[eggsuckindog]

2" pitch in the same dia. will yield almost exactly 400 RPM - a 23 should have a decent Dia prop as well - I am not familiar with 4 blades other than pitched correctly top end loss has been only about 1mph that I have seen. Mirage+ had been pretty popular here, large Dia, good cup and progressive pitch - means pretty aggressive. The Stilletto and Tempest are also progressive but I would not recommend a Tempest for this application BTW my shop Piper Marine in Tampa had a used 17 Mirage+ for around 225 at one time.

That being said none of you are raising the motors - I mentioned earlier I was - ran it this weekend. First I removed an old thru hull transducer - then measured the engine - it was pretty high at least 1 -1 1/2" above the hull already so we only did 1 hole which is about 3/4, so 2"+ now.
Picked up 1.5 mph at cruise from 28@3400 to 29.5/30@3400/3500 - top end picked up 100/150 RPM to 5600 and 3 mph to 52. Prop still would never break loose regardless of how high I trimmed it or turned it. Odd thing, motor changed pitch at 3000/3200 ? used to have a marked change in pitch before, sounded almost like laboring - gone now? Motor sounds much happier

Props on 23's should be vented, pretty big boat to run correct top end and they should be vented for hole shot help IMHO

Stilletto 19" Merc 200XRI - when changing props, this prop did pick up the whole boat and made at it least twice as dry with amazing trim responce - I only bump it if needed. You could not get it from me without a gun - just say'in

Check the engine height before doing much more with props, if thats not right it will never run as good as it could - brackets are different because of the set back - you guys are on your own there I don't have one