Replacing propeller on 3.0 lx alpha drive

[REDWOOD22]

I bought my first boat 3 weeks ago & my wife & I are trying to learn the ropes. I bought a 1995 VIP Vision 1760 with 3.0 LX engine with lh engine rotation. We trashed a propeller loading the boat and I need to replace it. The propeller on it was a Solas 14.5 x 19. I want to replace it with a reasonably priced but decent propeller since we may trash another before we get this thing figured out. We primarily will be using the boat to pull some of our 6 kids on tubes & skis. Should I replace it with the Solas again? Will I need more to replace it than comes in the box. A local marine dealer had a 14.5 x 18 prop for $160 but said I will need another $40 box of stuff to put it on. I went home to check the engine & found the LH rotation so what he has in stock will not work anyway. any info, tips & site would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Replacing propeller on 3.0 lx alpha drive

Welcome aboard Iboats Redwood. Ask one of the mods to move your threads to the prop forum, you'll get better answers there.

I would double and triple check if you need a LH prop, I find that kind of odd for a single engine boat, especially a 3.0. If the 14.5x19 prop ran well, I would replace it with the same. Solas is a good brand and I'd go back with it, they are available here in the Iboats store for about $100. To find the best prop for your boat you will need to know the WOT RPM for the engine with the boat loaded normally, it should be 4400-4800RPM for the 3.0 engine. Though, the 14.5x19 prop seems appropriate. You might not need the extra $40 of stuff, I'm guessing it was a hub kit for the prop they had. Some props need a hub kit, some have the hub permanently installed in the prop.

If you do indeed need a LH prop, I would go shopping on Ebay as the LH props there are pretty darn cheap there. Not many boats use LH props, so a lot of businesses are trying to dump them. I see smoking deals on props all the time on Ebay, turns out they are LH props....

 

[REDWOOD22]

Re: Replacing propeller on 3.0 lx alpha drive

THANKS FOR THE HELP. THE "LH" WAS WRIITEN ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE PROPELLER & IT TURNS CLOCKWISE SO I"M GLAD I POSTED. I'LL CHECK TO SEE IF i CAN FIND ANOTHER SOLAS PROP TO REPLACE THE ONE i HAVE AS IT SEEMED TO WORK WELL FOR ME.