adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

[jrampey]

OK, got a new to me boat last fall and sought the wisdom of this forum... came away with the perfect aluminum prop - a solas amita 4 - for my boat. Check out this thread:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=355271

now I'm looking to add a stainless prop. my goal is to add one that will give me 3 or 4 more mph topend and cruise with a light to moderate load... I can sacrifice a little hole shot - I'll keep the aluminum 4 blade for skiing and watersports. but this one will be for cruising and fishing. The current 4 blade aluminum, a 14 X 21P 4 blade amita, works well for watersports... 4600 rpm, 46 mph gps, great holeshot!

Now I'm trying for perfection - maybe I already have it - but, always pushing for more. I'm thinking the right stainless 3 blade with maybe 1 or 2 more inches of pitch... will add 3 or 4 mph topend and even allow 2 - 300 more rpm? Am I wrong? I know adding 300 rpm puts me at the top or over the recommended range for my 4.3l mercruiser - but if I'm cruising at 35 - 40 it eases the load just a little. I've always thought that proping for the top end of the rpms and then holding the throttle back a tiny bit will make life easier on the engine... If I can control my urges to firewall it!

Thanks in advance.
Joe

 

[steelespike]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

Going from al to ss is a trickie change. Going from 4 to 3 further complicates things.
changing brands mixes in a little more mystery.
All that said a 20 footer at 46 with 4.3 is certainly respectable.The likelyhood of a 4 mph increase from a prop change is unlikely at that speed with the figures you have.
If you have a dealer that will let you try some props with your intention of buying one you might find one that will get the results you want. You will likely sacrifice some other portion of your performance.

 

[jrampey]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

I hear you Steelspike... I'm hoping someone has a crystal ball. HWSII has one for aluminum props!

 

[abarron]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

I was wondering if someone could help me? on the forum jump on the bottom of the page please go to skeeter boats and go skeeter boat owners to page 3,Any help would be appreciated!THANKS

 

[jrampey]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

After reading a few reviews in the Tahoe boat section and elsewhere I'm feeling good about a Mercury Enertia 22P... Anybody here have anything to add? What feature of a prop makes it a bow lift or stern lift? Which type is the enertia?

 

[heathk2003]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

I had some pretty good results with the enertia prop. My boat is similar to yours ( glastron gls 195 ) but with the 5.0 gxi. I gained 6 mph's going with that ( but the prop that came with the boat was only a 19 pitch aluminum which never let me get a real good gauge of top end because of overreving ) Went from 52 gps at way to many rpms to 58 gps at 5100 rpms. My engine is recommended 4600-5000 rpms so i could have probably gotten away with a enertia 22 pitch as opposed to the enertia 21 pitch that i got. I got mine off ebay for $479 so they are not cheap.

 

[180shabah]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

I was wondering if someone could help me? on the forum jump on the bottom of the page please go to skeeter boats and go skeeter boat owners to page 3,Any help would be appreciated!THANKS

Don't hijack other people's threads, start a new one in whichever forum is appropriate for your specific question (engine, prop, electronics, etc)

Clearly state your issue in the title and in the text provide as much detail as possible in order to get more useful responses.

 

[abarron]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

I did not know i was Highjacking! SORRYEEEEEEEEE! OL BY THE WAY IT WAS PROP RELATED!

 

[jrampey]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

Well now that I've survived a hijacking... I've read HWSII's thread on Aluminum vs Stainless Props. I realize that there are lots of differences. I don't understand the differences that rake and other things will do. Anybody care to explain?

Joe

 

[180shabah]

Re: adding a SS prop - looking for perfection!

Click and read

Should answer a few questions, or generate some new ones....