Q: What can I do to add more horsepower to my 2005 Volvo Penta 5.0 liter stern-drive engine?

Ed Segovia
Covina, California 

A: Most boaters can gain a significant amount of horsepower just by choosing the right propeller. According to the manufacturer, your engine develops its full horsepower at 5,000 rpm. The goal is to choose a prop that balances acceleration and top speed while letting the engine develop its maximum specified rpms. If you ski, a good hole shot would be less than eight seconds to 30 miles per hour. The prop that does that and reaches 5,000 rpm is a winner.

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