2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

[Chappy216]

Hello,

I have a 2000 model 216 Chaparral, with 5.0EFI Merc, Alpha 1 GenII 1.62 drive. Had this boat for about 6 years now and have always run the boat with a Michigan alum prop 21" pitch. Average numbers were around 4800rpms WOT with 46-47mph GPS. I slalom skied(4 people in boat and gear) behind boat and came out of hole well as long as not excessively loaded(7 people in boat).

My question is to the Prop Experts and any owners with same setup and experience. Last year I broke my alum prop at end of season. I am contemplating buying a stainless steel for replacement and I have really tried to research the best prop for my setup on multiple forums without finding any really good answers.

Does anyone have an opinion on best prop for my boat? 3 blade, 4 blade, high five, what pitch??? Any and all help is appreciated.

Thank You

 

[craze1cars]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Your boat sounds appropriately propped, though you seem to have quite a lot of slip. We'd need to know what your performance objective is in wanting to make the change? More top speed? Better hole-shot? Better fuel economy? Are you trying to correct a problem with turning, ventillation, porpoising, or torque steer?

Generically speaking, since you're a watersports guy I will assume you will prioritize holeshot over top speed. I suspect you'd find yourself quite happy with a 4 blade 19 pitch Solas HR Titan, or a 20 pitch Stilletto 4 blade. I suspect with either of those props your RPM would stay about where it is now (it may actually drop a little bit despite the lower pitch due to the reduction in slip), I suspect your holeshot would improve noticeably, and your top speed would stay the same as now or maybe even very slightly improve...I base these comments largely on my personal experience making a similar change on a similar boat.

But if your objectives are different from what I stated above, my recommendation may be useless to you...

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Your boat sounds appropriately propped, though you seem to have quite a lot of slip. We'd need to know what your performance objective is in wanting to make the change? More top speed? Better hole-shot? Better fuel economy? Are you trying to correct a problem with turning, ventillation, porpoising, or torque steer?

Generically speaking, since you're a watersports guy I will assume you will prioritize holeshot over top speed. I suspect you'd find yourself quite happy with a 4 blade 19 pitch Solas HR Titan, or a 20 pitch Stilletto 4 blade. I suspect with either of those props your RPM would stay about where it is now (it may actually drop a little bit despite the lower pitch due to the reduction in slip), I suspect your holeshot would improve noticeably, and your top speed would stay the same as now or maybe even very slightly improve...I base these comments largely on my personal experience making a similar change on a similar boat.

But if your objectives are different from what I stated above, my recommendation may be useless to you...

Thanks for your comment. My thought was to switch to a stainless prop just for the durabilty of the prop. Overall performance would be the goal. I do like water sports but the boat comes out strong, it doesn't have to be a rocket. I am not nessacarily trying to get more speed but if that were to happen then ok. I like the idea of a prop with the flo-torque hub for protecting my lower unit so I was leaning toward a Mercury prop. However these props you have listed may have that as well.

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Well I would still lilke to get some expert opinions on this topic. On another forum an Enertia 19p was suggested. Any experience with this prop?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Your having some pretty high slip numbers...1.62...21p...4800 rpm is 22% slip. Were those numbers take with a load or were you empty...Looks like a nice v in that boat it should run in the 50's..If you can do this put some muffs on the boat warm it up and do some 10 second bursts at 2000 2500 and 3000 rpm and see if your tachs calibration is correct ....maybe a burst at 4000 out of gear and short duration

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Your having some pretty high slip numbers...1.62...21p...4800 rpm is 22% slip. Were those numbers take with a load or were you empty...Looks like a nice v in that boat it should run in the 50's..If you can do this put some muffs on the boat warm it up and do some 10 second bursts at 2000 2500 and 3000 rpm and see if your tachs calibration is correct ....maybe a burst at 4000 out of gear and short duration

The boat is listed around 3650 lbs. dry weight. 4 people and gear also on board with probably 30 gallon fuel. Havent had the boat out of storage this year. The numbers were from last year and the tach was checked at a dealer last year. Me alone I have seen 48-49 gps before. But, have hit rev limiter with real light load only a few times which i believe is st 5000rpm

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

The boat is listed around 3650 lbs. dry weight. 4 people and gear also on board with probably 30 gallon fuel. Havent had the boat out of storage this year. The numbers were from last year and the tach was checked at a dealer last year. Me alone I have seen 48-49 gps before. But, have hit rev limiter with real light load only a few times which i believe is st 5000rpm

20p 4 blade baypro 11 stilletto or a solas 20 3 blade hr titan

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

20p 4 blade baypro 11 stilletto or a solas 20 3 blade hr titan

Thanks Tail_Gunner, what do you think about the Enertia prop? Any opinions?

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

This is a opinion only...From what i have read from experienced off shore guys and a one time personal encounter on I/O's just another expensive prop

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Posted Yesterday, 11:48 PM

Hey Guys,

Just for the heck of it I tried a friends prop today. It was a Solas HR4 (4 blade) 19" pitch. Was really surprised of the performance. I understand that the HR stands for "high rake".
Well it evidently MUST. This thing took off out of the hole really well. Had the family of 4, normal gear, and 30 gal fuel prob. So was pleased at first. Then get to top end and i was able to trim out farther than i ever had. GPS speed was 48.7 but the rpms were only 4400. Too much prop for the boat I guess.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Well that shows you how efficient it is compared to your old Michigan Wheel...you got a slightly faster speed, at 400 rpms less. Cured your slip problem.

