Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

[bassman_n44]

I have a 17' Tracker bassboat with a 115 Evinrude. For years I have been running 5400rpm at 43.5mph with my OMC aluminium 13 x 19 and 5400 at 47.5mph with my 13 3/8 x 19 Ballistic (gps). I once tried a 13 1/8 x 21 Ballistic but when I trimmed over 5050rpm the prop lost it's bite and just reved. This year I installed boyesen reeds and now I run at 5700-5800rpm. I need a new prop. I don't think the 21 Ballistic will work so I'm looking at the 13.25 x 21 Rapture or the 13.5 x 22 Raker. Does anybody have any imput?

 

[StratMan290FS]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

you can find decent 14.5x22 rakers off ebay. I run raker on my boat with happiness, trimmed pretty much anywhere i get bite, good top end, and decent holeshot w/loads.

 

[bassman_n44]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

I'm looking for a 13.5 x 22 raker but I am wondering if my rpms will drop to much. I was told that the 22p rakers turned like 21p props. My 115 has boyesen reeds and the boat only weighs 800 lb. Right now I'm turnind 19p props at 5700-5800 rpm. Before the reeds I turned 5400 rpm.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

Glad you are running the 17' aluminum boat at 47.5. Gives me some credibility.<br /><br />I too have a 17' alum. Running a 90 Merc on it. Your gears I'm assuming are 2:1 and mine 2.3:1 so our numbers will differ somewhat.<br /><br />I ran the Ballistic (still do at times) 13 3/8x21 on my boat and my engine was way over revving (6250 vs 5500 rating). At that rpm I was at 49.<br /><br />I looked at the charts and Ballistic only made the XP (or XL; forget which without looking) in higher pitches. I didn't know that the XP changed some geometry. <br /><br />What I wanted to do was stay with the same prop design so as to reduce my variables and be able to accurately determine the new performance before I sprang for the cost of another prop. I figured I could go to 24p to pull the revs down and get some more speed...just had to break thru 50.....ego thing. Grin <br /><br />The 24p XP was for sale on here for $250 and I bought it. Couldn't resist the price. <br /><br />It brought my rpm's down to 5600 and my speed (when it was 35 degrees outside) up to 52...it's now at 50.5 with 75 degrees out. The hole is slower obviously, probably about 3 seconds whereas the 21 would pop you right out.<br /><br />What I noticed about the XP was that the chord of the propeller was about 1" thicker at the rear than was the 21 standard.<br /><br />So even though I was trying not to, I essentially changed prop types.<br /><br />Maybe this will help you, maybe not. Some folks on here have had less than stellar performance with Ballistics on their rigs. Mine has been dazzling. <br /><br />HTH<br /><br />Mark

 

[bassman_n44]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

Is that speed on your speedo or gps. My speedo says 54-55mph gps 47-48. What is the cord of the prop? I love the ballistic and my dad has one on his boat to,but when I tried the 21p years back all it did when I started to trim was suck air. I checked out the XL and it is avalable from 22p up for my motor.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

Merc (Quicksilver) OEM, not GPS, but running data against prop slip calculator puts slip at 8% which is realistic for a padded 750# boat; only at WOT or thereabouts. Back-off and up comes the slip.<br /><br />Chord:<br /><br />Webster New Collegiate: A line segment joining 2 points on a curve.<br /><br />It is the thickness of the blade measured radially from the hub to the tip. A "cleaver" prop has a solid chord from the hub to the prop tip (OD of prop) for example.<br /><br />Mark

 

[bassman_n44]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

What prop calculator do you use?

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

BAM Marine of Florida, Inc.<br /><br />Would give you the www but that's illegal on here. Sorry.<br /><br />Mark

 

[stevens]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

No, it's not (it's not an iboats competitor). That's a great calculator, and here's the link:<br /><br /> http://www.go-fast.com/Prop_Slip_Calculator.htm <br /><br />Now, if anyone knew of a calculator where one could input knots instead of mph, that would be great.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

Just multiply or divide your answer by the ratio 1.15 6080ft/5280ft is the number I remember. Since everything is first order you should be able to apply it to any of the (response)colums except slip which is in percent.<br /><br />Mark

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

That wasn't real clear. The ratio is "1.150748" to be exact.<br /><br />Knot distance in feet per hour is 6076 (I remembered 6080 cause it was easier to remember over the years).<br /><br />Statute mile distance in feet per hour is 5280. <br /><br />So any reading in knots is a lower number than the corresponding mph.<br /><br />Mark

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

As an after-thought, you're the first I've seen or know of that has gained 300-400RPM with boyesens only running in the mid to upper 5000 range...I would say your stock reeds had some problems as well. Interesting....

 

[bassman_n44]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

I canged the reeds and added a 6" manual jackplate to my Dad's boat and he saw a 400 rpm increase and we still raise the motor every time out. Then we tried a 17p Ballistic prop and picked up another 200 rpm,plus amazing hole shot, great hold in corners and 2 mph. He could only pull 5000 rpm and 37 mph(gps) with a 17p OMC alluminum prop. Now he runs 5500+ rpms at 44 mph.(18' Bayliner Bass boat with a 1993 115 Johnson)

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

OK, the jackplate/setback is likely where the RPM rise came from...usually the reeds add low-end grunt, and not much on top unless turning over 6500RPM.

 

[bassman_n44]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

I added 400 rpm to my boat too. No jackplate or any other changes, mind you the water temp was 53 and the air agound 60 so I will loose some when it warms up. Your not kidding it wakes up the low end. WOW!

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Ballistic vs Rapture vs Raker

I noticed the other day, my top RPM was only 5900 with the same load I had in colder weather, getting about 6250, so yea, the temp and humidity have a very noticable affect on them.