Help with prop

[mark.p]

I have a 20' bayliner cuddy, 4.3L Merc, Alpha Drive, 1.84:1. Weight of boaty is a little over 2100 lbs.
Went out last week(new boat) and i have a 13.5X21P. We went out to ski and it wasn't good. front end of the boat was 8-10' above the water for the first 3-5 seconds while skiing with a 180-200 lb person.

This week I bought a 14.5X17P, may not work, but what should I look for when I take it out for a test. I'll watch rpm's and my plans are to only use this boat for watersports, and maybe some lake fishing, top end speed is not a huge deal for me. Pulling my fat A** out of the water for skiing is.

Do you guys think I will be alright, or will I be buying a new prop again shortly? I thought about going with a 19P but I jumped for a 17 a little too quick.

I bought a hustler 17P aluminum, I'll probably end up getting a SS prop once i am happy with the right Pitch.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Help with prop

It'll be good for towing, but watch those RPMs. There is no law that a boat HAS to be run at full throttle.

Ski Team boats are always fitted with low-pitch props. They'd blow the engines if they operated the boat at full throttle (except for RPM limiters).

The closer you can get to the max RPMs needed for the speed needed for any particular activity, the more power the motor will have to do it.

 

[mark.p]

Re: Help with prop

Is there a mechanical stop for a non computerated engine as far as throttle is concerned?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Help with prop

Tell us what the max RPM with the 19P was, and we can tel ya if we need to worry about top RPM...

 

[mark.p]

Re: Help with prop

Thats yet another problem I am working out, Tach doesn't work, I am still working on going through the old connectors with a wire brush. I'm in socal, I should have the boat out again soon, hopefully I can get it working then, if not I will go invest in a digital shop tach till I do get it working.

 

[mark.p]

Re: Help with prop

I do know at WOT it isn't 4,400-4,800 RPM, with the 21P, still haven't delivered the 17P, I'll have the tach before I put the new prop on, I don't want to make a $4000 mistake!!

 

[Crownie2]

Re: Help with prop

Good idea!

Not taking a shot at you, but this doesn't seem like the ideal watersports boat??

Make sure you have the drive trimmed all the way in when you take off.