"My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

So I tried out the new 17P hustler prop on my merc 115 4 stroke this weekend (lowe FS175 boat). The biggest difference I noticed was how much 'grippier' the prop was in the turns. I was unable to get the thing to ventilate at all, even after trimming up way past where I was with the Black Max. Steering also seemed lighter. As for the holeshot, which is what I am after, only a slight improvement I think. It seems to bite and pull quite a bit harder initially but the same flat spot exists once the skier is part way out of the water. It definitely revs a little bit quicker and I was able to more consistently get 6000 rpm, which gave 42 mph, about the same as before. Interestingly, with just myself in the boat, the holeshot felt much stronger than the black max, but once under load it was only marginally better.

Another point of interest which is very encouraging to me Irv, is that your CAV plate is 3 3/4" above the bottom. (We are talking about the big plate above the prop right?? not the little one that is higher up?) Mine is about 1/2" above. So I am thinking I can raise this thing a lot. Like I said before I was able to trim up a ridiculous amount once on plane without any ventilation.

Sounds like some decent results although you say your holeshot isn't much different? I noticed some change in mine for the better, not huge but definitely better. (it wasn't noticable right away but when we went skiing, that is when I knew it was much better than the stock Black Max)
What year is your Lowe Duncc? Does your's have the keel running the entire length of the hull? That is where I measured, from the very bottom of it to the "big" cav plate.
I can still get some ventilation in the turns if I turn sharp enough but it is way better than the Black Max. Our results are some what different, I gained 2mph and have a much better holeshot but it I still get some ventilation where as you get none, must have something to do with motor height/cav plate location? Maybe mine is too high but that is where it has to stay as it is in the lowest setting.
I am not sure what that flat spot would be you mention? Maybe it is the spot where the bow stops lifting and is starting to settle out? Just a guess?
Overall are you happy with it or do you wish you would have went stainless instead?.............Irv964

 

[duncc]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Sounds like some decent results although you say your holeshot isn't much different? I noticed some change in mine for the better, not huge but definitely better. (it wasn't noticable right away but when we went skiing, that is when I knew it was much better than the stock Black Max)
What year is your Lowe Duncc? Does your's have the keel running the entire length of the hull? That is where I measured, from the very bottom of it to the "big" cav plate. I can still get some ventilation in the turns if I turn sharp enough but it is way better than the Black Max. Our results are some what different, I gained 2mph and have a much better holeshot but it I still get some ventilation where as you get none, must have something to do with motor height/cav plate location? Maybe mine is too high but that is where it has to stay as it is in the lowest setting.

It is a 2006, same as yours so it does have the keel running the entire length. My "big" cav plate is about on level (maybe 1/4" above) with the keel so if yours is 3 3/4" up then that is way higher than mine. This is encouraging because I wanted to try moving the motor up, this also makes sense as to why I have no ventilation even when trimmed up really far. (The black max would ventilate at my current motor height with trimming in turns.)This might be the key to the performance you are getting. So i'm going to try a couple of holes.

I am not sure what that flat spot would be you mention? Maybe it is the spot where the bow stops lifting and is starting to settle out? Just a guess?

What I mean is that the boat bogs and it takes a long time to come on plane....(I am an experienced skier and have to shift my wait and work it to get up)

Overall are you happy with it or do you wish you would have went stainless instead?.............Irv964

Overall, for the money I am impressed with this prop. I bought a stainless in the past and didn't see much improvement and it was 5 times the price. Like I said I am very impressed with the grippy nature, it makes the boat handle much better, now I'm just hoping raising that motor is going to get me what I want. I also like the Lowe boat very much, the part I am not impressed with is the Merc motor. It's quiet, smooth, great on gas, but so far it's gutless. I'd rather pay at the pump to have some power and for a 115 it seems like a dog to me.

 

[ivar]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Whats funny is these boats are being sold with 50 & 60 hp fourstrokes and I believe their performance is as good as mine. Granted when I have weight in the boat the extra oomph helps, I believe.
Mike

I think whats hurting your planing ability and causes the porpoising is the weight of the engine. Sounds like the boat is happier with a lighter engine on the back (maybe its designed in the 2-stroke era..?)

BTW, do you have any weight you can relocate in the boat..?

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

It is a 2006, same as yours so it does have the keel running the entire length. My "big" cav plate is about on level (maybe 1/4" above) with the keel so if yours is 3 3/4" up then that is way higher than mine. This is encouraging because I wanted to try moving the motor up, this also makes sense as to why I have no ventilation even when trimmed up really far. (The black max would ventilate at my current motor height with trimming in turns.)This might be the key to the performance you are getting. So i'm going to try a couple of holes.



