Best prop for Suzuki DF 175’s on a Tomcat 255

[joechiro30]

Now that I got my engines ordered I got to find out which prop is the best. If anyone knows the model and specs for the best prop for those motors I’d appreciate it. I had the 3X 16D 21.5 pitch on my previous 150’s. I was told by the dealers that I could use the same prop. But I got some info here that a 4 prop blade may be optimal. Please let me know any input as I would like to order these props. I am very anxious to get back on the water and want to get the optimal set up. I plan not to add Permatrim’s and would like to get the best prop for optimal speed and to lift the stern.

[joechiro30]

Well I decided to go with 4 blade 16inch diameter at 21 pitch and I will do a comparison with the 3 blade 16 inch with 21.5 pitch. I got some feedback from Ken at propgods. Their props were better priced than Suzuki dealers. about 250 dollars less. 499 his price and about 750 from Suzuki.

I prefer not to add permatrims to my new engines for warranty purposes and I don't want to drill holes on my new motors if I don't need too. I'll see if the 4 blade versus 3 blade makes a big difference. Whether adding permatrims are needed with either props on the DF 175 motors.

Also, I will be able to test the boat out offshore heavily loaded with gas, ice, gear and crew. And I will be able to test the props out cruising inside waters going to the San Juan islands with a lighter load with my wife and I.

My experience so far with the three blades are that the Tomcat runs better with permatrims with 150 motors. WOT is at 5300 at 42 MPH. My planing speed improved drastically and the stern lifted better while cruising at lower RPM's. I didn't feel like the motors were that deep in the water as before without permatrims.

I do find that the Suzuki DF 150's make the stern and transom sit lower in the water on my 2006 Tomcat 255. When I am fishing with 3-4 guys on the cockpit the water can get through the scuppers and into the cockpit. I think the newer tomcats come with a transom that has better flotation for these motors. I do a lot of fishing with lots of gear and a full crew. These things I noticed while fishing offshore with a heavy load. Yes I can lose some weight but that shouldn't matter with a crew of 4 medium sized guys.

I'll do a trial and see what the DF 175's do with the same 3 blade props but without permatrims. Then compare with the 4 blades without permatrims. I will report as soon as I do the testing. I will add permatrims if I feel I need more stern lift and better planing speeds.

For anyone else who wants to repower I hope to help others find the right prop and needs for permatrim on the Tomcat 255. Going from 150's to 175's.

It seems that there is little info on this so I can do some research. I really think the price difference between 150 and 175's are not that great. I'll let you know if it was worth the change.

I have over 1000 hours of experience on the 150's so I got a baseline.

I hope to give some good information to some of you with tomcats who want to repower with the same engines if all goes well.

[John S]

Very interested in which prop you ended up going with. We have a 2021 TC 255 with Suzuki 175’s and four blade Suzuki stainless.
I am currently running 15 1/4×22
But my boat also came with a spare set of four blade 151/4 x 20.
I ran the 20 on one side for a while after I damaged a prop and it would hit the over rev limiter at full throttle.

[thataway]

Joe made that post about 6 years ago. I don't see any posts by him since 2022. For some reason I thought that he had sold his boat.

I ran 21" pitch props on my with 150's and got close to 50 mph--about 48 to 49 light boat with ideal circumstances...So you should do well with the 175s--probably 50 mph. The Honda powered boats with the 150's seem to get slower top speeds. Gear case differences--or actual HP differences--the boat??

I like 4 blade in the cats, because it give more stern lift. I put Permatrims on the Tom Cat 255, and it slowed the top end down about 2 mph. What I didn't like was the amount of water thrown around the bracket when trying to run at 9 to 10 mph. I would say--do not-my goal was a lower planing spade, which was marginal in my experience.

A cat and engines have to be just right in the height. This is complicated with the setback of the bracket. My Caracal cat has a 4 blade prop with Suzuki 140--it is one of the few Caracal 18' that have minimal ventillation--especially going down waves and down seas, in a single engine cat.. Same with the TC--have to dial the props and engine position in correctly to get the best performance out of the boat.

[kaelc]

Looking forward to seeing what props you guys dial in with. A 255 was my dream boat but my 25 with a Suzuki is my dream boat and reality boat now, just trying to dial in prop, mounting hight and hydrofoil now. FYI The Honda 150’s have approximately 19% less displacement and 15% less torque than the Suzukis.

displacement CC Kw rates speed rpm Peak Torque(N-m) RPM
Honda 150 2354 112 @5500 202 @5000
Honda 200 3583 149 310 4500
Merc 175 3432 138 4250 312 4000
Merc 200 3432 149 4750 314 4500
Suzuki 150 2867 110 5500 237 4000
Suzuki 175 2867 129 5800 249 4000
Suzuki 200 2867 147 5800 249 4000
Yamaha 200 2785 146 6000 258 3902
Yamaha 150 2785 118 5500 240 4000
Mercury 150 3000 120 5400 244 3000