mercruiser alpha gearing for 23 tsunami

[hedgehog]

Just had my Mercruiser alpha outdrive serviced with new bearings/seals and pressure tested. The mechanic informed me that somewhere down the line a previous owner had switched the gearing on the drive to 24/24...making it a 1:65 or 1:62 ratio. I am running a mid eighties 260 mercruiser engine in a 1973 23 Tsunami.

Last year I was running a 15x17 prop and the boat was handling ok about 200-400 rmp shy of max wot (4600).


Iam wondering if this conversion was done to gain low end on the boat or if I should switch the gearing back to the 20/24 1:50 ratio.

Any and all help or suggestions appreciated