Need advice for a wake surfing prop....

[skidooseadoo83]

I have a 1995 Blue Water Pro Am, 20.5 ft., 7.1 beam direct drive with a 1:1 Velvet Trans. It has the 300 hp 350 Merc in it. What I found lookin around was 4600-5000 RPM at WOT. Right now Im running a 13X13 1"bore 3 blade brass prop.

I only got to play with this boat a couple weeks last summer in Oregon, didn't have much time to get it dialed as far as the surf wake, got close. Needed more ballast (only had two 400lbs sacks, some lead, and a manual surf gate) All that aside, I was having trouble maintaining a semi plane state if I went any lower than around 12 mph, surface conditions aside. Lower than 12 and it would stop plowing and plane out. Of course any faster was too fast to keep up with the wake when surfing. In addition to more ballast that I will add this year, Im pretty sure I need a different pitch prop. Anyone out there knowledgeable or have experience with this kinda stuff? Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[Bifflefan]

Re: Need advice for a wake surfing prop....

Before looking for a new (used) prop, I would wait to see what the extra ballast does. You may find you don't need a change. Also the prop wont make it plane at a different speed, but the ballast will.
Brass props are not cheap, we have a local prop shop that will let us test a prop to see if it makes the changes needed. Also the guy is very knowledgeable about everything prop related. Maybe there is a place near you that can do the same.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Need advice for a wake surfing prop....

Brass is not a metal used for props. Bronze on the other hand is