rothfm
Ensign
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2006
- Messages
- 915
I thought I would post my findings of my prop selection, maybe others can find it useful?
I have a 20-21 Cuddy/walk-around with a 140 looper Johnson with a 15.25x15". I tach'd out at 6000-6150. While I thought I was propped correctly, I found It took alot of RPM to keep me on-plane, and a decent cruise speed yielded 4500-5000 on the tach. dropping below 4200, I would fall back into the hole.
Lots of research later, determined I was doing a lot of spinning, and a 15x17 would make sense on my setup as I could afford a WOT RPM drop, with hopes to pickup ability to better stay on plane at lower rpm's, and better cruise.
THEN, I saw a craigslist ad in my town. A guy was selling a Turbo (Brand) "Ultima 4 4-Blade Stainless 14.75 x 15". In thinking about it..."IF" a 17p was my ideal in a 3 blade-knowing I'd loose WOT RPM by 200-300 possibly......Maybe, just maybe, this 4-blade in a 15p would not drop as much wot rpm, yet still give me the benefits of Lift, lower cruise RPM and better overall performance.
I bought it for $175.00 (it was almost brand-new) and my first water test, I could not believe the results. I only lost maybe 100 RPM from the Alum 3 blade 15x15.
I still see wot of 6000 (motor spec is 5500-6000), My overall speed is up 5mph. But the huge benefit is the ability to stay on plane with 3000-3200rpm, and a decent cruise is about 4k. Throttle response and hole shot is noticeably better. I have no negatives in either low, mid or High end.
No other changes were made at all. Just prop. Its like a different boat and motor actually.
Since I was so surprised with the results, I felt inclined to post, if someone has a similar setup and has some of the same issues I had. Could not be happier with this prop.
I have a 20-21 Cuddy/walk-around with a 140 looper Johnson with a 15.25x15". I tach'd out at 6000-6150. While I thought I was propped correctly, I found It took alot of RPM to keep me on-plane, and a decent cruise speed yielded 4500-5000 on the tach. dropping below 4200, I would fall back into the hole.
Lots of research later, determined I was doing a lot of spinning, and a 15x17 would make sense on my setup as I could afford a WOT RPM drop, with hopes to pickup ability to better stay on plane at lower rpm's, and better cruise.
THEN, I saw a craigslist ad in my town. A guy was selling a Turbo (Brand) "Ultima 4 4-Blade Stainless 14.75 x 15". In thinking about it..."IF" a 17p was my ideal in a 3 blade-knowing I'd loose WOT RPM by 200-300 possibly......Maybe, just maybe, this 4-blade in a 15p would not drop as much wot rpm, yet still give me the benefits of Lift, lower cruise RPM and better overall performance.
I bought it for $175.00 (it was almost brand-new) and my first water test, I could not believe the results. I only lost maybe 100 RPM from the Alum 3 blade 15x15.
I still see wot of 6000 (motor spec is 5500-6000), My overall speed is up 5mph. But the huge benefit is the ability to stay on plane with 3000-3200rpm, and a decent cruise is about 4k. Throttle response and hole shot is noticeably better. I have no negatives in either low, mid or High end.
No other changes were made at all. Just prop. Its like a different boat and motor actually.
Since I was so surprised with the results, I felt inclined to post, if someone has a similar setup and has some of the same issues I had. Could not be happier with this prop.
