Anyone used the Merc prop calculator?

[9D280]

Like it says in the title -

I used it out of curiosity, and granted my engine doesn't show up on their database, but picking a 2000 60Hp 2- stroke & a "Fish & ski" (closest combo I could get to my museum! ) it reckoned I needed a 15" x 10.25 dia.

Based on my run with a working tacho, I reckon I need a 14" based on my current 13"x10.25 & the fact the boat was about as light as it was going to get. (me + 1/2 full tanks). a 15" would park it right in the middle of the reccommended revs (I want to go top of the rev band as more weight (passengers etc) will slow it down a bit). I was surprised it was so close, so am now curious - did I just luck out?

So, this Q is more down to idle curiosity than anything else, but if you used it, what results did you get with which boat choice? (bearing in mind there is no "rib" option on the boat drop down...) and how close is the result to real life on your setup?

[Landlockedpirate]

A lot depends on your boat. Mine is a main stream, mass produced USA boat with a standard Mercruiser/Alpha combo. The calculator is spot on.

But with older engines or more unusual boats its more of an educated guess.

[Turbodiesel]

Yeah use it all the time, its pretty close within a pitch usually. But you need to put as much info in a possible.

[9D280]

Turbo,

It's the "as much as possible" when I have a rib (not on boat menu) with an engine not shown on the engine menu that triggered my question.

E.g. How do I know what their definition of a sport / fisher is? - is the Hull V a deep like mine, or a shallow (Attaque / Avon Adventure), does a sport / fisher have rails like mine or smooth like a destroyer...... etc etc etc.

Old engine I can understand not being on there, but on the flip side, there are a fair few boats out there with older lumps on the back.....

[jambo]

I am with you 9D I have tried the site a few times but I am not confident in their conclusion as it does not state rib.

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[Pikey Dave]

Yeah, tried it meself yonks ago, like you I found that "RIB" wasn't on the menu, neither was the option for twin engines, so pretty useless really.

[Turbodiesel]

I think we use the center console option!

[Turbodiesel]

No sorry, use offshore fishing as its classed as a deep V hull.

[Pikey Dave]

Just been back & had another look at it, it's changed a bit since I used it last. I can now input twin engines, unfortunately it won't let me put 115hp in, the minimum it will allow is 150. Also the speed is either in MPH or KPH no option for Kn, that's handy on a boaty website