Help Please

[abritton77]

I just bought a 1995 ranger 461 with a 200 merc efi. The boat had a 4 blade prop with an extra 3 blade 14.25 x 25 p prop. The problem is a blade on the 4 blade prop broke off I think the first time I took off. I think that I hit somthing at the boat ramp. I put the 3 blade prop on and the boat will not come out of the hole at all. It seemed like it was a little slow to come out with the 4 blade but I dont know if the prop was broke or not on the first take off. The motor does not miss at all and will start right up. The boat is in wonderful condition and I feel like the guy I bought it off of is a real stand up guy. He told me when i bought the boat that it didnt come out of the hole very good with the 3 blde prop so he bought the 4 blade. He also installed a jack plate and raised the motor with the 4 blade. I called him and he said to lower the motor some. Does this sound right? Do I just need a new prop or could somthing be wrong with the motor causing a loss of power?

 

[Jacket4life]

Re: Help Please

Sure sounds like a prop problem. Lot of ppl on here know more about them than me, though. Sorry for your troubles.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Help Please

Speaking generically a 4 blad will help hole shot.
Your 3 blade may have a lot of bow lift which may run faster once planed.
Be sure you trim in all the way maybe move some gear or passengers forward till planed. May just take a little to get over the hump.

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Help Please

Spike, is 100% right as usual, and I am assuming that you are running in the low 60's at WOT.

I called him and he said to lower the motor some. Does this sound right? Do I just need a new prop or could somthing be wrong with the motor causing a loss of power?

Lowering the motor will help some, but you really need a 4 blade aluminum or a good SS prop to take full advantage of your setup.
You will lose some of your speed when you lower the motor, and if you don't have a water pressure gauge be sure and mark on the jackplate where the motor is NOW, before moving it, so when you get a better prop you will not raise it too high and lose water pressure.


H

 

[abritton77]

Re: Help Please

Thanx for the help. I called a boat shop today and he is telling me pretty much the same thing. I am going to try out a few props that he has somtime this week.

 

[abritton77]

Re: Help Please

I tried out a trophy plus 4 blade 25 pitch prop today. It came out of the hole ok , but I didnt have any thing in the boat and only had a half tank of gas. My rpms toped out at 5200 rpms trimmed all the way up. I am thinking that I need a 23 pitch prop to bring my rpm's upto about 5600. I would think that this would have a better holeshot when I have a bigger load.