I'm running a Hopkins 12x13 with heavy tip curl on a Stage 1 PD36 2054. Speed is not bad at 28 deep water empty and 25 with a load. This is at around 3700 RPMs. My stock prop would run around 4500 rpms with not much difference in speeds. The prop was built for a stage 2 motor I think.

Obviously the lower rpms is a good thing, but I'd like to get the rpms up to around 4k. Should I just run it until it wears down a little or is is better to have a prop shop take it down a little?

Make one high speed pass across the sand. This should bring the RPM'S up. I know it always brought mine up.