Need New Prop

[IVAZ]

Hello gang,
My current prop is old and needs to be replaced. I need help selecting a new one. This summer I will be pulling a tube most of the time with the boat so I need something with good acceleration.
Here is the boats info:
18' bowrider
Mercruiser 175hp 4.3 V6 Alpha 1 Gen 1 with 1.84 gear ratio.
WOT range is 4600-4800
The current prop is 14.25"x19P 3 blade aluminum prop.
The highest speed I have seen is 46mph (gps) and with the current prop it can exceed 5900rpm (I have only ran it that high when I first got the boat to see where it was at but I could not bring myself to rev it any higher to see where it would end up). The boat has good hole shot now but I dont like the fact that it can over rev so much.
I?m thinking about getting a 4 blade aluminum prop to keep decent hole shot but want to get the pitch to match my recommended wot range.
What size and pitch can you guys recommend?
Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Need New Prop

The highest speed I have seen is 46mph (gps) and with the current prop it can exceed 5900rpm .....

You mean 4900 and if so a Solas 18 would be a good choice

 

[steelespike]

Re: Need New Prop

I think you need to verify your tach is accurate.Check the setting.Your exceeding 5900.
lets say it will do 6,100 To get to 4800 you would need to go with a 25" prop. Would put you at ABOUT 4,900.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Need New Prop

Yeah it sounds ridiculous. I did not trust the tach on the boat either so I plugged in another one I had laying around. The readings seem to jive together. Maybe I need a higher quality tach.
The main reason I thought I needed to repitch was because my next door neighbor has a 19' boat with the same Merc engine and 1.84 drive ratio and runs a 22P prop. I have never rode in his boat but he claims it runs great with that pitch. No guaranty his view of "great" is what the rest of you would call great.
Just for my information, with the engine and drive ratio that I have what would be a common pitch seen in a boat like mine? I'm asking about a general performance prop not really one for acceleration.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Need New Prop

I just looked up other boats with a similar set up as mine. It looks like they came with 21 or 22 pitch props.
Maybe the 19p on there is good enough for hole shot. Do any of you think the Amita Solas 19p 4 blade prop would give me better acceleration? Lower the current rpms?
iboats has those props pretty cheap right now and I don't think I have much to lose.

 

[cooter2506]

Re: Need New Prop

MY boat in signiture is about the same size and engine package and im running a 21 pitch and it over revs to 5300. BUT The hole shot is unbeatable. So I just watch what im doing and never run it past 4500rpm

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Need New Prop

MY boat in signiture is about the same size and engine package and im running a 21 pitch and it over revs to 5300. BUT The hole shot is unbeatable. So I just watch what im doing and never run it past 4500rpm

Could you tell me the name of the prop you're running?
Thanks.

 

[junior1113]

Re: Need New Prop

u wont sacrifice hole shots to make wot be right with that 4 blade you were talking about. i would put a 23p 4 blade that will bring your wot down to be within recomended range and motor will last longer. and slit have good hole shot. prob pick up some speed to