Prop suggestions

[RZR2007]

I have an '84 johnson 90hp (tnt) with a 13 3/4x15 prop (motor is very sound) on a 17' fiberglass '84 Nordic Crestliner, at 5,000RPM (wot) it runs 40mph (gps). Gets on plane at 3,000. I am thinking of going to a stainless prop for a little better hole shot, but not affect the top end to much. I boat in the Gulf of Mexico and sudden little storms come up fast and it's nice to be able to get away from them when possible! Would you stay with the same pitch and diameter? Any recommendations on brands?
The RPM range on the motor is 4,500-5,500. One more question, if I stayed with aluminum, would this be an optimum prop for hole shot and top end? Thanks for any advise you may have!


RZR

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Prop suggestions

sounds like you have it about right..stay with the 15pitch. if you want more hole shot get some trim tabs. If you want to go faster get a 115.

 

[RZR2007]

Re: Prop suggestions

Thanks for the response Sparkieboat, I had heard that a stainless prop will be a bit better out of the hole without changing much on the top end, and being in salt all the time I think it would be the better choice. With as much time as I have put in the boat, no sence in skimping on the prop, just wanted to get some advice from those with more experiance than I have in this area! Any recommendations on a particular brand?
I don't think a 115 will make much difference on speed over the 90, unless it's the rate at which the fuel disappears from the tanks! I bought a 140 a few weeks ago from a guy who needed money pretty bad, and at $4 a gallon, the 90 suits my needs pretty good!!

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Prop suggestions

I have gotten good performance out of every SS prop I have ever used, there can be some slight differences that could be better for one particular boat over another, but that is for the preformance geeks that freak over 50 RPM and 1.23 MPH. I would get what ever prop is on sale at the time, they have good prices here at iboats. also make sure your motor is as high as you can get it on your transom with out it ventilating. most people have their motor in the top holes, and you can almost always go up a hole or 2, it can make a huge difference. most of my boats end up in the bottom holes, or even higher with a jack plate. The solas and michican wheel props are good. here is a link. http://boatpropellers.iboats.com/Jo...15.00&chart=18&engine_id=86&*******=035710355
The 140 would be a good bit heavier than the 115 which would weight the same as your 90. more HP does not always equal worse fuel mileage, although it certainly can. I have found that over powering a boat slightly then just running at 3/4 throttle and you will get about the same or possibly even better fuel mileage, with better hole shot and extra HP if you need it to out run a storm. If it was my boat I would bolt that 140 on it just to see how it does, so long as your transom is in good shape and can hold it fine. it may be that you will be better off with the 90, but it also might be that you like the 140 way better.