I have an 09 27hp Kohler PD. It's on a 1654 G3 boat with a ribbed bottom. I know, I know, not the best hull configuration but I'm old, retired, and love the layout of the boat and blind. It really works good for an old guy and it's paid for!!

The motor originally came with a 3 blade prop when I bought it new. I replaced that with a 2 blade prop at PD's suggestion. I was trying to get better top end out of the boat. I'm pretty unsatisfied with the combination. My motor will rev to about 4300 rpm with no load. With the boat loaded, and going, I get it up to about 8 mph.. The loaded rpm is from 3200 to 3600 depending on the trim. Sad thing is that at an idle with the clutch engaged, the boat will go almost 6 mph!!!

I'm thinking that a lower pitch propeller would give me an improvement in speed and allow the boat to increase it's top end rpms while loaded.

Prodrive's website looks like they only offer one prop for my motor.

I appreciate any recommendations and info on who makes props to fit my motor. Thanks.

I'm in Maine and don't run much mud! I use it mainly for getting into stumpy, skinny, brush filled flooded areas with an occasional rock, ledge or boulder thrown in!!

I'm just hoping you left the "1" out of that 8 mph speed.

Nope! 7.5 to 8.2 with 2 guys and a dog and gear! It sucks!

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I could be wrong, but it almost sounds like your prop is flat out worn out!

What is the diameter of that prop? Any pictures of it you could post?

Worn prop shouldn't bog the motor down to 3200 rpms. Lack of power would or you have a 36 blade on there.

Good observation, BB.

What kind of speeds are you getting with no load?

Hate to break it to you but....

Normal.

The 27 prodrive I have on a 1648 will bog to no speed with 3 guys and a light load - 8-10mph max.

Unloaded ill run 26mph

If you are the same - its normal

Yep, depending in your definition of a load, you flat don't have enough power. Back when my 36 was stock, and loaded down to go bowfishing, it would get on plane but after shooting a couple hundred pounds of fish, just the added fish alone bog it down enough to max at 11 mph.

The motor came with a 3 blade prop that is probably 10"

The current prop is 12" and 2 blades. With the dog and I in the boat with no gear and running shallow water, I can run close to 20 mph. In deeper water, the speed drops to about 10 mph.

I'm going to give Norm a call and see what he has to say. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from the motor. If I could get it to run at 10 to 12 mph consistently, I'd quit complaining!!!

Thanks for the ideas.

Something definitely isn't right. I ran a 27 PD on a 1748 Beavertail hull and with a hunting load and 4 people it would still do 12-15mph.

^ Exactly DA ran a 27! and with him and Mrs. DA they would run with my 36! Issues started with the prop change. But he did say his old prop was 10"

I think the boat is the problem. My bro n law had a 32 on a 16/54 cookie cutter and it ran good light but just didn't carry a load worth shit, jmo

I just sold a 1648 custom hull to a guy with a 27 pd. Now he has the 3 blade prop, But tells me he runs 27 solo and 22 with three men in the boat. All deep water and stock motor. Check your prop and if you have a 36 prop pm me an asking price. We burn em running in Venice.

u can prolly take some pitch out and try that should raise your rpm loaded but wont run as good empty youll hit rev faster

Not sure this helps, but I have a Lowe 1650, Mod V with a 2013 PD 36 and by myself it runds about 27 with two heavy guys a dog and all gear prbably 100 more pounds of gear is runs over 24 with 2 blade. Seems to get on plane quickly. I have a buddy that runs a prodrive boat center console. I think it's 18ft and the best he gets with the same load is 22.

I hate to say this, but everyone said the performance would be horrible with this hull, but I haven't had any problems.

Not really....I can load down my boat and it will never get on step in deep water.

I can roll it over shallow marsh and break over onto a step. I can usually keep the step when I get back over deep water. But, there have been times when it just squats all over itself when I have to get back in deep water.

Easily, 10+ mph difference. Run 11-12 mph in the deep. 23-24 in the shallow with the same load....then watch it fall flat on its face when I have to cross a channel.