4 Blade Recommendations

[John_S]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

But with the smart tabs am I still going to be able to get the bow up with the trim or are they going to want to hold it down? I like being able to get the nose out of the water with the drive for obvious reasons.

The smart tabs should be in retracted position once on plane. You can use trim to raise the bow. Works fine wit my boat.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

But with the smart tabs am I still going to be able to get the bow up with the trim or are they going to want to hold it down? I like being able to get the nose out of the water with the drive for obvious reasons.

The anwer is yes to all of your concerns. The boat will act much different...Now when you post back if you wish and then we can talk about propping your boat to its absolute max potential.

A side bar..a 4 blade lifts the stern and the whole boat and you do just the opposite of its intended use....You dig in the bow to cut the waves. So lets solve the launch and then get into how the hull cuts the water....It may seem confusing at first but in the end....Its all to simple.

 

[Tig]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

The dilema I have is that smart tabs are $100-$200 (at least thats the price I found) and a decent prop is in the same range, now Im like "WHAT SHOUld I DO".

Smart tab people seem to love em. Personally, I'd rather figure the boat out without adding another point of maintenance. Especially one that requires keeping holes sealed below the waterline. If you have a rear swim ladder make sure the tabs will not interfere with it's use.
If none of those points are of concern to you, then tabs are the answer.

 

[MarkChambers]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

Interesting thread on propgods.

On a different note; now I don't know what to do, there are different opinions that all sound plausible and great ideas. I should add that with my drive all the way down it drives the nose of the boat down and cuts waves excellent, I don't have a bow down issue, even though Im sure smart tabs to make it even better. The dilema I have is that smart tabs are $100-$200 (at least thats the price I found) and a decent prop is in the same range, now Im like "WHAT SHOUld I DO".

Right. But my experiences on prop gods aren't an opinion but the actual performance of the different props 'on my boat'. Now it's true that every boat acts a bit differently so your mileage may vary but one thing is certain--smart tabs will improve the performance of your boat no matter what prop you end up choosing. Every prop I ran, ran better with the tabs than without. It's the cheapest performance add on that you'll find.

 

[TheBlizzard]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

Well then smart tabs it is then. Now is there any trick to installing these things that I should know about, or is it pretty straight forward? I still might end up going to a 4 blade eventually to low my cruising speeds, but maybe these smart tabs will help the boat stay on plane at a lower RPM/Speed.

 

[Mike Zee]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

I don't know why you would'nt want to go 4 blade first. I paid off of this site, $89.00 on sale for a 4 blade prop that performs, on my boat great. With your built in swim platform, with all the angles, may cause you problems. Just wanting to throw that out there for you. Your problems are the same as mine almost word for word. I am very happy with the results of the 4 blade prop. Took me longer to find the socket to fit the prop nut, than it did to install.

 

[MarkChambers]

Re: 4 Blade Recommendations

Well then smart tabs it is then. Now is there any trick to installing these things that I should know about, or is it pretty straight forward? I still might end up going to a 4 blade eventually to low my cruising speeds, but maybe these smart tabs will help the boat stay on plane at a lower RPM/Speed.

With just a little bit of care they are an easy install. They come with both a DVD showing how and written instructions that anyone who is not an idiot can follow. Make your hull as efficient as possible and then play with the props.

 

[capeman]

I have basically the same boat and had the exact same problem. 1991 200 Cuddy 5.0. Tried all types and sizes of props (have a friend who owns a prop shop). Ended up using a stainless mirage 3 blade 14X20 and adding the the smart tabs. Totally resolved the problem. A 14 1/2 X 19 aluminum also worked fine but dropped the WOT RPMs to 4500. With the swim platform design the tabs have to be moved inward toward the outdrive (there's a drop-down on each side and ladder on the port side, actuators extend 10 1/2"). Pops right up now with a full tank and four people with no problem. Plans out quickly and improved fuel economy. Best price found was at Boater's World. 116.00 for the Nauticus SX9510-80 Smart Tab SX Series. Put em' on, I think you'll be very pleased with the results since you appear to be propped right with the WOT RPMs at 4600 which is where they need to be.