Agree. Fair comment. Happy to share what I’ve tried on a few similar boats and my own inboard. Tried so many props on that I was verging on silly. Haha.
Agree. Fair comment. Happy to share what I’ve tried on a few similar boats and my own inboard. Tried so many props on that I was verging on silly. Haha.
21” rev 4. My boat has a steeper drive ratio 1.81 than is typical. Boat originally was a 4.3, previous owner cracked the block, i bought it knowing this. when i repowered i put in a 5.0 but didnt want to regear or swap the drive since it only had 37 hrs on clock... bottom line works perfectly just pitched up 2”.
Rev 4 pitch is 21”. the spitfire 23” is right at the rev limiter so i would have been over with a smaller pitch. compared to the sales pitch in the merc literature i gotta say the spitfire wasn't impressive.
In the past I did try a Mirage, which is also a bigger diameter. The larger diameter generates bow lift, which my hull absolutely hates. Makes it slam. I really want to get back to a 4 blade because with the higher rake they don't pick up the weed so much. We have a reasonable amount of floating dead seagrass at this time of the year (and before any storm) and the 3 blade props pick it up like cheap women. (family friendly
)
Thanks FunTimes, I'll keep that in mind.
Appreciate that.
I was only doing about 6 knots and the impact was soft enough hit that only the ali blades took it. The hub was fine. Another reason I want a SS prop. They're stong enough to handle a soft hit without breaking (this hit actually tore about 10mm clean off one blade), and when the hit is harder, their extra strength ensures the hub is the part stressed, not the prop. And a bent SS blade is easily hammered out. Once you bend ali, trying to hammer it out usually results in a cracked blade. DON'T LIKE ALI PROPS!
Urge you to try a tempest then chris. It’s just a 3 blade version of the Rev 4. Worth a shot, if you can get a hold of one to try.I have an update, with bitter/sweet results.
I contacted my local friendly Merc dealer and talked to her about props. Cost of a new Ali prop is around 400 Australian micro-dollars. Bit more than I was expecting, but what can you do. I asked about second hand SS and she said they had a few, and I was welcome to come and have a look. Did that yesterday on the way back from a morning out divering.
She had a 19" Revolution4 there, so asked if I could take it on test. If I liked it, $550. At that price, I'd take it...
Took the boat out this morning with that prop loaded on. WOW! Love this prop. Handles beautifully, didn't matter what I did, turning sharp at speed, crossing boat wakes at the 'wrong' angle, trying to wave jump, it would NOT let go. It was only when I started to trim WAY up that I could hear it pulling air, and that was very close to the trim limit, at 28 knots!
I love how responsive it is to trim, and when trimmed right in it doesn't vibrate like a 3 blade. It's so smooth when running, and even at 2400rpm (which is just on the bottom of the power band for this engine) when I pulled a very fast full lock-to-lock turn the engine only dropped 200rpm.
Someone here said that the Revolution4s need 'lots of torque' to turn them. That didn't feel like the case here. I was watching the fuel flow meter and flow was a little less (for any given boat speed) than that of the 17" Vengeance, but that could also be because the boat was light loaded. So I'm going to call that one as the same. In all other comparisons, the Rev4 eats a 3 blade.
Now the bitter. Max revs only 4450 (and doing 39 knots!). Right on the bottom of the range, and it was only me and 150L of fuel. When I load up (dive gear, dive buddy and boatie), we're going to fall off the edge. I think a 17" will give me 4950. Perfect
Very sadly I will be returning this prop, but if a 17" becomes available, I will be the first in line.
TL;DR Revoltion4 19" pitch. Max revs 4450, 39 knots. No bow lift (which is good for my hull), and felt strong and grippy right through the rev range.
Chris......
Why are you insisting on me using a 3 blade when a) I've already got one, and b) I've stated many times I want a 4 blade?
Jesus Chris. I’m not insisting on anything fella. Was just trying to help and share what I’ve picked up on props, from messing with them a fair bit. I’m amazed to be honest, that there is such a difference in a props ability to pick up weeds between a 3 blade and a 4 blade...but it’s something I’ve no experience with, to be fair. You go your own way...but I was just suggesting that if you like the results of a rev4...you’ll love a Tempest plus.
I used to be a Merc dealer and I have probably played with more props than you. It was one of the services we offered our customers. Full trial of any props they wanted. When I first got the dealership I had the Merc head office in Melbourne send me a whole bunch of props. Different styles, different sizes. I took a few differently powered boats to the river one weekend and run all the different props on each of the boats (obviously the right prop on the right engine) and got a real feel for how each different prop performed. That way, when a customer asked me about the various propellers, I could give an informed opinion on each. Advantages and disadvantages, and performance criteria, and not just what anyone could read out of a sales brouchure.
Right there!
There is just no pleasing some folk. Maybe there is no point in you even asking such a question in the first place chris. Sounds like you know it all anyway. Was this question only posted...so you could answer it yourself ? What a man
Sincere apologies for any offence. That was not my intention. I just wanted information about the latest 4 blade props available, as the newer ones weren't around when I was a dealer.There is just no pleasing some folk. Maybe there is no point in you even asking such a question in the first place chris. Sounds like you know it all anyway. Was this question only posted...so you could answer it yourself ? What a man
At least others now know fine well...not to even attempt to help or reply to any of your posts, going forward. For fear of a barrage of abuse ! Lesson learned for the forum, I’d think
no worries. The Rev 4 is a great prop to be fair. Often need to go down in pitch, as you’ve said though. That seems to be a common thing. It’s worth seeing if they come in one inch increments chris. I know some of the new expensive merc props certainly do. So an 18 might be good too ? If there is such a thing.
I ran an offshore ( I think they also called it vensura at one point). Worked very well, especially on holeshot for watersports. I had a fair amount of slip with it on the top end and wouldn't stay hooked up with more than 1/4 trim out.To give this thread some completion, I'll update it now.
After having phoned all the local boat shops, and visiting a few specialist prop shops, nobody had a Rev4, 17"... So I placed a 'Wanted' ad in our local Gumtree (website, not actual tree). A week ago a guy calls me and says he has one. Great! Then he gets home and checks, it's an 'Offshore', not a Revolution4, but it is 17" pitch. Anyway, I bought it, having had Offshore props on my old drive...
Took it for its first spin today (pun intended).... With 2 up, 145L of petrol in the tank and 2 sets of scuba gear, hit the rev limiter (4950) at 38knots. Felt really really smooth, and the hull just did what it wanted (no bow lift!). The boat felt great, the best it's felt for a long time. Cruising speed is up by about 8 knots! The trim control was solid, it came out of the water quickly and with far less stern 'ploughing'... I'm very happy with it...
As an aside (and I think @QBhoy will find this funny), the guy was trying really hard to get me to try an Enertia (3 blade) prop, promising I'd really love it...
Chris..........
I had a 19" Rev4 on trial, but the engine revs where right at the bottom of the range. Not ideal. Sadly I had to take it back. It was everything the Offshore is, and more. Will keep my eyes open for a 17" Rev4. Then the Offshore will be on the market.