What I mean is that the boat bogs and it takes a long time to come on plane....(I am an experienced skier and have to shift my wait and work it to get up)



Overall, for the money I am impressed with this prop. I bought a stainless in the past and didn't see much improvement and it was 5 times the price. Like I said I am very impressed with the grippy nature, it makes the boat handle much better, now I'm just hoping raising that motor is going to get me what I want. I also like the Lowe boat very much, the part I am not impressed with is the Merc motor. It's quiet, smooth, great on gas, but so far it's gutless. I'd rather pay at the pump to have some power and for a 115 it seems like a dog to me.

Thats too bad to hear about your motor, I will ask a guy in our park who has the exact same boat/motor as you what he thinks of his?
I know the 4 strokes aren't as peppy as a 2 stroke, my 90 seemed the same way when I first got it, that is why I went on this quest to get another prop!
Overall I guess I am happy with it's performance now, seems peppiest this year compared to the last 2 years, probably due to engine break-in? How many hrs do you have on yours? I think when my warranty is up this year I will switched to synthetic? Just have to figure out what I want to run? I like Mobil-1 products but I am not sure if they make Marine oils?..............Irv964

 

[duncc]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Thats too bad to hear about your motor, I will ask a guy in our park who has the exact same boat/motor as you what he thinks of his?
I know the 4 strokes aren't as peppy as a 2 stroke, my 90 seemed the same way when I first got it, that is why I went on this quest to get another prop!
Overall I guess I am happy with it's performance now, seems peppiest this year compared to the last 2 years, probably due to engine break-in? How many hrs do you have on yours? I think when my warranty is up this year I will switched to synthetic? Just have to figure out what I want to run? I like Mobil-1 products but I am not sure if they make Marine oils?..............Irv964

Yes I have thought maybe it needs to be broken in some more. It has under 20 hours on it. Hopefully it will loosen up and the increased motor height will help.

 

[mikesnredding]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Hi, I took the boat out last thursday with the new 17p Vented Hustler prop Solo. With the top down. I ran 36.2 mph topspeed with 5100rpms. Was able to trim out without porpising. With the top up speed was down to 34.5mph, but that was expected. I got the smoothest ride when I filled the forward 27 gallon livewell with water as the weight was more forward in front of the windshield.
Sat me and the wife were in the boat, Getting on plane took slightly longer and topspeed was about 33.5 with the top up. Not bad I think for a 75 hp. Cruise at 4000 is now around 26mph all verified with GPS. With the extra weight I did notice the boat porpising more though. According to the GPS we rode 35.2 miles and used 5.2 gallons, not bad. Am going to go ahead and install the nauticus sx trim tabs for when I'm heavily loaded. That way the brackets will be on the boat and all I have to do is put them on with the simple hinge pins when I need them.

I don't know why I can't leave well enough alone and need to be constantly tweaking, so I ordered a Quicksilver Silverado SS Prop 13 1/4 X16p. Gonna head to the lake tommorow to try it out solo.

 

[ivar]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Mike,
sounds like a good idea on the tabs, I'd try leaving them connected all the time at first.

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Hi, I took the boat out last thursday with the new 17p Vented Hustler prop Solo. With the top down. I ran 36.2 mph topspeed with 5100rpms. Was able to trim out without porpising. With the top up speed was down to 34.5mph, but that was expected. I got the smoothest ride when I filled the forward 27 gallon livewell with water as the weight was more forward in front of the windshield.
Sat me and the wife were in the boat, Getting on plane took slightly longer and topspeed was about 33.5 with the top up. Not bad I think for a 75 hp. Cruise at 4000 is now around 26mph all verified with GPS. With the extra weight I did notice the boat porpising more though. According to the GPS we rode 35.2 miles and used 5.2 gallons, not bad. Am going to go ahead and install the nauticus sx trim tabs for when I'm heavily loaded. That way the brackets will be on the boat and all I have to do is put them on with the simple hinge pins when I need them.

I don't know why I can't leave well enough alone and need to be constantly tweaking, so I ordered a Quicksilver Silverado SS Prop 13 1/4 X16p. Gonna head to the lake tommorow to try it out solo.

Mike, you didn't mention if you raised your motor yet? I know in your earlier post you mentioned that your motor cav plate was approx 1" below the bottom of the boat? Before I would "Tweak" anything else or buy more props, I would raise that motor until the cav plate was at least level with the bottom of the boat(then go up from there until you find the "sweet spot")

Not saying your quicksilver won't work but I tried an older model and it was worse than my Black Max was, I had great grip in the turns but my holeshot seemed not as good, my rpms went over 6000 easily and I lost 2 mph on the top end. Keep us posted on your results..........Irv964

 

[branman1971]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

I notice folks say "Cruise" was at ##mph and ####rpm...How does one determine what the "cruise" is for a particular boat? Is it the minimum speed that you can go without losing your "plane"?

