SS Prop

[Glenmac]

I am getting ready to buy a SS prop for my Yamaha 115, 4stroke in a 17-19 pitch, prob 13 1/4 or 13 1/2. I have an aluminum 17p now and I guess I will have to play to make sure my rpms are right at WOT and am interested in more top end. My hole shot is pretty good. My question is: is there a recommendation as far as brands to buy or to stay away from in your opinions and experience.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Glen

 

[Dhadley]

Re: SS Prop

Props are one area that you definately get what you pay for. There are some really cheap ss props out there and thats exactly what you get -- a cheap ss prop. Not much technology or life in them. <br /><br />If youre looking for a real good ss replacement, I'd suggest a Stiletto. If youre looking for more performance than that I'd suggest a Turbo. <br /><br />If youre thinking about a good 4 blade, I would suggest we talk about your hull and present set up. generally speaking, if you dont have a jackplate, dont spend money on a prop with a lot of technology that you cant take advantage of.<br /><br />Tell us more about your rig and set up. And what youre looking for -- performance wise.<br /><br />We do a lot of testing and I have a lot of props. We may be able to get real close on a suggestion.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: SS Prop

What boat??? What is your RPM now with what prop???

 

[walleyehed]

Re: SS Prop

Sorry DH....we typed at the same time..

 

[Glenmac]

Re: SS Prop

Sorry...I have a 17 1/2 foot all welded Crestliner modified V bass/walleye boat. Have added a wedge on the transom to help with midrange porpoising which has helped and was told by my local dealer that when I add the SS prop I can raise my engine one more hole. (It is now on the 2nd hole from top and cavitation plate is even or maybe 1/2 in above the bottom of V.) No jack plate and run about 57-5800 rpms at WOT. Had a 19p (alum) that came with engine and was running about 53-5400 rpms at WOT.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: SS Prop

LOL!! Kenny, you mean I actually typed all that faster than your few words???<br /><br />I must be a better hunt-n-pecker than I thought!<br /><br />Too funny!

 

[walleyehed]

Re: SS Prop

I have to hunt harder... <br />I'll let you handle this one, DH.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: SS Prop

Hang in there Walleyehed...I'm sure the more opinions he gets the better. <br /><br />Glenmac -- for more top end you want to run as much pitch as you can and still get in the upper end of the rpm band of your motor. When we test we find the largest pitch that gets us close and then we work with set up to gain the last few rpm's. IE -- if we're looking for 6000 and we can get 5700 with a 19 then we try to get the last 300 with set up. <br /><br />If we cant get that last 300 then we go back to a 17 and add bite. Its always better to add bite (efficiency) rather than take it away from the 19.<br /><br />It all comes down to reducing slip %. No matter how you do it.

 

[Glenmac]

Re: SS Prop

Dhadley,<br />Thanks for the help. My engine range, according to the book, should be between 5000-6000rpm @ WOT (which seems to be a large range). Should I shoot for the upper range with a lower pitch, or would you go for the top end using a higher pitch but allowing a decrease of RPMs to the 5300-5400 range. How does one experiment without having to buy a bunch of props? My dealer has a few SS props I think, but he says some of them are the Mercury blades which will fit my Yamaha (according to him). Is that a good prop? If I were to buy online, I guess I get a one time shot, from what I have been told.<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Glen

 

[walleyehed]

Re: SS Prop

well, If we follow Dhadley's recommendations, the question has already been answered...<br />I assume the 57-5800 is with a 17..???<br />That's a good number to start with. A stainless may pull a solid 5700 in a 17, so lets raise the engine 1 hole and test again with the prop you have now that got you to 57-5800, and see what it does mounted a bit higher.<br /><br />p.s. What Merc props are you looking at, model-wise, not size.

 

[Glenmac]

Re: SS Prop

Walleyehed,<br /><br />Sorry for the delay. Yes the 57-5800 is with an alum 17p. Thanks I will give it a go.<br /><br />I am not sure what Merc props. He just said that he had some SS Merc props in stock that would work on my Yamaha but that is all the details that he gave me other that saying that they are good props.<br />Glen