Which SS prop is best for my ap

[outside livermore]

After too many years of wakeboarding and cruising with increasingly chewed up aluminium props, it's time for SS. My boat is a larger Bayliner 205 bowrider with 4.3L FI Mercruiser. 19 deg is perfect, but which model prop? iboats has the Solas Titan cheap, Apollo and Rapture have also been recommended and are in the budget. Reducing cavitation on turns when trimmed up wakeboarding and best top speed are the goals. Thank you!

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Which SS prop is best for my ap

Welcome!!<br /><br />There are props made specifically for stern drives. When you say a "19 deg" is perfect we assume you mean a 19" pitch prop is perfect. Pitch is measured in inches of travel per revolution, not degrees. <br /><br />It'd help to know what brand and model prop you've been running. Not all 19's are ceated equal. <br /><br />It'd also help to know what your rpms are so we know if we have any room to fudge a tad more or less.

 

[outside livermore]

Re: Which SS prop is best for my ap

Thanks for the reply. Yes currently it is a 19" aluminum. I do not know the make prop. It is whatever Bayliner put on a Mercruiser as of 4 years ago. With perfect conditions, the prop got the boat to 50 mph on the speedometer at about 4500 rpm.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Which SS prop is best for my ap

Ok, I think we could safely assume it's a Quicksilver prop. If I remember right -- and I probably don't -- that motor is rated for 4400-4800 rpm. So, if we go to a 19 with a lot of bite like Turbo it may pull the r's down too much. <br /><br />This is where it gets a bit touchy with a sterndrive. With an outboard we'd like to have more bite and then raise the motor. It aint all that easy on a sterndrive.<br /><br />If I were doing it personally I'd like to try some 3 and even 4 blade props. It'll be a bit more challenging trying to recommend 1 prop without trying some to see how the hull reacts.<br /><br />I would like to see you try something like a Stiletto in a 17. Since we're towing wakeboards I'd like to try a 4 blade. They make one that has a shape thats very good on I/O's.

 

[outside livermore]

Re: Which SS prop is best for my ap

I checked the manual and yes 4800 is top rpm but I keep it a little below that. I have called a few shops that sell different brands of ss props. I hear that some props are designed for shallow draft fishing boats, Ballistic, HR Titan. Other shops say they are all the same except ability to repair. You mention a Stiletto. Are they a better performer for my application than a Titan or Apollo or Rapture? Unfortunately I will need to go on recomendations rather than trying several...