How to get most speed out of my 60hp Merc on tracker 175tx

[bwcaw]

What is the best way to get my hole shot and top end speed up on my 2015 bass tracker 175txw w/a 60hp Mercury? I’m not super savvy so keep it simple if possible, haha. Props, motor height, jet fuel  ???

[J Francho]

Trim all the way in, peg the throttle until you're at top speed/rpm.  Trim out until your bow is out of the water, but not porpoising.

[GaryH]

What JF said is how you get the best out of what you have. If your asking for more you’ll need to check that your motor is mounted at the right height for your boat. Then you’ll need to go with better hole shot or higher top end. Are you running a stainless or aluminum prop. As with anything speed related $$ is the biggest factor. There are ways to get both but at a cost.

[J Francho]

I wouldn't get too fancy with a Tracker.  It's meant to fish as is.

[gim]

1 hour ago, bwcaw said:

What is the best way to get my hole shot and top end speed up on my 2015 bass tracker 175txw w/a 60hp Mercury?

Just wondering, what speed are you getting with this?  And do you have an aluminum or stainless prop?

 

I have a similar sized boat with a 75 hp 4-stroke and I'm looking at upgrading props this spring.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, bwcaw said:

What is the best way to get my hole shot and top end speed up on my 2015 bass tracker 175txw w/a 60hp Mercury? I’m not super savvy so keep it simple if possible, haha. Props, motor height, jet fuel  ???

 

@bwcaw ~

While ensuring our rigs are performing at their very best is a common theme we all share, 

To start, looking at the numbers can really help.

Here's what I mean . . . 

The max recommended load for the TXW is right at 1,100 lbs.

20 gal gas, 2 average humans, the 60 hp motor, 2 batteries, the charger, Trolling motor and assorted gear will almost always come in near 900 lbs.  I know that sounds like a lot but it adds up fast.  So the 60 hp motor (which is 15 hp less than the max allowed) is being required to perform while handling at least 80% of the max allowable load. (but it could be much higher).  Might not be a big deal unless you're like me and carry WAY TOO much stuff.   

Then it may really be adversely affecting your motors ability to get that hull up & out of the water and on plane.   Not really a problem, unless you think it is. 

Perhaps revisit your load, invest in a stainless steel prop (as noted above) if you haven't already and that's about all you can do.

Unless your rig is set up in some crazy motor too high or too low fitment, or you are doing something very unusual with the trim/tilt during take off - what you see is what you get. 

Any other 'tweaks', might not offer the return expected.

https://www.trackerboats.com/bass/pro-team-175-txw-tournament-edition.html

A-Jay

 

[TnRiver46]

That boat should go about 30-35 mph maybe a tad more. If you want more speed you need more horses! 

[TOXIC]

First, make sure you are turning the max rpms for your motor. I’m pretty sure it’s anywhere between 5000 and 5500 rpm if it’s a 2 stroke.  

[@reelChris]

You could consider adding a hydrofoil to your motor to get up on plane a little faster.  

[Russ E]

I had a similar boat with a 50hp. It would safely run around 32 mph. They are not built for speed. I personally would not want to go much faster in that style boat. They get pretty loose at higher speeds. The tail liked to wander. Not near as stable as my current fiberglass boat.

[bwcaw]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

First, make sure you are turning the max rpms for your motor. I’m pretty sure it’s anywhere between 5000 and 5500 rpm if it’s a 2 stroke.  

It’s a 4 stroke mercury. 2014

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Just wondering, what speed are you getting with this?  And do you have an aluminum or stainless prop?

 

I have a similar sized boat with a 75 hp 4-stroke and I'm looking at upgrading props this spring.

by myself and all gear and 7-10 gals of gas I’m low 30s. I just have the factory prop. 

[Way2slow]

There a small things you can do with the setup.  Adding a jackplate and playing with engine height helps.  Then playing with different SS props might help.

Other than raising the engine on the transom some, just about anything you do is going to cost you several hundred dollars per mph, so just how bad do you want to go a little faster.

The easiest and cheapest way for a noticeable gain is to go to a larger motor.  

[bwcaw]

2 hours ago, GaryH said:

What JF said is how you get the best out of what you have. If your asking for more you’ll need to check that your motor is mounted at the right height for your boat. Then you’ll need to go with better hole shot or higher top end. Are you running a stainless or aluminum prop. As with anything speed related $$ is the biggest factor. There are ways to get both but at a cost.

I can def get it on plane nice and it gets to low 30s full throttle. It’s the factory prop. Its black and chipped up a bit, haha. It’s mounted on the top hole. What’s the best position for the motor for speed? What prop would you recommend? 

[TOXIC]

4 stroke rpm wot is 4,500-5,500 rpm.  

[GaryH]

28 minutes ago, bwcaw said:

I can def get it on plane nice and it gets to low 30s full throttle. It’s the factory prop. Its black and chipped up a bit, haha. It’s mounted on the top hole. What’s the best position for the motor for speed? What prop would you recommend? 

Stainless is definitely the best way to go. But for speed there’s not a lot you can do with 60hp. I mentioned $$$ for more speed. It wouldn’t be worth it to go with a 75hp motor and better prop. 

