Mercury Enertia Props - Experience with them?

[jwdavis28]

My dealer suggested this series of props for my 2016 Tahoe 215Xi w/250hp 4.5L Mercruiser. I'm wanting to switch from aluminum to SS. Read a couple of articles on tests and I do like the claimed increase in fuel economy while still performing well on the low and top end.

BUT, nothing speaks like real world experience. Let me know the good, bad & ugly.

Thanks!

 

[jimmbo]

Been running one for 10 yrs. Fantastic Prop. The Bad... Expensive

 

[jwdavis28]

Been running one for 10 yrs. Fantastic Prop. The Bad... Expensive

Appreciate the feedback jimmbo! Oh is there anything on a boat that isn't expensive?!

Did you switch from aluminum? If so how many pitches did you drop? My dealer says 3 and that scares me of having too high rpms. I'm running 5400rpm on my stock aluminum and the range is supposed to be 48-5200.

 

[jimmbo]

My boat is an 18 1/2 ft Glastron. It came with a VP 5.7 litre with a 21in VP Aluminiun prop. I had been running a 20in Raker on my 18 ft with a 150 Johnson. I had the prop rerubbed so it would fit on the VP. I used that for 4 yrs. When the Enertia came out, I borrowed one from my dealer(his personable boat), and I compared it to my Raker. There was some differences, I really don't recall since its been 10 years since I had the Raker on. But I was impressed enough to order one for myself(20 inch). It has been a great prop, I did some experimenting with various sized vents and found what I like. My boat accelerates like it has a 2 stroke outboard and gets very good top speed. The prop has a very sggresive hold and the water and rarely loses its bite. The boat when using either the Raker or Enertia, rides higher out of the water, not just the bow, compared to the AL.
Rpms... 4950 21 Al; 4800 with Raker and Enertia


With the Raker








With the Enertia

 

[jwdavis28]

Wow that's a marked difference in lift!

 

[jimmbo]

I wish I had a pic of it with the AL but I don't. The outdrive isn't over trimmed, you can see it in all the pics

 

[jwdavis28]

Well that combined with the increased fuel efficiency is a real contender. Especially with your comment about holding the water as we do quite a bit of water sports.

 

[jimmbo]

For water sports, the High 5 is the king. Although I have pulled barefooters out of the water with the enertia. But I also did that too with my 115 merc 32 years ago

 

[jwdavis28]

For water sports, the High 5 is the king

Have a buddy that has a high 5 on a 23' Rinker and loves it. I need a "prop library" so I can check several out and try them.

 

[jimmbo]

Props are kind of a custom fit. Unfortunately they are not cheap. Everyone has an opinion as to what is the best prop. It may very well be the best prop for them and they will swear by it, however you or I might be swearing at it if it doesn't meet our goals.

 

[jwdavis28]

Anybody else have experience with these props? If you switched from Aluminum how many pitches did you drop?