Pitch Prop Questions

[gtcontender]

I picked up a Carlson Contender this winter that had an 80hp merc on it with bad compression. I only wanted the hull anyway. I was thinking of putting a 65 hp 1980s evinrude on it or if I have to another Merc in the area of 55-65 hp. I was wondering if the right prop would make up for the lack of power on the so called "repower". I know everyone will respond in caps flipping me the bird since i'm not thinking of a jackplate and a four stroke 225hp Merc...but this is my back up boat, a boat i am keeping around for friends to use, and I do plan on one day making it run like a batouta hell, but it may be 6 or 7 years from now. So if you know this hull -would a 55-75 hp sufice???? It wll be kept on a river that lacks a ton of room to stretch it out anyway..top speed not super important, I want it to have a quick start and plane nicely,

Thanks for your patience on this matter ya'll

[David]

Is that a 14 1/2 foot flat bottom boat? Or did I find the wrong boat when I googled Carlson Contender? 65 HP would be adequate for 'normal' use on a boat that size.

[gtcontender]

yes it is. the challenger was 16 ft. the contender is 14.5 and rated from 40hp to 85 and i think the challenger goes from 85 to 125, so the old adds say. adequate for normal use sounds about what its going to be doing for the xext 5 years...i wouldn"t want to go to crazy on hp till i find out if 2 stroke will die out here and i rebuild the transom...
So would a different pitch prop be worth it for better of the line speed and planing?

Also its front half tunnel hull that turns flat in the rear...don"t know if that matters

[perfmarine1]

Not to be picky but they did not make a 65hp in the 80's they were from the early 70's from evinrude-johnson!

[gtcontender]

Thats good to know... i know they made 70hps...that was just a generalization... the year or size isn't as important as the condition..i'm finding it hard to find a quality engine anywhere localy..

I did find a nice 1993 evinrude 50 hp with power trim and short shaft, I thought it would be to small, thats why i was asking if certain props can make up for less power, to some degree???