if i want more "hole shot" power out of my prop when the boat is weighted down where should i be? dont need any top speed....just need more torque. Thanks.
To improve your hole shot you HAVE TO know what prop you have now.
Props have a "pitch" and "diameter". The diameter will almost always change when you change the pitch of the prop but focus on the pitch. The lower the pitch number the better the whole shot. If you have a 19 pitch now, change it to a 17 pitch.
Some people advocate really low prop pitches like 15 or less to hold speed, but with that engine a 17 should give you a pretty good punch out of the hole.
i was looking for the same thing and contacted acme and they hooked me up with a great new prop. best purchase i have ever made for my boat. i lost a little in the top end, but i can hold wakeboarding speed (low 20's) much better now.
Mercury High 5 all the way. 5 blade monster. I used to have one on my old I/O. That thing was a monster coming out of the hole, plus it held speed fairly well, and had great top speed for what I expected.
ok...i found a high 5 stainless, but its a 20 pitch. is this going to work out good if i have 2k# of sacs in the boat or should i find one with a lower pitch?
I'd go to a 19 at least. Usually a store that will sell you a prop will let you try it and exchange it for another if the pitch is not quite right. You might well need a 17. I'm guessing that you know that 2k# of sacs would overload your boat's rated capacity.