Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

[elkhunter338]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Good or bad I have a ProPulse adjustable 4-blade composition prop, rated up to 300hp. I have run this prop for several years with no problems. I bought this prop because I had no clue on what pitch to purchase to get my rpm, speed the way I wanted it.
I have a 21foot starcraft cuddy cabin, weight is about 4800lbs on the trailer.
3.0l, 135hp merc. i/o I like being able to adjust the pitch.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

just spend 3 grand get a bunch of stainless and be done with it!

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

wait until you hit something with those stainless wonders and you bend the lower unit shaft. A friend warned me against stainless because he hit a submirshed log and bent the prop shaft and whiped our his stainless prop. He highly recommended alum. props.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

wait until you hit something with those stainless wonders and you bend the lower unit shaft. A friend warned me against stainless because he hit a submirshed log and bent the prop shaft and whiped our his stainless prop. He highly recommended alum. props.

because of the application I can't use anything but stainless.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

SS is run for good reason... There is a TON of hype out there about how an ss will blow a lower or bend a shaft....so will aluminim or plastic if it takes a direct blow.
We've ran every material of prop made in testing and bending a shaft or blowing gears is just not a realistic result with the major improvements of hub design.

By the way, I've tested both major manufacturers composite props on a 200hp outboard and a 228 Mercruiser on a good-sized wellcraft...a bit slower (3-4mph) but never broke a blade off trying...

 

[1badhusky]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

I'm planning to pick up the propulse for my 185 bayliner w/ the 4.3 mpi - reviews have been pretty good - lots to hit on the Columbia river, and I'm not too concerned about top speed - want a good hole shot and 4-blade adustability sounds pretty good to me - will probably have it out in the next week or two and will report back.

 

[Rusty_Stainless]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Yeah I have used one for the last five years on a 20ft Mustang with 198hp mercruiser. You've got to becareful with them but they are good.
Check out my simple video review of them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpcy8yxHH44
UPDATE
For other Aussies like me who might be researching ..... I dont recommend the 3 blade prop, maybe the 4 blade is ok if you are looking for a "cheap alternative". You can easily get a good second hand 3 blade stainless steel prop off ebay for the price of a set of replacement blades.
The one that I fit in this video cost me $112 dollars delivered http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcuYo0HvczM
Unfortunately Piranha props are a ripoff here in Australia. You cannot import them directly so you must buy from the local supplier. A 4 blade hub would cost $248 ($220.72US) and blades $45 ($40.05US)each. Thats $428 ($380.92US) for the whole prop. Looking at Piranha's web site it should only cost me $165US ($185.39AUS) plus post to Australia.
You can buy a new 4 blade Aluminum prop from Solas for $325. And unless you are really unlucky, a blade repair will be about the same as a new set of blades. And IMHO the Al prop will be more durable.

 

[Bayliner175xt]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Hi we use a Piranha 4 Blade on our stern drive, it works well for us and it has saved us allot of $$$,
Easy to re pitch, we ski,tube and wakeboard behind our 3.0 Mercruiser Bayliner.
I have 3 sets of blades, 1 spare, 1 for speed and 1 for water sports.
I use them and will continue to use them,
I didn't find them that flexible, infact they are quit stiff. I tested them with an indicator till I broke it. I did the same to my old alloy 3 blade. The alloy one bent and cracked before the Comp one did.
They do mark easy but I would rather that then having to replace lower unit.
Some people like and some don't.
I'm one that likes them.

Enjoy your boating.

 

[cyphertext69]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

I have a ProPulse that came on the boat when I got it. Since this is my first boat, I didn't understand a whole lot about prop pitch and all. I have found that it is very easy to change the pitch, even while in the water. I usually use my boat for water-sports (wakeboarding, skiing, tubing, etc) and haven't had an issue from it yet. I churned up some mud last year with it and it barely got a few marks but never replaced a blade yet, thank god!

 

[AIRandSEA]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Considering a composite myself, I've researched and found a comparative article (said to be independent) and result chart on prop performance on the boat, in the water.
http://www.acepropeller.com/prop-test.asp

The link shows both and 4.3L Merc I/O and 200HP Yamaha outboard performance charting with varied manufacturers of aluminum, stainless, and Piranha in similar diameter and pitch as well as 3 and 4 blade counts.
What seems relevant, it appears from the data, is the props diameter and pitch and blade count on whole, regardless of material, seems to be the greatest factor for speed. If the data is viewed only by diameter, pitch and blade count, keeping similar combinations as a group (i.e. all props that are 14 x 21, 3 blade regardless of material), the given group seems to show less variation. However, time to speed (seconds to mph chart) out of the hole seems to differ more dramatically, as do Trim Ability and Holding in Turns.

