Mercury Spitfire X7 vs Solas Titan HR 4

[TheChad]

Hey All,

Looking for a new prop, the best prop I’ve had for my rig so far has been the 15P Mercury Spitfire 4-Blade (Aluminum).

I hit a rock pile last season, so that prop is toast. I want to upgrade to a Stainless prop, My biggest problem is getting on plane. My 17.5’ Lowe FS175 Deep V bottom boat has a hard time getting on plane, the 4 blade spitfire was leaps and bounds better than the 3 blade props I had tried before.

I was thinking the Spitfire X7 that has the vent plugs would and being a stainless prop will help with getting the RPM’s up to get the boat out of the hole, where it struggles.

I’ve never run a Solas prop, but I know in PWC’s the Solas Impeller’s are considered the gold standard.

So I was hoping some might gave experience with (ideally) both props, the Solas Titan HR 4-Blade is a couple hundred $$ cheaper, but no vent system, I don’t know how well that vent system works?

Thanks for your thoughts/opinions and information.

-TheChad

 

[dingbat]

You didn’t say what HP motor. Need HP to utilize the benefits of stainless.

If you’ve already trashed a prop, I’d be very leery spending $500 on a SS prop for what will most likely be the bling factor anyhow.

 

[Sea Rider]

If you haven't tached any of the previous mentioned tested props at wot as loaded with that Merc 115 HP motor, will have no idea which wot rpm numbers each one dialed.

Need to know current installed prop's wot rpm and from there go for less pitched props whether 3 or 4 blade ones for the motor to run around its middle to max wot rpm range fctory stated at whichever setting you prefer.If your combo doesn't count with a tach order one, wot rpm and props works hand in hand closely to each other. Buying props blindly it's the worst business ever for your economy...

Happy Boating​

 

[TheChad]

You didn’t say what HP motor. Need HP to utilize the benefits of stainless.

If you’ve already trashed a prop, I’d be very leery spending $500 on a SS prop for what will most likely be the bling factor anyhow.

It’s a 115HP 4 Stroke.

I had a 3 Blade Stainless Mercury Vengeance prop, but it’s a 17P and is the wrong size for my boat. I’ve had alot of props trying to find the right one. The boat came with a 19P prop, which was WAY wrong!

The Vengeance SS prop I have, I will be selling to suplement the cost of the new prop.

I’ve only ever “trashed” the one prop, so I’m not concerned, I don’t usually hit things..

 

[TheChad]

If you haven't tached any of the previous mentioned tested props at wot as loaded with that Merc 115 HP motor, will have no idea which wot rpm numbers each one dialed.

Need to know current installed prop's wot rpm and from there go for less pitched props whether 3 or 4 blade ones for the motor to run around its middle to max wot rpm range fctory stated at whichever setting you prefer.If your combo doesn't count with a tach order one, wot rpm and props works hand in hand closely to each other. Buying props blindly it's the worst business ever for your economy...

Happy Boating​

I have a tach. The 4 blade Spitfire would hit the limiter with 1-2 people on board at WOT, but when loaded up or pulling a tube, it sayed under the limiter.

So I’m okay with the 15P 4 blade prop. Just trying to get info between the 2 props posted..

One thing that is blatantly obvious with this boat/motor is that dispite being the MAX HP for the boat, if feels underpowered. The boat sits deep in the water and the motor can’t turn the RPM’s to pull it’s FA out of the water..

That is why I was thinking the Vent system on the Spitfire X7 prop, might be beneficial in getting the RPM’s up on the motor, helping drastically with getting up ontop of the water..

 

[QBhoy]

Hi. What 115 engine is it you have ?
I’d also suggest that although solas are the go to props for a ski…they are (in my opinion) terribly cheap and nasty props, for a boat. Strange but true.
Just asking about the engine…in case it’s the same as my 115. I’ve tried a few props and might be able to help. That’s if it’s the same engine

 

[TheChad]

Hi. What 115 engine is it you have ?
I’d also suggest that although solas are the go to props for a ski…they are (in my opinion) terribly cheap and nasty props, for a boat. Strange but true.
Just asking about the engine…in case it’s the same as my 115. I’ve tried a few props and might be able to help. That’s if it’s the same engine

It’s a 2006 Mercury 4-Stroke.

 

[QBhoy]

It’s a 2006 Mercury 4-Stroke.

No worries. Mine is a little different then. I’ve the newer model.
Having to go down to such a low pitch on a 17ft boat is a little strange. Is the engine healthy ?

 

[TheChad]

No worries. Mine is a little different then. I’ve the newer model.
Having to go down to such a low pitch on a 17ft boat is a little strange. Is the engine healthy ?

Yes. It’s just a turd, I think it’s the 1st gen 4-stroke’s, gutless and the deep V hull is like a bath tub in the water, sits deep and to get it out of the water you gotta get the RPM’s up.

 

[Sea Rider]

That's the bummer having a prop that works well while lightly loaded revving towards its max wot rpm range or slight over untill you add extra passangers, pull tubes and the motor turning piggy slow to plane. Extra loads on hulls with high coeficient drag are hole shot killers. On such cases I limit the number of passengers on board for the motor not to rev under its middle wot rom range with a motor propped right which revs at it's max wot rpm range with 2 up Which is the max HP and passenger allowed for that size boat ?

Happy Boating​

 

[TheChad]

That's the bummer having a prop that works well while lightly loaded revving towards its max wot rpm range or slight over untill you add extra passangers, pull tubes and the motor turning piggy slow to plane. Extra loads on hulls with high coeficient drag are hole shot killers. On such cases I limit the number of passengers on board for the motor not to rev under its middle wot rom range with a motor propped right which revs at it's max wot rpm range with 2 up Which is the max HP and passenger allowed for that size boat ?

Happy Boating​

Max HP IS 115hp. It has max HP, but the newer model if my same boat, they’ve increased Max HO to 150hp, likely for the problems I have..

Max passengers Is either 5 or 6, I can’t recall at the moment.

 

[TheChad]

Well, I bought the 15P Spitfire X7, took the boat out today, ~5,800 RPm trimmed all the way up at full throttle boat loaded w/5 people. @~36mph.

Boat fully loaded jump immediately on plane!

Even tubing, the boat immediately jumped on plane.

Extremely happy with this prop. If I was not tubing and only fishing, maybe a 17p would have been a little better, for speed, but maybe not..

My motor is on the 2nd hole from the top.

-TheChad

 

[Texasmark]

You realized what I was going to tell you as an aid to making the right decision. The Ports that the Solace doesn't have made the shot difference and when popping a skier out of the hole they help that too....I currently have the Solace HR-4 on my 17.5' Crestliner Fish hawk (Merc 115) because I want cruising not top end. Years ago when I skied and wanted to run fast, I had a 17.5' Ranger Bass boat and 115 Merc. and ran their Laser (original design) with Ports and had the best of both worlds.

36 on that rig with that load isn't shabby performance as you realized. Great choice.