Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

[ilovemyfourwinns]

So I have a FourWinns H203 and am using an aluminum 3 blade michigan prop. However, one of my buddies from Northern California just found this composite prop made by piranha i think. He said it worked amazing for him. does anyone have any experience with the piranha or experience or have heard stories. the more i hear about it then the more likely i will be to switch.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I've seen the piranha on the shelf and it looks very interesting, but I'm not going to switch till my current prop dies.

Art

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I'm not sold on the pirahna idea. They cost more than an aluminum prop. $23 each for new blades if you damage one. Aluminum prop repair is $40 around here, so it seems like the pirahna is going to be more expensive in pretty much every way.

 

[QC]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Stainless hands down. I'm going to move this to the prop section.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I'm with QC... Stainless every time. I did a back-to back test with my last boat and at any given speed at anything over 3000 rpm we got around 5% better fuel consumption using a 13.5 x 14 SS over an aluminium 13.5 x 15. Having said that I haven't tried the Pirahna so if you get one a performance report would be good.

TII

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Throughout the 1970's, I had an inboard outboard 19' boat, and I would invariably crunch an aluminum propeller every year. We're in a very deep rock bottom lake.

When I got a new inboard outboard in 1980, I switched over to a stainless prop. Throughout these years, I have never had to repair or replace the stainless--due to its general hardness.

Stainless props are very much worth the money--and will return the investment many times over.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I prefer the aluminum if you have an accident with rocks. Stainless is so durable your lower gears will be shredded when you hit. With aluminum, the blades break. $100 prop vs $1500 drive service.

If you are in deep water not prone to rocks, logs, etc, stainless is better.

I also noticed from experiance that exact match props in aluminum & stainless, the stainless produces less harmonics & is generally smoother at WOT due to less blade flex.

 

[ilovemyfourwinns]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Well, I just did some research on the Piranha Propellers to just see if what they are cracked up to be, because after your posts i am not to sure anymore. The only thing is my buddy swears by them. I am fairly new to the boating industry and I just got out every once in a while with the family. So i am no expert by any means, but the Piranha props look easy to repair and when i talk to my friend he said that you get the same prop and pitch every time whereas when he got alum fixed a few times it wasnt quite the same. With that said, I am going to get the Piranhas and test them out this weekend and i will report back what i found. Wish me luck!

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

After reading the posts here again I figured I add to it again To my mind the type of prop you use is based on the type of boating you do and where you boat at. To me there is nothing better than a stainless prop in deep water. They are strong and don't flex much at all. In shallow water, or shallow rocky water I'd rather have an aluminum prop. As stated above, it's better to waste a prop than waste a whole lower unit. Aluminum props do have allot more flex in them though and this can be an issue when pulling skiers and such, so when doing that I'd rather have a stainless prop, but ensure that I'm not in shallow water where I might hit bottom. I carry 2 props on my boat anyhow (always have a spare, safety first) one is stainless and one aluminum and I carry the tools to do a water change if needed. Where I to go into an area to go fishing that I knew was shallow I will put the aluminum prop on, otherwise I stick with the stainless one. The piranha seams to be an interesting idea and I like the way it gives you the ability to "tune" your prop pitch but it won't hold up any better to rocks than aluminum does and looking at it right now it is cost prohibitive. I see the piranha mostly for the water sports market as being able to tune will be a benefit to skiers, wakeboarders, etc... Really, your choice of prop should be based on the situation/application you are using your boat in. All have pros and cons so use the best prop for what your doing.

Art

 

[Mac525]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

love the piranha I have one my 75hp 18 foot fishing boat and I would put one on my 300hp inboard but they dont make one for the bravo 2 you get very little flex like stainless and the leg protection of aluminium plus no rubber hub to spin out and it wont carrode in salt water where can you go wrong ? try one you'll never go back

 

[haley]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I just bent an aluminum prop. Not sure if I am fixing or replacing (or both so I have a spare). A few thoughts:

Possible negative: After I hit something we sort of knew the prop was damaged but were able to get back to the ramp with no trouble. Not sure if a Piranha would allow that. From their video it looks like it shatters. You can replace it fairly easy but sometimes this might not be convenient (high seas, close shore, etc.)

Definite positive: I will be taking the boat to a semi-remote area for a week's vacation. If I had this prop damage up there it would have been game over unless I had a spare. With the Piranha I am thinking maybe purchase the 3 blade prop and 4 spare blades. Good insurance beyond the usual spare.

