Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

[janesy]

I've been lurking and reading for a year now. Figured I would start posting some results. There seems to be a lack of Information on the Legend GenX series so I would like to share my findings.

So I have a 2007 Legend 16Xcalibur with a Merc 60HP fourstroke (non-bigfoot). Most times it is outfitted for fishing so Im running with two batteries, trolling motor, full talk of fuel(13Gal/50L) too much fishing gear To previous owner also installed a fin sytem of which I can't recall the brand, but it's the popular one. Mercury lists the full Throttle RPM at 5500-6000

It came originally with a 13P merc prop. This prop would jump onto however thats where the benifit ends completly. It would over rev the engine at the half throttle possition. It was actually work to maintain any reasonable RPM. It would bounce off the red line and shut the motor down very easily. I never tried(And couldn't for that matter), but I'm sure it could smoke 6500RPM easy. Max speed I could get on the GPS was 27.5 MPH. The 13P would also not hold well at all in turns or any other time for that matter. This prop is currently my spare and should only be used with extreme caution.

I also had a brand new Quicksilver 15P prop so I tried it out. With me alone, this prop worked OK. It was definatly over propped, I was able to reach 32 MPH on the GPS. However it would only run to 5K max on the Tach. Add another person into the boat and it would simply not get on plane. Because of the glaringly obvios overprop situation, I did not ever bother to test is in turns to see how it would hold, however it did hold better over the OEM Merc prop for general use.

14P Turning Point Hustler. Now, I was hesitant to try a 13P hustler as I was so underpropped with the 13P OEM. Now, the Hustler changed my boat. This prop is not as fast out of the hole as the 13P, but very respectable no less. Holding in cornings and rough water is NIGHT AND DAY! I can hold wide open around wide sweeping corners. Something not possible with either merc prop. Here is the best part 34.5 MPH. It was a little deceiving at first as the hustler is a louder than the merc due to its venting design. At first I thought it was cavitating, but on a little more playing around I realize it was actually shooting roosters and grabbing better. Trim it up a bit more, and it will reward you with 2-3 more MPH(Over the 15P) and a great hearty sound not usually heard on the 40/50/60 HP mercs. Nice touch. Max RPM so far has been 5400RPM.
Only downside you may find, aside from the increased exhaust tone, is that it does tend to be a little "Clunkier" getting in and out of gear. I have read and am told that this is a common trait for the TP props, its not bad at all, just more than the Mercs.

13P Hustler...?????
I'm starting to think i may just pick up a 13P hustler and see what happens. If I can get 2-300 more RPM out of the top end, I curious to see if it will at least match the top speed of the 14P Hustler and get that "hop on top" of the water holeshot. I am so dissapointed in the performance of both merc props, I am wondering if there isn't something wrong with the 13 Pitch, as all 16' legends leave with one, and I cant be the only person with this issue. Very interested to see what a 13P huster will offer.


Well hope my finding help someone. I know there a hundreds of these boats in and around the Central and Southern Ontario regions. I judt thought that my experiences may help someone, or even provide someone with an idea to get more from their boat(That they may not know they are missing) by at least trying the hustler, I really can't believe the difference in all around performance.

 

[janesy]

Re: Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

This winter I was able to grab a 13P Turning Point Hustler prop.

First test Results were excellent! Great hole shot, seemed to be strong holding power although I did not get to run it hard through the turns, and a top speed on a GPS of 33.2 MPH @ 5800RPM. Right where it should be.

The 13P Hustler is the prop that should come factory on these style/sized boats!

Next I think i am going to try to vent my 14P hustler to see if I can get a better hole shot with more weight in the boat.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

Nice job. Prop calculator says The 15" Quick. had 17% slip.Unacceptable.
14" Hustler 11% , 13" 14.9% Slip seems a little high for a prop that is usually refered to as aggressive.
The "clunkiness"is probably from the aggressiveness of the prop.
If your not getting any ventilation you might try raising the motor to a point just before venting becomes a problem.
You might get a little more rpm, speed and better slip.The Hustler should handle height well.

 

[janesy]

Re: Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

Interesting, I've never really got into the theorehtical aspects of it. Where should the slip be for optimum performance?

Both props would hold water higher than the boat wanted to ride, it would porpuse before the props really ventilated. They held very well actually, I can trim them right up and get close to max RPM out of the 13P. With that said... I do like a prop that can come very close to 6K without actually hitting it, just in case I'm not driving, I don't have to worry about someone else over reving it.

Hopefully I'm using the correct terminology to describe what the props are doing

 

[steelespike]

Re: Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

I don't pretend to be a slip expert just working from observation and the results of a prop calculator.
Lower slip numbers indicate a more efficient prop. I think 6% or less would be excellent but probably the exception.
I've seen boats do fine at 12%. From what I've seen I think 6 to 15% is more typical depending on the boat.
A heavy boat will tend to have higher slip numbers.Slip can be the result of prop design like your 15 Yammy prop.
Can be the result of the setup; too high,not high enough,the bottom may disturb the water reaching the prop.I think your relatively light ,reasonably fast boat may be able to have lower slip numbers.
As the prop slows slip will generally go up.
Porpoising usually is from excessive up trim. Just because a motor trims up to a certain angle doesn't mean it should be used that way on all boats/loads etc.Weight distribution can cause porpoising or plowing as you probably realize.
Is the anti vent plate (just above the prop) about even with the bottom of the transom?

 

[janesy]

Re: Legend 16Xcalibur prop testing.

Further testing, After a couple beers one night I agreed that it was worth while drilling holes in the 14P Hustler prop. Famous last words you think.

The prop did not match up to the layout commonly found as to where the holes should be but I drilled them anyway. They would be a 3/16" hole, 3/4" behind the front face of the blade and 3/8" up from the line. Obviously not interfering with a web.

Testing conditions yesterday on Lake Simcoe were far from ideal, in fact borderline dangerous for a small craft, however in the shelter of an Island I was able to play around. Hole shot increase dramatically, the boat did not plow or raise bow up first, it simple went on plane almost instantly. Very smooth and almost effortlessly got to speed. It's like all drag has been removed and the boat had more power than it actually does.

I did not notice any extra noise, And I did not notice any loss in holding power. I came up 1 MPH shorter on the GPS, but the conditions were so far from ideal I contribute it to that directly. I did however experience some ventilation on the real choppy stuff, but I do not typically go out in that weather so I have no way of comparing how that would have handled with any prop. Soon enough I will have this setup on a small cottage lake with almost constant ideal testing conditions. At which point I will have an accurate result. But so far two thumbs up for the vent holes.

Hopefully this stuff helps some small craft guys to get a better setup, the factory is just simply unacceptable after you know what else is out there.