4 Blade Stainless prop for 3.0L

[itcowboy]

I've got a 2001 Stingray, 180LX, 18ft. , 135HP Mercruiser 3.0L with 2.0 gear ratio. It currently has an aluminum 3 blade 14.25x21p prop on it. We do a lot of tubing and want to start wakeboarding and would like more holeshot. I realize I'll lose some top end and have to watch overrev with no load, but I'm not concerned about that. The current prop is right on 4800rpm. Should I go with a 14.25x18 or 14.25x20 with a 4 blade stainless? I've been looking at the stiletto bay pro II. Secondly, if I decide to stay with aluminum should I stay with the 18p or 20p? I know sometimes with SS you are supposed to be one pitch down for same rpm.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 4 Blade Stainless prop for 3.0L

Alum stay in the 20 pitch SS go 18...Personally i really like the Bay Pro 11 but it is a stern lifting prop...aka you will plane at lower speeds and have more midrange punch. But you will also have less wake to work with...

Maybe a Solas 4 blade ..There are very good prop's and there bow lifter's..4 blade bow lifter .....

 

[lrdchaos]

Re: 4 Blade Stainless prop for 3.0L

I run a 17pitch ss prop on my boat, with 4 people it will turn 5150 rpms... which is a little much, but it performs great over all.

 

[itcowboy]

Re: 4 Blade Stainless prop for 3.0L

I've about decided to stick with alum. for now for the cost until I see how I like the 4 blade. I'm looking at a 14.25x19 4 blade. I figure that should be quite a bit of holeshot improvement from the current 14.25x21 3-blade alum. Here on iboats there is Solas amita, solas rubex and a QL. The amita and QL are close to same price and the rubex is the highest. Between the Solas and QL which is the better brand alum. prop?