I have a 97 PII with 200 efi. the 25 trophy seems to be the choice most popular for the setup, with CMC jackplate. I had been able to get 6000-6100rpm occasionally with this application. HOWEVER, I recently installed a R&R Slidemaster hydraulic jack. Due to the different size of setback, my rpms shot up to 6300 at same height. I went to a 26 Trophy, yes, on a 97 200 EFI, turning 5800rpm with water pressure staying around 12 psi. This was the same pressure I have always run with the CMC jackplate/25 setup. Good luck.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Whether it is a 24 or 25 trophy, the 4 blade is better for heavier loads. Holeshot may be quicker but you lose top end. Tempest will give you top end, but may not be the answer if you are trying take offs with only limited area to manuever. 23 Tempest might help if you want to stay with 3blade prop, but again, may increase rpms, affecting your rev limiter. FWIW.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
If you have a standard CMC jackplate with PII/200 EFI setup, usually the 25 Tempest/Trophy props are favored selections. Trophy will do better for heavy loads, better bow lift. Tempest better for top end speed. I have a 97 PII with 200EFI and have both props; I prefer the 4 blade Trophy for my uses. Now I have changed out to a Slidemaster hydraulic jackplate which has a little more setback. I have gone up to a 26Trophy to use up some of my rpms, as I was getting into the 63-6400rpm range with 25 Trophy. Now 58-6000rpms with water pressure 12-15psi. This is on the 97 Merc EFI. Hope this helps96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
I RAN A 89 SABRE W/175 MARINER EFI FOR YEARS. WHEN MY BROTHER TOOK IT OVER HE HAD ARK LA TEX MARINE, HE WOUND UP WITH 24/25 TROPHIES. THE 24 WOULD BE BETTER FOR YOUR NEEDS, I THINK, AS THE 175 ON THIS BOAT WAS BETTER SUITED FOR SKIING SETUP. THAT WOULD EQUATE TO A BETTER HOLESHOT.BY THE WAY, YOU DID NOT MENTION IF YOU HAD JACKPLATE AND WHAT YOUR SETTING IS ON IT. THIS MAY BE JUST A CASE OF LOWERING THE JACKPLATE IN 1/4 INCH INCREMENTS. HOPE THIS HELPS.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
I am guessing you have an older EFI without the rev limiter. I have a 97 PanteraII DC with Merc200 EFI. I routinely turned 6150 rpm at wot with 25 old style Trophy. This was with manual jackplate untouched from the day I picked it up at the dealership. Actually, went to the factory and towed back to dealership for final rigging/prep.When I moved to a hydraulic jackplate this past year, at same engine height, jackplate was bigger than the CMC, so motor a little bit further away from transom. My rpms went to 63-6400 with water pressure of 12. Moved up to a 26 Trophy plus and now can get 58-6000 rpm with water psi at 14-15, two holes plugged.The older engines can handle a little higher rpm, but would still entertain ideas on what the other guys think also.Then again, maybe the jackplate is too high….Hope this helps.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Allan, I saw one of the e-tecs up close while fishing and actually asked him how he liked the engine. He said he had only gotten the engine 5-6 days earlier so he had not had time to get dialed in. Forgot to ask what prop he had on though, nice motor..This from a 97 PII/200EFI. Have considered going to 200 E-TEC if I keep this boat….AlanP.S. Thanks for all the goodies, my 11y/o has pretty much hidden these from me now, something about they are his lures…..96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
I would think that a 25 pitch would be a good choice all around, BUT, what kind of props are these two–4blade Trophies, or 3blade Tempests?A lot of the postings seem to favor the 25 Trophy on the 225 Optimax. The 225 EFI CAN HANDLE 6000rpms, so that is the owners choice to keep under that number.Make sure you have a good mechanic perform a compression check on the engine, and know the hours also.The Cougar standard, was a lighter hull weight than the Cougar FTD, so a 225 will push that boat pretty well.I run a PII with 200 EFI, and have routinely run 6100-6200rpms.Holeshot will be better with smaller pitch also.Hope this helps.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Hp, please repost on the Bass Cat Boats page; BCB doesnt monitor the Props page as much, and you will get a quicker answer there.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Then again, you might try different PVS plugs in the prop, cheaper than a new prop. The trophy 25 is a good prop, I ran one on my 89 sabre/175 mariner efi, but I did not have a trophy plus.Start with engine height, and get some different size plugs for the prop. That would be the place to start.Of course, you could go down to a 24 Trophy/Tempest. Your rpms may go up but with these motors, 5500-5800 was top end range, and some of these motors could turn 5900-6000rpms as they had no rev limiter(mine did routinely). In my opinion, I would start off with plugs(economical way), rather than new prop($500) or new engine(?)96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
Depends on what motor you are running….what year model etc.I have only seen 25-26 pitch on P II. My Pantera II DC was a 97, with a 97 200 EFI. I had always run a 25 Trophy (with a Tempest backup) with good results. When I went to a hydraulic jackplate, it put the motor further away from the transom. I then went up to a 26 Trophy to bring rpms back down( I hit up to 6300).Anyway, had the boat out yesterday for the new owner. We easily hit 72 GPS.With a tournament load and two people, you should expect about 67-70 on the older hull.A 27 pitch on an older motor probably wont work, too big of a wheel. You may need to tinker with jackplate(you did not specify your transom height). Remember, if you have a great holeshot, top end wont be there, and vice versa.A decent/good holeshot may help your top end.Good luck, hope this helps.96 Eyra/12 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer2017 Victory Gunner
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1996 Eyra/2012 Mercury 175 Pro XS with 2015 single axle trailer
2017 Victory Gunner
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