My boat is small (16' 60HP OB) and I am sorta big (220lbs). The idea of having the spare prop blades pitched differently is attractive for water skiing. They make it look like it is a 5 minute switch. Plus, having Son #1 do the switch is good practice so that we have more than one person on board that knows how to do this. Plus then the "spare" is really just another piece of well used equipment. Not something sitting waiting for misfortune.

jh

 

[ilovemyfourwinns]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

@oldjeep, the initial purchase of a piranha prop is about the same of a quality alum though, however, there are so many more perks that come along with the piranha i feel like. the blade replacements are relatively inexpensive 22.50 for the most expensive (i have done my hw on this prop manufacturer and the more i read and learn the more i am sold). The fact that your area only charges $40 is interesting, it is on average $80 here. When I have had my prop repaired before, it takes a minimum of a week to get it back, which is time I lose on the water. With my Piranha I can change a blade in under five minutes (they even have a youtube video ). There has been a time where my aluminum prop came back unbalanced which i wasnt happy about, needless to say i didnt go back to them. you dont have to worry about balance with Piranha, and I can change the blades out as many times as i want. The interesting thing that is we are at sea level and i do go to lake tahoe once a year or so which is about 5000ft. so i lose HP on my motor i can change the pitch to a lower pitch to help regain some of that power. I havent tried the piranha yet, but i will this weekend and i am really sold on the whole concept so far. especially for my application in a smaller shallow lake and when i go eastward to tahoe.

 

[haley]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Interesting point about cost you have there.

The damage on my aluminum propeller is only on one blade. So if it was a Piranha my fix-it costs would be cost of one blade. 5 minute fix. No out of tune prop. It sounds better and better.

As for lost boating time, I am thinking having a spare on hand - regardless of the material - is a good practice.

 

[fishinandbeer]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I have only owned two boats, one for 20 years and the other for 8 years. Both had stainless steel props. Only had to work on the lower unit once (seals). Have seen plenty of people have to replace the seals on boats with aluminum props due to them being knocked off balance. Being a bass fisherman my boat is constantly operated in shallow and stumpy water with no damge to the prop. My experaience is the fiberglass hull usually gets holes in it before the prop gets damaged. Only had to have a stainless prop repaired once, and that was because I nailed a rock. costs me $75 for a new skag and $125 for the prop to be repaired and rebalanced. So in my opion stainless is the best way to go, especially when you can nail five or six stumps with it getting to your fishing hole and get out and travel 60+ mph back to the weigh in without a problem.

 

[Mac525]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Have you ever tried a comp prop???

 

[ilovemyfourwinns]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

so i went out saturday with my new piranha hydrobites 14x20 blades and got on plane faster at lower rpms which i am absolutely thrilled about. i was able to hold plane longer and my top end when up a few mph. definitley satisfied with my Piranha Prop so far.

 

[Art Bernard]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Does the piranha change rpm any differantly than an alum or stainless prop?

Art

 

[NSD]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

I wanted a spare prop for my 2011 Evinrude ETEC 225 running on a 24 foot Pocket Cruiser here in the Med. At the time of install my engine was supplied with a BRP Viper S/S (14.375 x 19P) but I could only get 5,300rpm @ 39 knots so I wanted to find a prop that would raise my RPMs into the ideal WOT range.

I settled on the BRP Rebel 15.5 x 17P but whilst that was ordered and waiting to arrive (2-3 weeks!) I decided to take the plunge and try out a Composite prop that would ultimately serve as my spare prop. I read the info on Composite props and figured given their weight and versatility they would be a good option to carry as a spare (space saving and light) so I ordered their 3 blade hub and 15x17 and 15x19 blades. With the 17's I found I lost a lot of top end speed (down to 33 knots), but got crazy holeshot/acceleration, max RPM shot up to 5,950 trimmed out. In 5 mins I switched out to the 19P blades and got up to around 36.9 knots @ 5,750rpm. I still feel that 20 or 21P blades would work but Piranha don't appear to offer those in a 3 blade design.

My ETEC has the I-Command gauges so I was able to cross-reference my fuel flow and fuel economy between the blades. With the Viper 19 I was getting 0.5nm/litre, and with the Piranha 19 (0.6nm/litre). My boat has a dry weight of 3825lbs so it's not light and I was happy with the performance of the Composite Piranha 19P.

My Rebel 17 eventually arrived and with this S/S prop I get 5,450 (canopies removed!) trimmed out for a speed of 38.7 knots. Similar cruising economy to the Piranha 0.6nm/litre which I found interesting/disappointing in that I hoped the Rebel having a bigger diameter and being designed as a prop specifically for economy and mid-range cruise would perform better. I do occasionally see 0.7nm/litre but effectively my gauge just does a quick flick up to 0.7 and then settles at 0.6.....

I haven't tried an ALU prop nor do I intend to, but I would be interested to try the new hydrobites if they offer them in a 15x19 perhaps they will bite a tad more! I still haven't figured out why Piranha don't offer higher pitches in their 15 inch diameter 3 blade range, they seem to want people to switch to their 4 bladers but I am not willing to buy another hub and different blades at this stage.

Overall I am very happy with the performance and versatility of the Piranha given their price, and can certainly recommend them as a spare prop if you have S/S or even as a very good alternative to Alu.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Great information NSD and welcome to iboats. Where in the Med are you?

TII

 

[NSD]

Re: Prop blades: What do you prefer: Aluminum, Composite, Steel?

Hi TII,

I'm in Malta, tiny island south of Sicily. Great boating location as we have bluewater right up to the coast line and 30meter underwater visibility in nearly all areas.

Aside from paying around $7.63 for a gallon of unleaded it's a great place to have a boat!