If you liked it and want one, buy a 17 pitch in the same model and you'll spin up very close to your 4,800 target. Top speed will probably be similar, and your holeshot will be even better yet....

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Yea was thinking about maybe looking at a 17" pitch. Had been looking at finding a 20" Bay Pro II Stiletto base on Tail_gunner's recommendation. Does anyone know how these props compare??
Would that mean i would need a lower pitch in the Bat Pro too?

Which prop is the best?

Opinions appreciated.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

I've never tried the Stilletto. I own the HR Titan. So I can't offer any comparison.

But if you're turning only 4400 with a 19 pitch HR Titan, I certainly wouldn't think a 20 pitch Stiletto is the way to go....

But they do offer an 18 pitch, right? So that might be perfect. I'll let those who have run the Stiletto comment on their opinion of which might be better. But IMO you should be probably shopping between HR Titan 17 and Stiletto 18...not a Stiletto 20.

Again, take that advice with a grain of salt....I don't know anything about Stilletto props...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

If your tach is correct and you want to run the boat propped for a load of people then a 18p baypro 2 not a 3 would be a excellent choice. The boat would feel extremely responsive and probably run at the same speed at wot.....There would be a few more small surprises..

 

[TheBlizzard]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Interesting. I have a similar sized boat & motor; I currently run a 19P 3 blade that will get 4800 rpms and do 50mph+ with just me in it. But with a load of people in the boat it struggles to get out of the hole. Maybe I will get a 17P 4 blade and try that out as well.

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

So,

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

If your tach is correct and you want to run the boat propped for a load of people then a 18p baypro 2 not a 3 would be a excellent choice. The boat would feel extremely responsive and probably run at the same speed at wot.....There would be a few more small surprises..

So, are you saying this would be a better choice than a Solas HR4 in 17"? I do want to get up to at least 4800 on WOT.

That HR4 has a lot of cup on the tips and the trailing edge of the blade and I mean a lot. I was totally surprised based on other props that I tried that I did not reach or exceed WOT with a 19".

Oh, and what are the other surprises??

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

Interesting. I have a similar sized boat & motor; I currently run a 19P 3 blade that will get 4800 rpms and do 50mph+ with just me in it. But with a load of people in the boat it struggles to get out of the hole. Maybe I will get a 17P 4 blade and try that out as well.

The Blizzard,
I have always run my boat with the Michigan Vortex 21 aluminum because thats what was on it when I bought it. Last year I broke the aluminum and thus is what started me looking at other props. With the Alum 21" the boat ran well. Pulled skiers, tubes, slalom skied all with plenty of load. But, I had never checked the slip. Now I realize I had quite a lot. So this year i have started investigating and asking tons of questions as you can see. I never dreamed i would be considering a 17" pitch prop all the way from a 21" but hey, whatever works.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

So, are you saying this would be a better choice than a Solas HR4 in 17"? I do want to get up to at least 4800 on WOT.

That HR4 has a lot of cup on the tips and the trailing edge of the blade and I mean a lot. I was totally surprised based on other props that I tried that I did not reach or exceed WOT with a 19".

Oh, and what are the other surprises??

If your running 4 plus people it appears that a 17p 4blade would be the choice....That seems a bit small for a 21' boat with 260hp and 1.6 gearing....But the numbers work and that is what counts...

As to a 18p Stilletto....That would still be my choice actually i have both a 18 and a 20...One for heavy loads and one for light loads..The surprises..It has more midrange tourque if thats the word..than Solas...That is when you nail it from 20-40 it pulls like a tractor which really puts a grin on my face...Stilletto's have huge lifting capability's. Running at say 35 and aprroaching someones on coming wake say 2' i can nail it and the prop lifts the boat right on top of the wake making for a smaller speed bump.

Its hard to say what will actually happen until the prop is on the boat...But either way you will be propped very close to the boat's maxium potential....Tinkering around with props is always interesting.

 

[Chappy216]

Re: 2000 Chaparral 216 5.0 EFI

If your running 4 plus people it appears that a 17p 4blade would be the choice....That seems a bit small for a 21' boat with 260hp and 1.6 gearing....But the numbers work and that is what counts...

As to a 18p Stilletto....That would still be my choice actually i have both a 18 and a 20...One for heavy loads and one for light loads..The surprises..It has more midrange tourque if thats the word..than Solas...That is when you nail it from 20-40 it pulls like a tractor which really puts a grin on my face...Stilletto's have huge lifting capability's. Running at say 35 and aprroaching someones on coming wake say 2' i can nail it and the prop lifts the boat right on top of the wake making for a smaller speed bump.

Its hard to say what will actually happen until the prop is on the boat...But either way you will be propped very close to the boat's maxium potential....Tinkering around with props is always interesting.

Yea I was thinking the same thing about the potential 17" pitch. It has to be the High Rake and cup on this prop. Spent the last two days at the lake using a 21 pitch old Quicksilver SS prop and WOT was 4700-4750 with GPS 47.5mph with nearly an identical load as the HR4 19" pitch 4 blade at 4400 rpm and 48.6mph. Thats why I was wondering if the Stiletto has that much rake and cup. If it does, I don't know if an 18" will do it.
Read on another thread about a guy that tried an 18" and it was too much prop for him. Thats why i was reluctant to order a 20" Bay pro II as we discussed earlier.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=194041&page=1

I will say this. The HR4 19 lifted my boat higher and smoothed out the ride better than anything I have ever had on it. The lift was cooool!