Can prop pitch be to agressive?

[BuckeyeFl]

I have a 15' fibergl*** flats boat with an Evinrude 35hp. The current prop is a 10x17. With two persons, boat weight 380, I can barely get it to plane. I average 15 mph. Could the pitch be too aggressive for this and causing a lack of performance?

[boats.net]

Probably need to drop to a smaller pitch prop, maybe a 15 pitch.

[BuckeyeFl]

Thanks! I was wondering if anyone knows what pitch was originaly sold on this outboard. A 1979 evinrude 35hp 35953A. At the cost of props I would hate to own one of each. .

[phillnjack]

ok so the prop is definitely too big.
but can we do anything about it YES WE CAN if its a through hub exhaust prop.

if it is a through hub simply vent the prop for pull away and it willo act like a 13 pitch prop on anything under planning sopeed then act like its true 17 once on the plane.

on the hub close to the gearbox end you simply drill a 5/16ths hole between the blades.
yes its right you need to drill a hole, not 1 hole but 3 in total if 3 blade prop.
now i have enclosed a pic of how to do it and do not worry it
WILL NOT DAMAGE THE PROP at all.
Now once you have drill to 5/16ths or 1/4 inch and give the boat a try and see what you think.
if not quit fast enough to get to plane , then re drill and go upto 3/8ths and drill again all three holes.
do not go over 1/2 inch for this size engine as it will be too much.
you will probably find 3/8 is ideal.

once you try this youl be amazed at the difference it can do.
some say it only works on huge engines, that is not so.
it works on any thru hub prop as it lets the exhaust escape from the vent holes at low revs , this give the prop some air and lets the prop slip and gain rpm.
by gaining the rpm its like a slipping clutch and lets the full power of the engine start working quicker.
once on plane the vents are closed by the pressure of water rushing past the hub, and the prop is just a normal prop again .
it will not increase top end, only the acceleration from zero to planning speed.

i had a 14 pitch that my mercury 60 could not spin to plane any good, but i also had a 14 inch and a vented it.
the result was a prop that could jump on plane and be good at top speed.
you can have this done at prop shop but they will charge a fair bit to simply drill 3 holes, you have nothing to lose and so much to gain by doing it yourself.

here is a couple of pics to show where to drill etc.