Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

[Jdeagro]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

MTfishguy;<br /><br />If you are a bit more specific about what you want to achieve we can give you more information. With a 40 HP motor at 6500 ft I would assume that your acceleration to plane is 6 to 7 seconds, and your top speed is about 32 to 35 MPH with two average people on board.<br /><br />My experiance with SS props is with much more HP so I can not comment. When props are put under heavy loads (aluminum especially) they will have a tendency to flatten out (reduce pitch)and this will inhibit performance. You may want to look at a new Turning Point aluminum prop as it will be fresh (stronger) and more agressive. Not to mention more affordable.<br /><br />The Best performance over all (low speed to WOT) will come from Trim Tabs / Smart Tabs. and although this may seem odd for your size boat and motor it is fact. especially at these elivations.

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Most of my boating is done at around 3200' elevation; I occasionally boat in the mountains at elevations around 6500'. At the lower elevation and with a load near the weight capacity of 600 lbs, I am getting up on plane well but only getting around 23 MPH top speed with the OEM aluminum prop (13 pitch). <br /><br />At 6500', the boat wouldn't plane at all with a full load. Even with only myself on board, the boat would struggle to plane out, but even then top speed was only 14 MPH or so. <br /><br />I am looking for quick planing and top speed from a prop. I would love to have a top speed of 32-35 MPH from this boat/motor, but haven't come close.

 

[montanaman]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

MTFishGuy, you may have to get a second prop for the mountains. 3300 feet of elevation is a significant in your boats performance. Is your 4 stroke EFI or carb? If it is EFI then try dropping down a couple of inches in pitch. If it is carbed you may have to change your jets as well. Try and find a prop shop that will let you dial in before you make the final purchase. By the way, what lakes are you fising?

 

[Darrendude]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

I got a SS prop in new condition for my boat on ebay for $75 Keep your eyes peeled on ebay.

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Its an EFI. I boat mainly at Tongue River Reservoir, Yellowtail and Lake DeSmet (Wyoming). I occasionally go to Hebgen Lake and up into the Bighorn Mountain lakes.<br /><br />The dealer did recommend a different prop for the higher elevations (11 pitch versus 13 I have now). The SS prop I am considering would be for the lower elevations.

 

[montanaman]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

MTfishguy, I haven't had the pleasure to boat those waters. Coming out of corners, hard acceleration and more trim are the advantages I've experienced with stainless. The stainless will hook up and go while the aluminum would cavitate. I'm running a 150 but if you're experiencing the same thing with your 40 it may help. I had to try out 7 props before I got the right one. The prop matcher on the Merc site wasn't close. I also have a really, really good local prop. shop. See if you can work something out to at least try one out before you purchase.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

MTfishguy;<br /><br />If you motor is running properly, and the load is normal, I would think that 30mph is doable.<br /><br />What is the slowest speed that the boat will maintain plane.

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

The motor seems to be running fine. It probably has less than 100 hours on it, runs strong and idles good. The hull is also in new condition and is not overloaded. <br /><br />I don't know the slowest speed the boat will maintain plane at and I can't check as the lakes are froze up here now. <br /><br />Don't get me wrong, the boat runs fine and handles good, but I just haven't been able to get the boat any faster than around 23 MPH even under optimal conditions (calm lake with only myself aboard). This seems slow compared to what others with similar setups have achieved. I'm wondering if a SS prop (compared to the OEM aluminum) would give the boat a better top end and help it plane easier.

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Sounds like the prop pitch is too high. Do you have a tach to check RPMs at full throttle?

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

No tach, just the speedo. Merc prop selector does recommend a 12 pitch prop for my setup, elevation, etc.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Just a bit of info here...I test props, many, many props...I've compared what the Merc selector says to what my reality test data shows, and 99.9% of the time, the Merc selector recommends TOO HIGH of pitch for the correct RPM.<br />I run on lakes from sea-level to 6200ft.<br />If the Merc selector says 12" pitch, I can almost 100% assure you, you are over-pitched.

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Walleyehed,<br /><br />Thanks for the info, but I guess I am a bit confused with the terminology. By "overpitched" do you mean that I need to move to an 11" pitch or to a 13" pitch if the Merc selector recommends a 12" pitch?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stainless Steel Prop Worth the Extra $s?

Over-pitched means "Too much", which creates a lower than recommended WOT RPM.

13 pitch had worked OK

Define "OK" in terms of RPM at max throttle...that's the only way we can truely set this up.<br />A 12 in SS "may not" be much different than your 13....depends on the brand and model of prop.