I currently have a 1999 Mr. Pike with a 60 hp Mercury on it I can go 32-34 with two guys and tackle and 36-38 when alone in the rig. I am thinking of upgrading to a 9o hp Mercury at a cost of about 1600. My question is first is this a fair price form the dealer to upgrade, what can I expect the increas in speed to be, and finally can I troll down to low enough speed to pull cranks with this motot? Thanks
If you go from a 60 to a 90 you should be picking up about 5-7 mph. With this boat, you should be looking at about 45-46 alone, and about 40-42 with riders.
You will be able to troll this motor down to about 2 1/2 to 3 mph. If that is slow enough fine - otherwise, you will need a trolling sock or other devices to slow you down.
The other option that you can do, is to use a 13 or 15 pitch prop on the 90. This prop will give you the same speed as your 60 and allow you to troll the same speed as your 60. However, with this lighter pitch prop, you will certainly over rev the motor if you open it all the way up.
If you are taling an upgrade, you will be getting a brand new motor? If so, I imagine that you will be trading in a 1 year old 60 for a brand new current model 90. If this is so, the 1600 is a very fair price for the upgrade. If the upgrade is for the same year motor and both a year old, then it is a couple of hundred too high.
Take care
REW