Ballistic Propeller on order !!??

[QBhoy]

Hi guys

Decided to take a huge gamble and order a ballistic 3 blade....in the vague hope it might give a little more than the current laser 2....
Thoughts (good or bad) welcome.
Reminder of the current set up...
Campion Chase 550 performance edition
5.0 mpi with cam and corsa marine exhaust.
Laser 2 19" pitch.
On a good day will produce 60-62 mph at around 5000 rpm
On a bad day (currently having lots with random mpi fault codes and 90% power gaurdian mode)...4600 and 54-56mph.
Currently the bottom is filthy with weeds and growth.

Michigan wheel won't totally gaurentee better performance but expect more lift and the ability to trim up a little more without loosing bite.
What do we think ?
Allan

 

[GA_Boater]

Do you think a new prop will fix fault codes, kicking into Guardian mode and a dirty bottom?

 

[b.gagnon]

That is one of the biggest hit or miss prop on the market! My case was a miss......
No bow lift at all. Mercury Enertia fixed that problem!

 

[jimmbo]

The Enertia is great prop, Expensive, but worth it. My cost of ownership has been 13 cents a day.

 

[QBhoy]

Haha...
It won't for a minute fix the dirty bottom or the random fault codes...no doubt....but I'll have the boat out the water for the prop change and at least fix 50% of the problems.
I've always wondered about the enertia prop. Almost unobtainable across the pond here.
I have read extensively that the ballistic is a total hot or Miss....figures it was worth a shot, especially at the 15% discount (with high HP hub offered). Should arrive Tuesday.
Results pending.

 

[V153]

How much will it cost to return it? ...

 

[QBhoy]

So....looks like I might be one of the fortunate few that the ballistic actually works for.
Fair bit of chop on the water tonight so areas where running balls out were few and far between. I also had the hood up which acts like a bit of a parachute.
Instant thoughts are;
Seems to be a little slower to plane than laser, but not as much now rise.
Sits on the plane at lower rpm, at about 2100 rpm.
Boat speedo bouncing between 63-65 mph. Gps to be confirmed, but likely 60+. Worth noting that the boat speedo never went much over 60 with hood up. Generally there is about a 5mph difference with hood up and hood down.
Gained about 100 rpm surprisingly compared to similar conditions with hood up.
With regards to the trim of the boat. The laser was a simple thing to operate. She would trim up well, then loose grip, so you knew where the limit was.
With the ballistic, if you trim up too early it looses grip very easily. Requires a gradual trimming action proportionate to the amount the boat is lifting out the water and stern gripping.
It's also worth noting that the hull was cleaned at the same time as replacing prop. But...as mentioned, the bit has never hit 65 on speedo with the hood up.
Over all very happy.
Can't wait until the weather is decent enough for a run with the hood off.
Down sides, if any...the ballistic seems a fragile thing. Very very thin blades and about 2/3 the weight of the laser. I haven't hit the bottom in about a decade...hopefully I won't anytime soon !

 

[jimmbo]

The blades, being so thin may bend easily enough to protect the propshaft and the rest of the drivetrain in case of gentle and not so gentle rock caresses