steer you in the right direction. If motor is running correctly a 25 tempest with a little extra cup should be pretty close.

Venting on holeshot still don't do anything for the 600 rpm's he's shy on the top end.