stainless prop recommendations

[H20Hound]

Boat

23' walkaround cuddy 5000lbs loaded with 50 gal of fuel, 1 person gear.
Motor Merc 4.3l lx Gen+ Thunderbolt IV. Dealer says 180hp. All the research I can find says 205hp? I know I need a 17p to get what I want, the tough part is which prop. With offshore style boats should I stick with large ear design?

hacked aluminum (15x17p) I am right 4900 rpm WOT at 37 mph on glass
(good bow lift, holeshot, decent top end)

MW Apollo (14 1/8x 19p) 4700rpm WOT 41.5 mph on glass very little bow lift, bad holeshot, nice topend

3 blade

15x17p stainless
Turningpoint voyager $$$$$
Turningpoint express $$$
Solas Titan $$$
MW Avenger $$$
MW Rapure $$$

Or a 4 blade?

 

[matthewpa]

Re: stainless prop recommendations

You never told us what you are looking for as an end result? You also mentioned hacked up alum prop. If it is hacked up why? Are you hitting rocks, logs, etc.....? If this is the case, I would not go to stainless, you are then at much more risk of breaking more then a prop.
Obviously running at WOT all the time is a bad thing. I am not impressed with stainless steel as a whole. My alum 21p Black Max prop performed much better overall then my Vengeance SS 21p. I have since switched to a TurningPoint Legacy/Hustler Alum 19p. The mold is the same as a SS prop from them. The performance is night and day. I gained better holeshot, mid range and top end (turn 4700 rpm vs. 4400). And I did it for $108 shipped to my doorstep. You will not touch a SS prop for under $300.

 

[MikDee]

Re: stainless prop recommendations

If it's a 4bbl Carb 4.3 V6, then it's usually 205hp,,, 2bbl carb is usually 180hp.
Now, as for props, MW (Michigan Wheel) is not one of my favs, unless you need to move a heavy boat, but what are you looking to accomplish?

 

[H20Hound]

Re: prop recommendations

Re: prop recommendations

The prop was messed up when I bought the boat. One ear has a crack and the blades are banged up a bit. I made the crack worse the second time out. The lower unit was down on the ramp. I haven't made that mistake since.

I just want to replace what I have with something more efficient, if there is such a thing. I think any new prop my give me better performance. I just don't know what is optimal for my style of boat. I like stainless, but if it does not gain me much, then i'll stick with aluminum. A little more holeshot when I am loaded with 3 guys would be nice, if I can do it without sacrificing too much top end. She cruises well at 28-30 even with a slight chop.

Seems there are a lot of good things about the turning point hustler. It a hundred bucks each I can get a back up too.

Any more ideas?

 

[H20Hound]

Re: prop upgrade...

Re: prop upgrade...

forget stainless....

I just purchased and tested a new Legacy 14x17p from Turning Point. Smooth ride, great hole shot and slightly faster topend (1.5mph) although it was about a 18" chop with 20mph crosswind. Everything I wanted and only $110.00.This prop is the same as the Hustler, but has a standard XHS type hub system.

 

[MikDee]

Re: stainless prop recommendations

Well Good for you! I'm glad it worked out, I've heard good things about those Hustler props, and I think you get a better hole shot with aluminum.