Re: Prop Pitch
Dump<br />Need more info to give you any help.<br />1: Has boat always been slow to plane or is this something New?<br />2: What is your WOT RPMs ?<br />3: To select a new prop must know what your have now? Pitch, Size, Blades, Style, Cupped.<br />4: Due you have a lot of water in the Bildge or have you add a lot of gear?<br /><br />In general if both engines are running good then must check the bottom for and make sure it is clean. Four blade props will usually give you a little better hole shot but you loose a little top end. Yes any prop change Will affect fuel mileage. <br /><br />For best hole shot you want your WOT RPMs to be near the top of your RPM range. This will mean faster starts, but you will burn more fuel and lower top speed.<br /><br />If your WOT RPMs are near the lower end of your rpm range, you will have slower hole shot and have a higher top speed and get better fuel mileage.<br /><br />Example: My WOT RPM range is 4200-4600. I have two statainless steel props. 21 Foot Runabout with 24 by 12 bennett trim tabs.<br />Prop 1 13 1/4 by 17 pitch by 3, WOT RPMs 4600, Quick to plane and top speed 35 MPH.<br />Prop 2 13 3/8 by 19 pitch by 3, WOT RPMS 4200, Slower to plane but top speed 38 mph.<br /><br />I use Prop 1 in lakes and rivers where do a lot of starting and stopping for other boats or marineas and fuel mileage does not matter that much as usually short runs.<br /><br />I use Prop 2 In the ocean and San Francisco Bay area where make much longer runs and fuel mileage is more important. In ocean rare that we run over 20 to 25 MPH.<br /><br />Going to my favorite fishing spot Cordel Banks 26 miles offshore I will travel about 70 miles in a day. This is from both trip log in GPS and trip log Fish finder with a speed sensor. Some of this mileage is while drifting While fishing and I can not tell you the actual distance under power. Been there a lot of times and always around 70 Miles. <br />When I refill the boat after this trip with the 19 pitch it takes about 15 gallons to refill so about 4.6 Miles per Gallon. With the 17 Pitch it takes about 18 gallons to refill or 3.8 Miles per gallon. <br /><br />I ask several factory rep about 4 blade props for my boat and each told me really designed for the bass boat market and did not recommend for my boat. Remember the guy selling the prop is worst person to ask.<br /><br />Hope this helps
