need prop help

Powerstrokinc

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
39
took the boat out for it maiden voyage and at full throttle i was at 4k rpm and 150* temp gauge. that was after she was warmed up and been cruising for 30 mins. is that too cold? water was 46*. also what prop should i go to i have a 17 on there now. its a merrcruiser 5.7

thanks all
 

hwsiii

Commander
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
2,639
Re: need prop help

Power, welcome to Iboats prop forum and I will try to help you as much as I can but without more information no one can help you, and I will tell you I need more information than anyone else. But if you would like my help fill this form out and I will help you as much as I can.

, You might try reading this for a better understanding of motor height, changing props for better performance, and for the major differences between aluminum props and stainless steel.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=369057


If you would prefer to not go to this much trouble there are many other people who will come along and gladly help you.

1. Year, make and model of boat
2. Length, width and base weight of boat, look for boat decal on back of boat
2a.What is the maximum recommended HP for your boat
3. Number of people and gallons of gas normally on boat and what do you use the boat for
4. Year, make. manufacturer and model of motor and recommended Wide Open Throttle (WOT) range
5. HP and gear ratio of motor IMPORTANT
If you don?t know the ratio, you need to pull the plugs out and put a piece of tape across the prop and the lower unit and then cut it between the prop and the housing then do the same thing on the flywheel and turn the motor until the tape lines up with each other on the prop, it is easier if two people do this, so one can watch the prop while the other counts the revolutions of the motor
6. Anti-ventilation Plate height above keel of boat if it is an outboard in inches, use a straight edge under the keel and sticking out to the anti ventilation plate for a reference
Motor Transom Height
AntiventilationPlateStraightEdge-2.jpg


When the boat is running in the top 20% of your speed you should be able to see the anti ventilation plate very clearly at the top of the water and have water just splashing over the top of it.

Correct Anti Ventilation Height

correctheight.jpg

7. WOT RPM and speed from your current prop and how much gas and how many people were in the boat for the test data and is the speed by GPS. Make sure you trim the prop up until it starts ventilating and then just trim in until it quits ventilating.
RPM _________ Speed ______ GPS ______ No. of people ______ Gal. Gas ________
8. Make, model, diameter, pitch, number of blades and whether SS or aluminum prop and does it have a hydrafoil, dolefin or trim tabs
9. Has your motor been tuned up lately and have you checked that the carburetor butterfly is opening all the way by just pushing the throttle at the helm and not at the carburetor, checked compression, and looked at the plugs and checked spark as well as timing and advance, all of the foregoing could be the reason your prop is not attaining full RPM
10. What problems are you trying to cure or what are you looking for the boat to do that it is not doing the way you think it should or to your expectations and does the prop show any damage that you can see

REMEMBER, The numbers I give you will be NO better than the information you give me. I use a computer program I designed to find the correct pitch and then knowledge to pick a Better prop design for your boat.

The only thing I ask of you is to come back and give me a report of WOT RPM and speed for my database.



H
 

Powerstrokinc

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
39
Re: need prop help

1984 celebrity 225vcc 23 ft
5000 lbs in the water
260 hp
1990 5.7 mercruiser
17*x14 aluminum prop

i m running 4000 wide open now, forgot my gps today just wanted to find out if she floated and if she ran good. Thinking i need a 19* what you guys think?


1. Year, make and model of boat
2. Length, width and base weight of boat, look for boat decal on back of boat
2a.What is the maximum recommended HP for your boat
3. Number of people and gallons of gas normally on boat and what do you use the boat for
4. Year, make. manufacturer and model of motor and recommended Wide Open Throttle (WOT) range
5. HP and gear ratio of motor IMPORTANT
If you don?t know the ratio, you need to pull the plugs out and put a piece of tape across the prop and the lower unit and then cut it between the prop and the housing then do the same thing on the flywheel and turn the motor until the tape lines up with each other on the prop, it is easier if two people do this, so one can watch the prop while the other counts the revolutions of the motor
6. Anti-ventilation Plate height above keel of boat if it is an outboard in inches, use a straight edge under the keel and sticking out to the anti ventilation plate for a reference
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: need prop help

Rpm without speed really doesn't help much.
Prop numbers are stated 14(diameter) X 17(pitch) you definately shouldn't go for a 19.It will lower your rpm and its too low now.You'll need to check this but I think you should be around 4,800.Before doing any prop change be sure the motor is healthy,well tuned and the throttle opens all the way. Bottom is clean and not distorted.If motor and boat are right a reduction in prop pitch(same brand same model) will net about 200 rpm per inch get you to about 4,400.To me anything less then 15 seems to be extreme.
 