Additionally, perhaps the most important data point to me (wanting to both cruise and pull my kids) is not top end speed (as top end almost always means poorer overall fuel efficiency, in boats as in airplanes) but cruising RPM. At 3500 rpm, the data shows very interesting efficiency differences. On the 4.3L Merc I/O test, The Piranha 4 blade 14 x 22 is both most efficient (fastest at given RPM) at cruise speed (and not bad at top speed either, ~3 to 4 mph below others as has been observed in this thread), and near the best at getting out of the hole and up to speed. It is very interesting data for the prop scrutinizer, although far from conclusive, but it is hard to ignore the performance of the Piranha.

There can be no doubt that a composite is less slippery (greater friction) in the water compared to aluminum and certainly well polished SS, and its required additional thickness must hurt the performance of slicing and pulling through water. I suspect its added friction is part of the reason it performs well at the slower speeds, e.g. 0 to 15 mph, (friction at slower speeds is less of an issues to performance than at higher speeds and friciton in water may add to grip effeciency at the slower speed) but has its modest limits at top end speeds.

Ah, if time and money were of no object, we could run the tests for days on end? or until our wives tracked us down.

Too much information? Apologies
Appreciate the observations of those who?ve done their own comparative analysis. ME

 

[longshanks]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

I ran a 3-blade Pirahna on a 50hp outboard and although this is a different application than you are talking about, I found it to be just as good as aluminum. Could easily change pitches for skiing/cruising and it was a smooth, responsive prop. Plus, easy to fix or exchange damaged blades, and cheaper than anything else. Easier to dial in the right pitch than having to buy multiple aluminum/ss props.

 

[mtp9302]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

I do run a Pirahna 4-blade 14A-20 composite prop on my Wellcraft 190 (Merc 170 stern drive). I bought the boat with it on there this spring and ran it through the summer with this prop. This was my first year with a boat, so I don't know anything compared to everyone here, but it gets up on plane very quickly and goes through the water great. I have no experience with aluminum props to compare this to, but if the blades are flexing, I can't tell.

I did manage to hit some submerged creek runoff after a heavy rain; broke the tip of the skeg and three blades. I was able to change them out on the water, and it sure was nice only paying $20/each replacement blade and having them show up 3 days later. The Piranha's been good to me thus far.

 

[Nogaard]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Is anyone using a Piranha or other composite prop on their I/O, and if so do you like it? <br /><br />Thanks, David

I have used aluminum Stainless and Piranha composite I have 3 S.S. diff sizes and 4 alum. diff sizes and 8 diff setups for Piranha the composite are tougher then aluminum and have better yield and always return to original prop dimensions aluminum does not and yield on alum is worse better yield makes for faster Plain SS doesn't yield and is better then alum for keeping pitch but bad thing about Stainless is if you hit something then the prop is OK it just breaks your out-drive saving a 400$ prop but costing a 4000$ out-drive repair so SS is bad idea they just look nice. my boat is 23 foot and has 330 hp if you want to have a great prop that is easily repaired (by you) and always keeps it's shape but will break before the expensive out-drive breaks then go Piranha composite. I have never tried any other brands of composite so I don't know their strength but I am a mechanic and for over 20 years now.
As for 4 or 5 blades you can get better bite with more blades getting you out of the water quicker at the expense of top end loss. and gas mileage is improved on boats over 24 foot in length.
you just can't beat 20$ a blade repairs with the protection of the blade breaking before the out-drive if hit and better then alum as alum. need to be replaced after each season because they bend and lose their shape killing performance and fuel mileage and increasing venting (where the prop spins fast but boat don't go do to air around the misshaped prop. These are the facts I have researched all props for myself and my customers.

 

[gjmsd]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Never tried one on a IO (in fact, never owned an IO) but I did buy a 4 blade 18" for my 135 Evinrude and love the holeshot. Much better than what I got with my aluminum 3 blade 17". I'm real happy with it.

 

[solocam181]

Re: Anyone using Piranha or other composite props on I/O???

Is anyone using a Piranha or other composite prop on their I/O, and if so do you like it? <br /><br />Thanks, David

Hi i have used the piranha prop for 3 years now and love it. I recently owned a wellcraft 186ss with a 4.3liter 190 hp engine. I went from a 4 blade aluminum to the 4 blade piranha and experienced quicker hole shot (great for pulling up skiers) better top end, increased my top speed by 3 mph. I also only burned 4.8 gph while cruising at 3200 rpm. I sold this boat about 1 month ago and purchased a Bayliner 192 discovery with 3.0 liter. I have just ordered a new piranha for this boat and I am sticking with the 4 blade but am trying the new hydrobite. stay tuned. P.S. these props are great if you tickle the bottom while navigating out from shore no problem. However with my aluminum it rolls the edges.