 

[mikesnredding]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

My Cruise is an Rpm that is not too high, yet still goes fast enough that I feel I'm covering didstance. Which for me is around 4000rpms and yeilds about 25mph.
Irv, My local prop guy looked at the bottom of my boat and said raising the engine on my particular hull design wasn't absolutly necessary like other hull designs. He recomened the steel prop which i went with. My hull is a modified deep V, very flat in back to a very V hull in front. (best way for me to describe it). I have to say that other than holeshot, ( I was solo with full fuel 20gal) I did'nt get much more topspeed than with my hustler 17p. 36.9 mph and RPM's up to 5600, verified by GPS. I was able to stay on plane much slower though, and the prop seemed to have much more bite in the water.

Now for the trim tabs. After running the SS prop 1st with no trim tabs, I then mounted the Tabs on the brackets ( I modified the attachment points to be quick disconect), What a difference in ride, I had to adjust them of course because the 1st hole I put the adjusters in provided way too much stern lift. But after moving them out 1 hole they are now perfect. Crossing wakes is no longer a rough affair. The boat still occilates but settles down almost imediatley. They make running fast smooth and steady and no porpising.. This Sat I am taking the boat out to my local big lake ( Lake Shasta) and will have 3 people on the boat with the livewell filled, I believe they will make a huge difference. Both on getting on plane and running. Although I won't run a SS prop at lake shasta as the water is too low and won't risk the damage to drive, will use my 13 3/4 X 15p alluminum prop. All the local boat shops and my prop shops are backed up with prop damage from the lake with people not being carefull or getting too close too shore..

So in the end I highly recomend the Nauticus SX Smart Tabs .

 

[limulus]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Hey Guys,
I have experience with three TP Hustler props. I have a 2007 24' pontoon with a Merc 115 4s motor. I had been running a Solas 14x11 until Memorial Day weekend. I was seeing 5500-5800 RPM and 23 MPH with that prop. I hit a floating log and broke that prop. I then started experimenting with the TP props. First was a 14x11 like the Solas. I immediately noticed that the TPH was lighter in weight than the Solas. Performance wise, it spun up quickly and when I pushed the throttle all the way, my tach hit 7000. I pulled it back immediately. I could run at the 6400 max easily (and beyond) with two adults and two teenagers but only hit 21MPH. I only ran that one day for maybe 2hrs. I then bought a 14x13 and it would easily top out at 6500. With three adult men a 10yr old and two 12yr olds, I could still turn 6000-6400 and tow a Big Mable tube at 19MPH. I ran that prop 4-5 hrs.

The thing that bothered me about those two props was the sound of my motor. It really sounded like a blender which just isn't a good noise.

Next, I bought a 13.75x15 which dropped all the way down to 5400 RPM and 21MPH. It sounded like my old Solas and at certain RPMs, the water coming off my logs made more noise than the motor. I ran than prop about four hours total but never tried to tow the Big Mable.

I've since lowered my motor from the #2 hole to the #1 hole and have now installed a new Black Max 14x13. I get 5400RPM and 24 MPH (GPS). I'm probably going to get a 14x11 Black Max or another Solas for watersports. I'd still like to see 6000 RPM, but for some reason, I can't get that with anything but the TP props and they make the motor sound like it's about to come apart.

There is no doubt that these are different than Solas or Black Max props. They spin up really fast and easily to max RPM. I just didn't get the speed I wanted. I can also attest that the RPM per inch of pitch rule doesn't always hold water (pun intended). I saw that with the TP props going from 11 to 13 to 15 pitch. I also see it between manufacturers. Keep in mind my point of view is from a 2-log pontoon boat.

I almost forgot to add my cruise speed: At 4500 RPM, I can cruise at 20 MPH with the Black Max. Somewhere between 3500-4000, I got 15MPH.

 

[mikesnredding]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

For my money, I think the TP Hustler props are great. My 13 1/4X17p is vented and makes a difference getting on plane. Only problem is my boat only get to 5100 rpms with that prop.

Once you buy the prop and hub kit and want another prop you don't have to buy another hub kit. The props are cheap, here thru Iboats..

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

For my money, I think the TP Hustler props are great. My 13 1/4X17p is vented and makes a difference getting on plane. Only problem is my boat only get to 5100 rpms with that prop.

Once you buy the prop and hub kit and want another prop you don't have to buy another hub kit. The props are cheap, here thru Iboats..

