GENERAL INFORMATION
15
!
WARNING
Starting the engine with the drive in gear can cause serious injury
or death. Never operate a boat that does not have a
neutral‑safety‑protection device.
Propeller Selection
The propeller on your outboard is one of the most important
components in the propulsion system. An improper propeller
choice can significantly affect the performance of your boat and
could result in damage to the outboard engine.
When choosing a propeller, a full selection of aluminum and
stainless steel propellers specifically designed for your outboard
are available through Mercury Marine. To view the entire product
offering and find the correct propeller that is best suited for your
application, visit www.mercmarinepropellers.com or see your local
authorized Mercury dealer.
SELECTING THE CORRECT PROPELLER
An accurate tachometer for measuring engine speed is important
in choosing the correct propeller.
Choose a propeller for your boating application that will allow the
engine to operate within the specified full throttle operating range.
When operating the boat at full throttle under normal load
conditions, the engine RPM should be in the upper half of the
recommended full throttle RPM range. Refer to Specifications. If
engine RPM is above that range, select a propeller of increased
pitch in order to reduce engine RPM. If engine RPM is below the
recommended range, select a propeller of reduced pitch to
increase engine RPM.