Question on power

[FishStretcher]

I have a 2000 carburated Yamaha F100. Basically the same outboard- a little higher redline. I am happy with it. I run a Solas Amita 4 15" pitch prop. It is 4 blades and aluminum. And it stern lifts nicely.

Dragging a below surface foil and a kicker, I can hit 34 MPH. If I dropped the foil and kicker, I bet I could pick up a few MPH. But the "hydro shield" foil/wing that runs below the prop makes for very nice planing speed and helps lift the 58 lb kicker and main engine out of the water nicely. Hole shot is very good with this prop on this boat.

Without a kicker, I bet that prop or maybe the 17" pitch version would let you run something like 37 MPH and maybe plane down to 13 MPH without tabs. I think there is more in it with a better prop (stainless, more tuning) but a $120 prop should get you this far. I think the hole shot on the 15" is much better, though. I have both and keep the 17" pitch as my spare.

I put batteries under the console, and dropped the fuel tank size to 20 gallons and put it under the console. That helps balance. The great MPG of the Yamaha means that 20 gallons is a lot of range: ~100 miles. And a 5-6 gallon Jerry can on the deck can be a reserve tank.

Then I filled the old fuel tank compartment with foam and under the cap to help make it nearly unsinkable.

The engine itself is quiet and very corrosion resistant. The older carburated ones have small jets and don't like dirty fuel with ethanol in it. You just have to be good with filter changes and draining fuel bowls when you store it. EFI would be nice.