Powerstrokinc

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
39
Re: need prop help

4800 rpm full throttle in the water? How long can i keep it at 4200? It was rebuilt in 2008 and its only put 30 hours on the motor since then. I am used to outboards and diesels so forgive me!
 

hwsiii

Commander
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
2,639
Re: need prop help

Power, this is Spikes statement, and I agree with him 100%, the only thing is I am not sure if your max RPM should be 4,600 or 4,800 RPM.

Spike
Rpm without speed really doesn't help much.
Prop numbers are stated 14(diameter) X 17(pitch) you definately shouldn't go for a 19.It will lower your rpm and its too low now.You'll need to check this but I think you should be around 4,800.Before doing any prop change be sure the motor is healthy,well tuned and the throttle opens all the way. Bottom is clean and not distorted.If motor and boat are right a reduction in prop pitch(same brand same model) will net about 200 rpm per inch get you to about 4,400.To me anything less then 15 seems to be extreme.

Power
4800 rpm full throttle in the water? How long can i keep it at 4200? It was rebuilt in 2008 and its only put 30 hours on the motor since then. I am used to outboards and diesels so forgive me!

You need to call mercruiser and find out the maximum recommended RPM range for the 1990 motor and ask them what the gear ratio is for the 1984 outdrive as well, but you will need some numbers from the outdrive for them to give you that information.

All we need is the maximum RPM and GPS speed from your boat, you only need about two minutes to open it up and then trim it for maximum speed.



H
 

rjs68chevy

Recruit
Joined
May 9, 2010
Messages
5
Re: need prop help

my boats have all ran about 120-130 so no thats not too cold,if anything a little warm. at idle its higher 180-190.
 

Powerstrokinc

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
39
Re: need prop help

4200 is max for that motor. So what if i want max around 3500 and stick bigger pitched prop on there just so it wont redline anymore. I understand engines and have been building and tearing them apart for years now but you dont drive down the highway at 4000 rpm so why would you on the lake? the power band is from 3200-3800 anyways. I have the dyno papers they tested the motor with before he stuck it in the boat in 08
 

hwsiii

Commander
Joined
Jan 25, 2009
Messages
2,639
Re: need prop help

If you will post the dyno sheet for this motor then I can answer every question you have.

But I will ask you this question in the meantime. What if you took a high speed diesel that normally runs at 3,200 RPM and and propped it such that it could only turn 2,400 RPM at WOT, would the commensurate load on the engine be bad for it in the long run. It is no difference with the gas engine.



H
 

Powerstrokinc

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 18, 2010
Messages
39
Re: need prop help

it would be bad thats correct, but i dont know any diesels that run above 2800 rpm unless they want a rod or a head gasket issue. According to the dyno sheet they power band is right around 3900-4300 rpm. I just thought if i could runt it at full throttle around 3900-4200 that would be better than 4200-4600 wot. i understand now these motors are designed to run at high rpm indefinitely. I just reving that high would cause issues in the long run. But i hear thats not the case?!
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: need prop help

A boat motor is working like its going up hill all the time.When you over prop its like putting a car in overdrive hooking up a trailer and going up hill. You want to prop it so it runs at its max rated rpm at wot(wide opren throttle).I my opinion you do need to run at reduced rpm to help the motor live longer;but the way to do it is to throttle back and cruise.Trim tabs and/or a 4 blade prop will help you stay on plane at reduced power. At wot your motor will use about 26 gph(gallons per hour)
whether able to run at a max rpm of 3,200 or 4,200.Running over propped will
create permature repair problems.
 
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