Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

[T0PWATER]

Hi there,

Could someone help me out with some suggestions?

I just bought a 2000 Wellcraft 190 Fisherman center console with a '99 Johnson 150. I am looking to install a new prop and use the original as an onboard spare. The current prop has no visible markings so I cannot determine what pitch the boat currently has. Other than it's a small, black, 3-blade I really can't tell you more. The boat also had a ski pole installed when I bought it. So it may have been propped for pulling skiers.

I can also tell you that the GPS reads roughly 28 mph at 3800 rpm and about 42 mph at 5000 rpm. Strangely enough, it was able to rev to 6000 rpm while only running around 38 mph. I quickly reduced throttle to avoid any damage since I'm not really sure if it's supposed to rev that high. I really feel like it still had some throttle left to go as well. The test conditions were in smooth, protected, seas with two anglers, 15lbs of gear, and a full 50 gallon tank of fuel.

I would like to go with a prop that would plane in a reasonable amount of time, while keeping a high speed at cruising rpm. I generally will use the boat as transportation, for myself and maybe three other anglers, to the barrier islands to wade fish. I don't troll if that helps any. The roughest weather I "expect" to be in would be no more than 3ft chop. I also will be using it to cruise the bays here in the Biloxi area when it's too windy to head offshore.

My main "wants", if you will, are:

1. To get where I'm going while quickly while conserving as much fuel as possible. (Most speed at cruise)

2. Have good handling and an impressive top end speed.

3. A decent plaining time.

The guy at the local Wellcraft dealer suggested a Solas 14 1/4-x 19 s/s 3-blade prop, possibly and Saturn or Titan. I can't remember which.

I am unfamiliar with Solas. Are they a quality prop? Does anyone have any other suggestions, recommendations, or experience with this particular boat that they could share?

The Mercury Prop website suggested a few props including one I still have left over from my other boat, the Revolution 4 four blade with a pitch of 17. I had the same exact prop on my Honda BF200 a few years ago, it did a fantastic job. I don't know the diameter, but I would expect that the hub would have to be changed out.

The Rev. 4 is practically brand new and I was going to put it on EBay to pay for the new prop, but if it will work I could always use it as the replacement. Any thoughts there?

One last thing. The outboard has one of those hydrofoils on it. Do I really need this? While on plain, I have noticed the boat begins to porpoise badly when I begin trim the motor up at speed and I suspect the hydrofoil is the source of the problem.

Boat specs:

Wellcraft 190 Fisherman center console

19.33 feet long

88 inches wide

50 gallon fuel tank

Approximately 2350 pounds with an empty fuel tank. (Not sure if that includes the weight of a stock 115)

Johnson 150 V6 2-stroke 370 lbs. (51 lbs heavier than the 115)

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Brent

 

[T0PWATER]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Turns out the prop that is currently on the boat is a 15x17.

 

[T0PWATER]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

I installed a 19 pitch Viper prop this weekend. Overall performance improved greatly! The boat planed out quickly, consumed much less fuel, and was much faster. In the interest of safety I didn't throttle more than 5,000 RPM as I was already doing 46MPH. Going that fast in a boat like that feels pretty wicked, like floating on air.

Anyway, I hope someone else will find this info helpful in the future.

Tight lines,
Brent

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

How did the porpoising go with the new prop?​

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

6000 rpm is nothing for that motor. The rev limiter is at either 6200 or 6700, depending on which ignition components you have.

 

[T0PWATER]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Studlymandingo,

The porpoising has mellowed some but is still there at moderate speed, say around 30mph or so. I think I am going to remove the "Whaletail" this weekend and see how it does without it. My engine trim gauge is not functioning, so until I fix it, it's kind of hard to get a consistent test.


Dhadley,

Thanks for the info on the rev limiter. Would you know where in the serial or model numbers I can help determine which ignition I have?

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Topwater,
Sorry to change the subject for a moment and I know this isn't the right forum but I have the exact same boat. My fishfinder transducer is mounted on the transom and has never worked right. I just bought a new fishfinder and plan on mounting a shoot through the hull transducer. I can't find a spot where I have good access to a flat area of the hull, I was wondering if you have one mounted and where it is mounted? Once again I'm not trying to steal your thread just happend to find another owner of a 2000 Wellcraft 190 who is currently posting....What are the odds of that?

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

The numbers concerning the limiter will be on the pack. The model or serial number won't tell.

 

[T0PWATER]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Hey GatorMike, no problem.

I do have a shoot-thru transducer. It was already mounted when I bought the the boat, so I'm not sure what they had to do to mount it. I think it's mounted right next bilge pump. I'll have to take a closer look for you.

What engine and prop are you running?

 

[T0PWATER]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Oh, and Dhadley. Thanks again for the info. I'll look into it and let you know.

 

[GatorMike]

Re: Prop Suggestions for a Wellcraft 190 Fisherman

Nevermind I contacted Wellcraft and they told me where to locate it, problem is I don't think they put much thought into their answer there is about a foot of foam sandwiched between 2 layers of hull at the spot they suggested. The only place I could see that would work on that hull without some modification is as you said next to the bilge pump and I don't have any room there so I went ahead and did a transom mount. Thanks anyway tho.

If you have any questions about your boat feel free to ask. I have had mine for several years. There is one problem I have had with that hull you might want to look into if you seem to take on a little water during a days fishing. I was having to turn on the bilge pump a couple of times to drain my bilge every trip out. I couldn't figure out where the hull was leaking from. It was driving me crazy. Then one day I pulled the plastic rod storage boxes out of the sides of the boat because I had to remove them to tighten a couple of lose nuts on my bowrail. I noticed the starboard cockpit scupper at the rear of the boat was broken in pieces. Water would pour into my bilge everytime the drain hole went under water. Just enough water was getting in to cause me to have to turn on the bilge pump every couple of hours of fishing. I replaced the scupper.

I thought this would solve the problem until next time out I still had a little water getting into the bilge. When I got home I checked the scupper drain on the other side and it too was broken. I honestly think there is a minor engineering design flaw there, The pipe/hose that connects the scupper in the floor to the drain hole on the outside of the hull is pretty rigid I think over time in rough water it breaks those scupper drains. Then again 2 years ago I took my boat across the Gulfstream from Bimini with Hurricane Opheillia on my tail I doubt they designed that boat for that kind of a beating.

Anyway if you should notice your boat taking on a little bit of water check those scupper drains, you have to check them from underneath because from the top a broken one looks the same as a good one.