I agree but like I stated in my original post, not everyone will see the same results. Every boat is not the same and some require different engineered props that will work on their boat.
For the money and the results I achieved I couldn't be happier with Turning Point props but I am still a little curious how that Stiletto would have worked out?............Irv964

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

I just found this in the "Boat topics and questions section" and thought it was relevant to this post as there is much discussion about motor height throughout this post. It is a good read imo...............Irv964
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=272916

 

[overload]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Hi, I have a similar boat, 2007 FS 165 with an '07 90 horse Merc two stroke. At the dealer they recommended the 19" pitch prop but they would give me a 17" instead but they are a little under pitched. They also said the motor would top out at 6000 RPMs at WOT, which is a little fast but o.k. After break in, I can hit 6400 RPMs at WOT, (probally even more if I let it) and top speed is about 38 mph, 42 solo on glass at 6000 RPMs. I talked to the dealer about this and they claimed that I have a "fast" motor (my luck of the draw) and just keep it under 6000 rpms. I use the boat for wakeboarding so being under proped is not a problem except that the boat has terrible ventilation on turns. Anything more than a casual turn and the prop blows out. I lowered the motor as far as it would go down where it's just under the keel, improved but still not acceptable. I just might try the Hustler.

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Hi, I have a similar boat, 2007 FS 165 with an '07 90 horse Merc two stroke. At the dealer they recommended the 19" pitch prop but they would give me a 17" instead but they are a little under pitched. They also said the motor would top out at 6000 RPMs at WOT, which is a little fast but o.k. After break in, I can hit 6400 RPMs at WOT, (probally even more if I let it) and top speed is about 38 mph, 42 solo on glass at 6000 RPMs. I talked to the dealer about this and they claimed that I have a "fast" motor (my luck of the draw) and just keep it under 6000 rpms. I use the boat for wakeboarding so being under proped is not a problem except that the boat has terrible ventilation on turns. Anything more than a casual turn and the prop blows out. I lowered the motor as far as it would go down where it's just under the keel, improved but still not acceptable. I just might try the Hustler.

I am having good luck with mine, still some ventilation on sharp turns but much better than my stock Black Max. I am surprised where your motor is that your still getting lots of ventilation? I just assumed if it was that low you would hardly get any? (relative newbie to all this)
I noticed this right here on this site, might be worth looking into?......Irv964
http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/ma...=PromoPopup&promo=tp_sale_more_detail&dz=5512

 

[overload]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

I am having good luck with mine, still some ventilation on sharp turns but much better than my stock Black Max. I am surprised where your motor is that your still getting lots of ventilation? I just assumed if it was that low you would hardly get any? (relative newbie to all this)
I noticed this right here on this site, might be worth looking into?......Irv964
http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/ma...=PromoPopup&promo=tp_sale_more_detail&dz=5512

Thanks Irv964, I'm looking at the Hustler, I might go up to a 21" pitch or try a four blade from a different band and report back. I had moved the motor down one hole to the bottom hole. The top of the anti-cavatation plate (the fat one above the prop) is maybe about 1/4" below to almost level with the bottom of the keel. There was no noticable difference in performance between these two positions other than ventilation on turns was slightly reduced. If anything the boat was faster with it down further. The stock black max prop holds great going straight even in rough chop, swells or crossing rollers but try and turn and your screwed. I'm still over reving the engine and getting ventillation with it so at least with my motor, it possibly could go down even more if it were possible.

 

[Irv964]

Re: "My" review of a new Turning Point Hustler prop

Thanks Irv964, I'm looking at the Hustler, I might go up to a 21" pitch or try a four blade from a different band and report back. I had moved the motor down one hole to the bottom hole. The top of the anti-cavatation plate (the fat one above the prop) is maybe about 1/4" below to almost level with the bottom of the keel. There was no noticable difference in performance between these two positions other than ventilation on turns was slightly reduced. If anything the boat was faster with it down further. The stock black max prop holds great going straight even in rough chop, swells or crossing rollers but try and turn and your screwed. I'm still over reving the engine and getting ventillation with it so at least with my motor, it possibly could go down even more if it were possible.

I am surprised to hear your cav plate is below the boat, on mine (90 4 stroke) the cav plate is well above the bottom of the boat and my motor is as low as it can go. I guess the lower unit lengths on these motors vary quite a bit depending on application?
A 21P I would think would ruin, or certainly take away your holeshot considerably for the type of water sports you do? I never read a whole lot about 4 blade props for my application but from what I do remember it wasn't the prop of choice for my needs (water skiing, tubing)?
Have you tried www.turningpointpropellers.com and seen what type of prop it recommends? I don't think it ever recommended a 4 blade for mine nor did any info I gathered about a Stiletto SS prop.
I had the same issues with my Black Max, it sucked in the turns and I had to practically trim all the way down to stop it from ventilating! It is now my spare and will never be put back on motor unless it is absolutely necessary.........Irv964