Solas Prop

[tompass]

Ran a new Solas Titan 15X19 SS 3 blade prop on Honda 225 and Key West 23 WA. Hit 5600 rpm's @46mph. Would like to swap prop to Solas Titan 15 1/4X17. Do you think that will get me closer to 6000 rpm's. How will this affect fuel economy?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Solas Prop

Hi tompass, welcome to iboats!!<br /><br />That'll put you pretty well smack bang on 6000.<br /><br />Theoretically, you will not push the motor as hard because you will get better hole shot & throttle response etc - so you should save some fuel. But if you WOT constantly, you will use more fuel.<br /><br />What is the max RPM's for a 225 honda?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

That large diameter prop is made for high engine mounting heigth..To get the most out of it, you need to raise the engine, get the prop up through the surface and gain some efficiency.<br />If your engine is mounted directly to the transom, you need to raise it 1 hole at a time and test...you should see 75-125RPM gain per hole up. That much diameter is costing you in RPM if the engine is too low.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

WOT is 6000rpms on Honda 225 but rev limiter does not kick in until about 6200. The engine is mounted 2nd hole from the top putting the plate about 1" above bottom of the hull. I just recently lowered it from 3rd hole but was running an aluminum Solas 14.8X19 at the time. Would loose the prop continuously and could not trim out anywhere near neutral trim. Had to run a couple of needle widths below neutral trim and will still loose prop in turns or rough water. With the 15X10 SS prop, I was able to trim a little above neutral to get the 5500-5600 WOT.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

That "may" indicate you need a bit higher quality prop.....<br />It may have a very heavy nose (Bow), and you may need a prop with some serious cup.<br />Normally we Raise the engine when going from alum to SS.<br />This may sound harsh, but disregard the trim gauge....we don't know where the sender is set.<br />Run the boat at max trim that it will allow, mark that on the gauge with a piece of tape, load the boat/lift the boat, and see how the AV plate is in relation to bottom of boat...see if it's truely negative.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

Sounds like good advice. There were some tests done by turbo prop in 2003 with Key West 23 and Honda 225. They recommended 2nd hole so that is why I lowered from 3rd to 2nd hole from top. There are times, particularly in the inlet, that water is a little rough and I want to insure that I do not loose the prop. This boat is more stern heavy than anything. The engine is 600 pounds and there is the 140 gallons of fuel so more stern lift than bow lift may be preferable. I do know that with the SS prop, I was able to trim out the engine quite a bit with engine at 2nd hole as opposed to aluminum prop and engine at 3rd hole. I may have to consider going back to 3rd hole but will have to evaluate. Never going to be perfect balance of drag/loosing the prop. If I can hit about 6000 rmp and about 45 mph with decent hole shot, I will likely be a happy guy.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

the second hole may be better for a 14-1/4" diameter prop, but not a 15"+.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

Doulbe post......this is only my second post so I must be an idiot....

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

So you are indicating with larger diameter prop, the engine can be higher? Was not the case with aluminum prop for sure but SS may indeed have different performance characteristics. What is the worst cast scenario if I leave the engine at 2nd hole with 15.25X17 SS prop. Trade off between a little extra drag but definite edge holding prop in rough water and turns? Would you then agree that if I can turn 6000 rpm at 2nd hole with around 45mph, it would be acceptable? Of course this remains to be seen because I have not yet tested the new set up.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

To predict the result would be foolish on my part...each engine/boat/prop reacts different.<br />Larger diameter is usually better with higher mounting heigths due to more blade being "IN" the water as well.<br />Aluminum is much less aggresive and has less holding ability at higher demensions, so yes, the CORRECT SS prop will be much more efficient, BUT, it takes a bit of testing to find the prop that puts you at the top of the RPM range with the most speed.<br />The most important of the 2 is RPM being at the top of the range...the speed is only a result of how efficient the prop "is" at that RPM.<br />In rough water and tight turns, a trade-off must be made and trim must be lower to bite better in those conditions. The fastest set-up will blow-out in "slight" turns and rough water.<br />When I cruise at mid-range, I can expect ventilation in turns every time, but that's not a concern at cruise. At WOT, I never turn tight enough to make it vent so it's not an issue.<br />If you run the 17, expect slower speeds (Likely) even though the RPM may come up.<br />The testing with the Turbo was more than likely a 14-1/4" prop to be set up in the second hole..If the test would have been done with a Turbo Lightning, they could not have run the engine high enough without a jackplate.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

walleyehed.<br />I really appreciate sharing of your knowledge and experience regarding my quest for the right prop. My primary concern with this 23 WA is not top speed. Whether I can do 47 mph or 44 mph makes little difference to me because there are only a few places and times that I would run WOT. Mid range cruising with good handling characteristics and good fuel economy is what I am looking for. I think I will also do better with a 17 when trolling as it should run a few more rpms at slower speed. That was indeed a 14 1/4 turbo used in that test. I have to tell you that when I was doing 46 mph with that last ss prop, the boat was beginning to feel a bit unstable and I was not real comfortable. I also should add that I have a "sunbrella" hard top on the boat which will tend to slow it down a bit and may take a little more rpm to push boat. Unfortunately, I am up in NJ and will not have opportunity to test new prop until late December. The worst that can happen going to 17 pitch is that it will allow engine to run up to recommended WOT.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

Yea, I agree...nothing wrong with a gain to 6000RPM.<br />I want to thank you for the compliment of "sharing my knowledge" with you, and I want you to know that 90% of the reason I've learned what I have is because of Dhadley...His instruction and help in test procedures has put me in the position I am in...the other 10% is going out and running as many props as I can get my hands on, and doing whatever it takes to find the last ounce a particular prop has to give.<br />Experiment and record your data...that's how it really works..<br />I hope Dhadley is with us for many, many years on this forum.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

Amen to that!

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

tompass...had another thought..<br />I've been testing some of the new props from Solas, and the Lexor may just be the perfect ss prop for a CC, off-shore boat..<br />It has very good holding power with the Large blade area, and it's alloy is 24-10 insted of 15-5. the 24-10 has alot more resistance to corrosion, and the material is a bit softer.<br />Maybe take a look into a 17 in the Lexor..the numbers it's shown for me are almost identicle to the Mirage Plus.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

Hmm I never looked at the Lexor. I think the prop shop in Little River ordered and installed the Titan 17 but I am not happy with it, I will take a look at the Lexor. Going to check it out now on line. Thanks.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

tompass, the Lexor 17P is available right here at Iboats..P/N 1571-155-17. This is the P/N for the Honda 225.<br />It will be in the prop finder soon, if it's not already, so if you order from Iboats, just call and use the P/N I listed.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

I have been checking it out. I need to get back to SC to run the boat with the Titan. I am waiting for local shop to change my control cables to TFXtreme before I run down there. We shall see what we shall see.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

PS<br />Can dealers purchase props on this site? I told the prop shop when I had the Solas 19 wheel put on that it was about $200 on this site and they said they could not purchase it from their supplier at that price. I had to go with their contact and paid $288. This is one of the problems of having a boat in SC and primary residence in NJ.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Solas Prop

I'm sure a dealer can purchase here too, but I'd bet the cost will be the same as it would cost you or I to buy here. The Lexor is priced at 299.00 but I think this is for a limited introductory period.

 

[tompass]

Re: Solas Prop

That is a great price. I will pass this info on to him. If I were closer to the boat, I would have just ordered it and put it on myself. He was fabricating a top for me at the time and it was just easier to have him put prop on so now I am stuck so to speak. I will order lexor when I am in SC if this prop does not work out. Thanks fo the info.