[Shimano_1]

Other than reducing weight, assuming things are setup correctly, there's really nothing that would be worth the money in my opinion.  I've pondered going with lighter batteries, having my prop worked etc. but at the end of the day I bought a boat that maxes out around 50 and I could spend a cple grand to gain what...2-4 mph? Just not worth the return on the investment.  There's no subs for ponies. I'd just enjoy it and accept that it is what it is. I fish a lot of tournaments and rarely do I pass anyone on takeoff. I've accepted this and I really like everything else about mine. 

[moguy1973]

2 hours ago, bwcaw said:

It’s a 4 stroke mercury. 2014

by myself and all gear and 7-10 gals of gas I’m low 30s. I just have the factory prop. 

You should be getting more around 35-37mph.  My 2008 175txw with the 60merc runs about 37 with just me and half a tank of gas with all my fishing gear and empty live well.  I also have another trolling motor battery in the back than it came with as I upgraded to 24v.  With my buddy and his gear and a full tank and live well I get about 34mph.  It also takes a long time to plane out if you have a full tank and full live well I've found.  You should be trimming it up until the prop washes out and then back it off a little for max speed.  Myself though, I typically cruise around 32mph as just full blast all the time isn't practical and I have no where to be in a hurry when I'm fishing usually.  The props on these are pretty well optimized.  You could change the pitch but either you'll lose top end, or you'll lose hole shot.  From what I've read, going to the max 75hp rating only nets about 2-3mph, not really worth it.

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

4 stroke rpm wot is 4,500-5,500 rpm.  

My 60hp Merc like the OP has trims out at about 5800rpm WOT

[TOXIC]

10 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

You should be getting more around 35-37mph.  My 2008 175txw with the 60merc runs about 37 with just me and half a tank of gas with all my fishing gear and empty live well.  I also have another trolling motor battery in the back than it came with as I upgraded to 24v.  With my buddy and his gear and a full tank and live well I get about 34mph.  It also takes a long time to plane out if you have a full tank and full live well I've found.  You should be trimming it up until the prop washes out and then back it off a little for max speed.  Myself though, I typically cruise around 32mph as just full blast all the time isn't practical and I have no where to be in a hurry when I'm fishing usually.  The props on these are pretty well optimized.  You could change the pitch but either you'll lose top end, or you'll lose hole shot.  From what I've read, going to the max 75hp rating only nets about 2-3mph, not really worth it.

My 60hp Merc like the OP has trims out at about 5800rpm WOT

I got the rpm number directly from Mercury’s website.  It’s bad juju to over rev your motor even by 300:rpm.  I run my 250 Yamaha at the lower end of the max rpms.

[T.J.]

I have a 2020 txw with a 60hp 4 stroke mercury. WOT, if trimmed correctly, should be about 5900 rpm. I can do 35-36 mph per GPS with me and wife. Neither of us are big. I never put more than 10 gallons in gas tank and probably don’t carry a lot of gear. I am using stock alum 3 blade prop. Going to a 4 blade alum or ss prop will give better hole shot but lower top end slightly. Adding a hydrofoil will also get it on plane faster but some report decreased top end. 15p prop might get more top end speed. 
 

Personally I would not (and haven’t) waste money on upgrades. You can maybe gain 1-2 top end but is it really going to make a difference? Even going to the 75hp the boat only goes 40ish. These boats are not made for speed. 
 

If you need to replace the prop anyway then I would probably go to the spitfire 10x14p 4 blade. 
 

 

[J Francho]

If the prop is chewed up, get an SS prop, and repair the Al prop to keep in the boat as a backup, in case you spin a hub or something worse. Forget all the other upgrades, they aren't worth it and the boat was never designed for performance. Mid 30s is typically how fast I usually drive anyway, and it's perfectly respectable for a tin boat. Good luck and stay safe. 

[J Francho]

also:

Full throttle rpm is 5500-6000. 

 

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/outboard/fourstroke/30-60hp/

[moguy1973]

5 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I got the rpm number directly from Mercury’s website.  It’s bad juju to over rev your motor even by 300:rpm.  I run my 250 Yamaha at the lower end of the max rpms.

Not sure what website you are looking at but J Francho has it right.  5500-6000rpm for a 4 stroke 60hp Mercury.

[gim]

I get 34 on my Ranger RT178 with a Merc 75 4-stroke. I also have a talon mounted on the transom and use a factory aluminum prop which I intend to upgrade this spring.

 

I am surprised that posts on here claim they are getting 35+ mph with a 60 outboard. I’m also surprised so many people simply opt for the 60 on those rigs when they’re rated for a 75. I never even considered a 60 on mine.

[detroit1]

Sometimes $$ is the reason. For us cheapos, that extra$1500 could be used for upgraded t/m or electronics. To each their own.

[OnthePotomac]

If this will help, I have a 2000 G3 Pro 175 and changed the factory 14 pitch aluminum prop on the 2 stroke 60 to a 13 pitch, cupped, SS three blade and boat loaded with full 21 gallon tank, gear, adult daughter and 150lb me and on a flat water day, depending on the air temp (carbs), I might get to 35mph, but it usually hovers  at 32 to 34 GPS.  I keep the trim at 5500rpm.  That prop works great.