"New" boat needs a new prop...

[freak007]

Last weekend I purchased a 1987 Rinker V190. It is a 19 foot bow rider with a 4.3L 2bbl (185hp) Mercruiser. Rated RPM is 4400 to 4800. It has the "optional" 1.62 ratio Alpha One outdrive. According to NADA the boat weighs around 2500 pounds. Rinker says 2700 pounds... I assume this is with the 40 gallon fuel tank full... I believe the hull is considered a deep V. It was equipped with a 21p Black Max. During the water test with a 1/4 tank and 3 adults we were only able to reach 3900 rpms with a top speed in the upper 30s (light chop).

I was looking at the owners manual, and the chart suggests a 21p prop with the 1.84 ratio, and a 17p for the 1.62 ratio. When I bought the boat I also got an unknown 19p prop that the PO said he used for skiing, and a new Solas 19p. I installed the Solas as soon as I got it home (had to lightly file the trim anode to get the prop to clear). But I did not get the boat out the next day like I wanted to because the weather did not cooperate

I usually start the day with a full tank and have 4 adults and 3 small children (under 50 lbs each) when I go out. We enjoy cruising as well as tubing and skiing. I suspect the 19p Solas will be fine (but less than ideal) for cruising, but will not work so well for tubing or skiing.

I am ready to order a new prop, as well as the "high performance" trim anode (for prop clearance). I want to stay with aluminum and do not want to spend a small fortune. In the past I have had good luck with Turning Point Hustler props and I am thinking about ordering a 17p Hustler, but I am not sure if I might be better off with the 15p, or possibly a different style...


Suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[steelespike]

Re: "New" boat needs a new prop...

I think I would run it with the Solas 19.test your usual activities.And work from those numbers.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: "New" boat needs a new prop...

I would run it the way it's going to be ran.. Fill her with fuel and the amount of folks you would carry on a normal day..
I think you are going to need to get a 17p to be in the right RPM range.. Also your tach could be off some.. Check to be sure you are getting WOT..
If you have a prop shop near by they sometimes will let you try different pitch props...
I run the same gear ratio as you.. A 19p puts me at about 5200 and a 21p puts me in perfect range.. You are 2 foot longer and a bit more heavy...
Also is that GPS speed? My wishometer says 30ish when in fact the boat is doing 47 GPS..

 

[freak007]

Re: "New" boat needs a new prop...

Speed was gps, I don't remember exact speed, but it was over 35 and under 40. I was not able to trim it all the way up due to the chop.

Tach seems accurate, but I will verify it against my Snap On digital next outing...

Throttle is opening all the way.

Is the Hustler a decent economy prop still, or should I be considering another prop?

 

[freak007]

Re: "New" boat needs a new prop...

Updated info -

Boat has had all the fuel filters replaced, as well as new plugs, wires, cap, rotor, thermostat and a 17P solas amita prop...

Boat is running well, I have had it to 37mph (gps) at 4200 to 4400 rpm... it had more in it, but the lake was too choppy for those kinds of speeds... This was with 4 adults and 3 kids as well as the cooler, full fuel tank etc...

Today I tried the 17p for tubing and found the pulling power decent, but the minimum planing speed was 23mph, which is too high for some tubers...

I had a 15p Hustler left from my previous boat, so I threw it on there... I saw no improvement over the 17p Solas... planing speed was still 20mph, pull out of the hole was no better, top speed was lower (no official number), and max rpm was 4600-4800... All in all, I was not impressed with it...

I will be keeping the 17p for cruising, but I am looking for a better prop for tubing/skiing... looking especially for a lower planing speed, and better pull out of the hole.

Prefer aluminum...

 

[craze1cars]

Re: "New" boat needs a new prop...

If you're only worried about lower planing speed and everything else is OK....

Install Smart Tabs. Similar price and FAR more effective for lowering planing speed than any prop will ever be...especially with the kind of load you're talking about carrying. Heavy load = higher planing speed. But you should be able to plane at about 15 mph with the correctly sized tabs installed.

I have no idea if you have 4 blade or 3 blade props now. And overall it sounds as though you are overpropped with that 17P, and based on your Hustler test it needs the 15. A 4 blade prop alone that advertises "stern lift" MIGHT cut 1 or 2 mph off your planing speed, assuming you currently have 3 blade. It will also probably cut 1 to 2 MPH off your top speed. Holeshot should improve.

Sounds as though a bolt-on tune-up has been completed, which is good....but when is the last time your ignition timing and compression was checked?