I put on the big blade about 2 weeks ago and have put about 10 hrs on it so far. I do not think I am getting everything out of it.

My RPMs out of the water are around 4170. In the water they are around 3500-3800 depending on load. Most of the time right around 3600. I am only able to run 23-24 mph with an empty load and with a small load 21...and this is on a good day. Usually runs about 20.

I had the GTR 11 inch prop on before this big blade and my speeds were around 27-28 mph empty and about 25 with a good load. RPMs on that prop in the water were about 3900 most of the time.

Maybe the bottom of my boat has more hooks in it now...but I don't think that is the issue. Bottom still looks good. Maybe I need to add frog spit?

Any other things to look at? This just doesn't seem right.

rpms maybe?

The big blade pushes my rig at around 28MPH. Are you sure you had an 11" prop and not a worn down 12" prop that has 11P = 11 degree pitch?

its at gator-tail!!

I know this is a simple stupid question but did you modify anything else when you put the new prop on. And have you tried putting on the old prop to see if you go back to the way you did. Just to give you a base for your trouble shooting.

Raise your RPM's up...4250rpm out of the water.

You may have to go back to the 11". Some boat/motors run better with the 11" wheel. When my motor was stock it did drop rpms with the big blade and I lost about 1 mph but it pushed the boat better.

My motor came with a 12" 11P prop. LAst time i checked my OOW RPM's ther are low a 4050 then the gov kicks in. I still can get 3900 out of the motor and about 3750 on a loaded hull.

A guy in my lease had the small wheel and then upgraded to the big wheel and he noticed gains from the big wheel.

I am going to put the 11 inch prop with the 11P back on to make sure the speeds are what I thought they were. Pretty sure this prop ran better than the big blade that's on there now. Going to run it tomorrow and switch props backs and forth just to clarify and be sure before I do anything. Maybe my GPS is cracked out.

The small prop will give you better top end speed. The big blade shines when carrying a load reversing and getting the boat on step. What transom angle hole do you have your engine set at? If it's at the bottom try raising it up to the middle. This alone could help you out.

Then try the top. Then the bottom. You should be able to trim your engine up high enough (running full throtle) so that you lose speed and gain rpm's. Then slowly bump the trim down until you find the sweet spot.

No water should be hitting your belt housing when running full throttle.

When I first put the big blade on I wasn't getting the speed I thought I should have either. And I wasn't. I had been sacrificing speed for a long time and didn't even realize it. DDM jumped in my boat one day and raised my engine to the second hole. I gained 2-3 mph.

Well took the boat out but where we were hunting was about 5 inches thick of ice. Didn't get to test the props. Will have to wait till it thaws out some.

I meant to say 12"-10 pitch. Damned typos..