Is there really any notice able diffrence really ?

[Shaper79]

Well my boat is proped correctly with 14.5 by 19 pitch. Aluminum prop. OEM VP. It tops out the rpms at around 4600-4800. With two adults full thank of gas 60 gallons. And full ice chest. And gear. Been thinking about the SS prop. But the are 400-600$. Wow
There better be a good seat of the pants defrence for that price. Is that what I can expect. If I do get an SS prop. Same size. Thank you fellow boaters. !!!

 

[Bondo]

But the are 400-600$. Wow
There better be a good seat of the pants defrence for that price.

Naw,.... Not really,.... ya might see the rpms at Wot drop a hundred or so rpms,...

Hole shot will be close to the same,.....

 

[steelespike]

What is your speed at 4800? What type of performance do you want?
The overall difference could be a few tenths to a few mph.
There are ss and al props that may have improved midrange results.
4 blade props are said to have stronger hole shot, maintain plane better at reduced throttle.
May handle better around the dock.Usually suggested to drop one inch in pitch and may cost a little top end.
The Mercury Spitfire is said to exchange pitch for pitch and said to improve performance even over what are thought to be good numbers.
The Turning Point Hustler is said to produce close to that of ss.Sometimes suggested to reduce pitch 1" because it loads the motor more.
If you boat where hard contact is likely a ss prop costs more to repair.
If you boat where mud or sand contact is likely a ss may hold up better.

 

[jrttoday]

Like a lot of things, it seems they're almost extinct; but a "prop shop" will often let you try before you buy - at least , a good shop will. If there's anything to 'em, they will even prop your boat for you. They may also have many a used or rebuilt prop for less than new.
Another avenue is to be resourceful rather than spend your resources. For example, ebay, craigslist, boat dealers, salvage yards or local outboard shops..... Shop around by asking other boaters at the ramp.

not bragging, just saying - "I paid $130 for the 4blade, came off a 2003 Evinrude 90 hp, 14x17p.
The 3blade is a 13x21p of a 70's something 115h Johnson and a friend of mines dad GAVE that one to m because he was tired of seeing it just lay around. Haven't tried either one yet, but am betting there will be noticeable difference between the two. As steelespike said," what type of performance do you want?
I don't believe you'll know what kind of performance you'll have until you actually get a particular prop on her
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[Shaper79]

Well I don't know my top speed yet. Because forgot to put the pick up tube in the down position. Since Iv only have taken it out for one outing since Iv had it. I don have Gps on the boat. And I did not pay a lot of attention to detailed performance. It all seemed like it performed good to me though. But I haven't had any other experience with boats so I have nothing to compare it to but what I have learned here at the forum. But we will be taking it out to the lake this weekend for 3 day trip. And will do a data log. I was usually cruising around 3500 rpms and glass smooth water. And the ride was very smooth and elegant. "Trimmed up"about a quarter from all the way down. The engine was very quit and happy. I felt top speed was enough. And gliding." On plane . " cruise Speed was on Q ".but I felt maybe , the jump up to planing could improve a wee bit. I noticed at low idle speed she's a little sqruily around the docks.

 

[Shaper79]

I was thinking my best bet would maybe be A 4 blade aluminum same diameter but drop to an 18 pitch. Safer for a prop strike , affordable on the pocket book. And should be better for the water sorts. Sking , tubing, ECT. The water is farily clean. We're we boat.

 

[Maclin]

You are getting good numbers now, so not much better to be had by testing Alum and SS or 3-4 blade while chasing an amorphous performance goal. Now adding a DuoProp swap into the conversation, night and day then

 

[Maclin]

Meant to add that it is all compromises until you can step up to the Duo.

 

[Shaper79]

That's what it's seems like. If you add here then you lose there. But my ideal was to have a prop for the days I knew we would be doing water sorts all day. And another one for just fishing and cruzing faster. The duo prop set up is way out of my budget range for somthing that fancy.

 

[Shaper79]

Yes you guys are correct. I need more seat time to find out what performance goal I'm really after. And why, I will start this weekend. By figuring out what I like and don't like, with some concrete rpms and mph #s.

 

[Starcraft5834]

4 blade is overall best choice IMHO. you will lose 1-3 mph top end likely... hole shot far better, (more thrust with 4 blades), as spike said, you will plane out at lower speeds... all depends on what you want, the heavier the boat.. more blades is recommended

 

[jrttoday]

keep us posted on what you discover, inquiring minds like to know type of boat/setup etc

 

[Shaper79]

Sure will. After this weekend.

 

[Shaper79]

Well I did call my local boat shop. And he said I could pay for the prop. And try one out. And swap it for a diffrent one if I didn't like it. I wanna try the 4 blade aluminum. I guess I'll go with the same exact size that I have now. 14.5 by 19. Cause I like my rpm Range now. With the 19 pitch. If I were to go down to an 18. It would raise my rpms to the 5000k range. Is my thinking correct. So far?

 

[WIMUSKY]

What is the motors rated RPM at WOT? Most guys use SS on high performance setups because the blades wont flex like aluminum will...

 

[Starcraft5834]

Pretty sure your going to be happy how much quicker your boat jumps out of the hole with the 4 blade.... looking forward to reading how it goes

 

[Shaper79]

4600-4800 rpms rated WOT operation range

 

[Shaper79]

46-4800 wot operating range.

 

[steelespike]

Normally to maintain rpm with a 4 blade you would lower pitch 1". Typically the 4 blade would lower rpm coming from a 3 blade.

 

[Shaper79]

Well it was a bit choppy this weekend at the lake. So it was hard to get some clean data. On what she is doing. I think my Tac is little screwed up. Sometimes it would show 4800 rpms and other times only go to 4000. But would maintain the same speed. Around 50 mph