Mercury Racing 500R Operation And Maintenance Manual page 13

IMPORTANT: To ensure proper fit and performance, Mercury Marine
recommends the use of Mercury or Quicksilver branded propellers and
mounting hardware.
Propellers are designated by the diameter, pitch, number of blades, and
material. The diameter and pitch are stamped (cast) into the side or the end
of the propeller hub. The first number represents the diameter of the propeller
and the second number represents the pitch. For example, 14x19 represents a
propeller with a 14 inch diameter and 19 inches of pitch.
a - Diameter
b - Pitch ‑ Travel during one revolution
The following are some propeller basics that will help you determine the correct
propeller for your boating application.
Diameter ‑ The diameter is the distance across the imaginary circle that is
made when the propeller rotates. The correct diameter for each propeller has
been predetermined for the design of your outboard. However, when more than
one diameter is available for the same pitch, use a larger diameter for heavy
boat applications and a smaller diameter for lighter applications.
Pitch ‑ The pitch is the theoretical distance, in inches, that a propeller travels
forward during one revolution. Pitch can be thought of similar to gears in a car.
The lower the gear, the faster the car will accelerate, but with lower overall
top speed. Likewise, a lower pitch propeller will accelerate quickly, but top‑end
speed will be reduced. The higher the propeller pitch the faster the boat will
usually go; though typically slowing acceleration.
Determining the correct pitch size ‑ The 500R outboard is equipped with
Adaptive Speed Control (ASC), a feature that automatically adjusts the engine
load to maintain engine speed (RPM). For more information about ASC, refer to
Adaptive Speed Control.
Determining the correct propeller pitch requires that certain procedures be
followed to ensure the best performance. Refer to Adaptive Speed Control
(ASC) Propping with G3 if G3 software is available. If G3 software is not
available, refer to Adaptive Speed Control (ASC) Propping without G3.
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GENERAL INFORMATION
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