Stainless Prop

[hunter111]

Could someone please inform me of the advantage of a stainless prop. Will you get out of the hole faster/will you gain speed? Comparing props pitched the same.

Thanks

 

[tommays]

Re: Stainless Prop

A LOT of factors if you go through a LOT of sand they hold up well IF you hit rocks then Alu can be the better pick



And the BEST Alu porp is going to blow away a bad SS prop and that is the big problem as it takes a lot of trial and error.


In the end The best porp should be SS but for me the Alu performs fine because as and I/O user i cannot adjust the x dem to use a lot of the tech in the SS props



Tommays

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Stainless Prop

Maybe -- and -- Maybe! Prop design is a complex combination of factors with pitch and material being just two of them. So one cannot positively say you will get out of the hole quicker or gain speed by switching to a stainless prop. Quite the opposite might happen. Since aluminum props flex more than stainless, it could lose a little pitch during initial hole shot. Less pitch = better hole shot. Stainless on the other hand is more efficient so it would generally have the upper hand on the top end. Aluminum is likely to break if you hit something. Stainless may take the abuse but there is the arguement that instead of breaking, you experience lower unit damage. Neither always happens -- its merely two different viewpoints. All of this aside, you need to optimize your existing setup before swapping props. Since we have no idea what boat or engine we are talking about we can only talk in generalities. Because a prop is stainless does not automatically make it a great prop. Some aluminum props can perform as well or better than some stainless. Some props perform better on certain boats than others. There is no such thing as "this prop is always best". Let us know what boat/motor you have, what your wide open throttle rpm is with an average load and perhaps we can get a tad more performance. Just so you know, you won't make a hot rod out of a family cruiser by adding a stainless prop.

 

[hunter111]

Re: Stainless Prop

Buying new boat Larson 180 sport with a 4.3 Merc I/O. In essence their might be no need to go to a stainless prop. Family boat, used for all functions, tubing water skiing, wake boarding, fishing.....I am definitely green behind the ears when it comes to boat set-up. I have had a boat for the last 15 years (Maxxum with 90 Merc), changed prop once to increase hole shot and that's about it.

If the investment in a stainless prop makes sense, I would do it from the get go.

Thanks Again

 

[Bondo]

Re: Stainless Prop

Ayuh,.....

That little boat ought to do Just Fine with that set up,.....
Stick with the Aluminum for a season or so,+ Then decide whether the SSteel is what you need.......

The aftermarket aluminum props are out there with Many different blade configurations,......
A Cheaper way to Play with props,+ Possibly learn something along the way.....