Props

Charlie S and Titan

Charlie S and Titan

Well-known member
Hey All,

I wanted to post up a message saying that I was amazed the difference a prop can make. I never realized how much of a difference it could be.

We rented a cabin for a week on the lake and before I went, I threw on my spare prop. The other one had some dings on it, so I thought a fresh prop couldn't hurt. I've had this spare prop since I got the motor, but I always just carried it as a spare. Well, this prop brought the boat alive. My previous top speed was 26 mph by gps, the same boat, same motor, same load, I can hit 46 mph by gps. I don't know what the pitch on old one was or the new one, but they are incredibly different performnance wise.

I suppose this is old news to most of you guys, but for me it was a real eye opener. It is like having a whole different boat.

To anyone that I ever told a 50 hp 2-stroke on a 18 alaskan was underpowered, I apologize. Now I know that with the right prop, a 50 is just dandy...

Charlie
 
Wow! 26 to 46 mph!

I have 16' tri-hull with a 90 hp. It goes about 30 mph or so. The guy I bought it from said the prop was pretty slow. I am scared to put a steep pitch prop on it. The hull is rated for 145 hp though. That would wake it up.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sounds like you both are/were "overpropped" A 20 mph gain on Charlies boat is pretty darned impressive..mut have been WAY overpropped.
 
Wow Charlie,
We hope to get 4 to 8 mph gains tweeking props at work, but dont always get it. That is smoking.
I thought you were nuts telling guys they needed 250 hp motors on 18 foot lunds...Ha ha
Are both wheels aluminum? You may see even more with a stainless prop.

Did you ever sell that boat blind? PM me if you did not.
 
what was the difference in the two -- i have a 50 horse merc on an 18 lund and do 25mph -- like you i don't know much about props - but a change and a little more get up and go would be nice
 
Be careful about putting on different props, some may let your motor run at a too high rpm. You should probally check with a boat dealer about what prop a motor should have. Depending on size of boat and load.
 
Charlie,

You can pick up a Tiny Tach at any boat supply shop and hook it up in about 5 minutes. That'll tell you if you are running in the right RPM range at WOT.

My brother uses a three blade prop in the summer with his 18' Lund and 40hp Evinrude. In the fall he switches to a 4 blade with less pitch. The top speed drops but he still gets it up on plane fine even with a heavy load. Of course, he's never reached anywhere near 46mph.

Rick
 
I think I'll try to pick up one of those tiny tachs to see. The owners manual tells the proper rpm range, so between the two I should be able to make sure. If not I have a boat guy I trust locally that I can take it to or at least ask.

Believe me, nobody is more surprised than me at the difference. I'd have never believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself over and over again all week. The gps is seemingly accurate at least according to my comparison with my truck speedo.

I'll probably go back to the other prop for duck season since it seems to have more oomph when it takes off (hole shot?) and it is already dinged up so I won't feel bad if it gets more damaged!

The "new" prop is also a 3 blade aluminum, like the old one. I have no idea of either pitch and don't even know how to go about finding out. I imagine there is some way to measure it, angle of the blades or something, but whatever it is I am clueless.

Bob, I do still have the blind cover. I haven't made any attempts to sell it, it is still just taking up space at the house. My plans to turn it into a kayak cover were thwarted when I decided to go back to school last fall. So there it sits. If you have any interest, let me know.

Charlie
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top