Recommend a good spare prop, please?

[stevens]

Hi guys,

summer is here and boating is a lot of fun, except I don't like to go around without a spare prop on board.

The boat in question is an Uttern D66 made by Swedish Brunswick-owned Uttern Boats. It's a 22 foot daycruiser with a dry weight of 2900 lbs and a deadrise of 20 degrees, equipped with a Gen 1 200HP Verado. A picture at this link: http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg98/cicignon/batlivd66-6.jpg or on page 6 of this brochure: http://extremepro.ru/kater/uttern2006.pdf

Currently equipped with an Enertia 17P, I probably get the optimal performance as it is: 6000 RPM, 49.5 MPH, 5% slip, 3.6 MPG at 30 MPH cruise speed.

What would you recommend as a good second prop? Am seeking good allround performance, perhaps slightly higher RPMs, maybe a lower planing treshold and better MPG at cruise, without sacrificing too much of the top-end speed.

Any suggestions, please? Thanks.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Recommend a good spare prop, please?

Higher revs and better MPG are mutually exclusive. Ain't going to happen so what characteristic are you willing to give up? Your choices are 1) Performance, 2) Cruiseability, and 3) Economy. Compromise means you go for performance and accept the resulting economy, or you go for cruisability and MPG and give up performance. Since its a spare prop you are after it really doesn't matter what you buy if it will be used primarily to get you back to the dock.

 

[stevens]

Re: Recommend a good spare prop, please?

Silvertip - I guess you're right in that I can't have it both ways (higher revs and better fuel economy).

Let me rephrase the question then. Knowing that the 17P Enertia will be hard to beat when it comes to top speed and accelleration; what would be a good complementary prop for mid-range cruising, handling around the dock, and mid-range fuel economy?

And, yes, it will primarily be a spare. But, once on it is likely to stay on for a while, so I don't want to waste money on something just adequate for limping home.

I've considered a same pitch Mirage Plus, a 16P Rev4, some Stiletto version, or even a 19P Solas Rubex alu prop.

Walleyehed - any thoughts of how the 19P Solas Rubex alu. would compare to the 17P Enertia, and on which Stiletto version/pitch would be a good fit?

Thanks.