Stiletto prop or not???

[josh1981]

I am thinking of getting a stiletto prop for my boat and wanted to get any opinions on it. I have a 1995 Maxum 20' with a mercruiser 5.0L. Current prop is the original aluminum 13 3/4 x 21. RPM's are right where they should be 4500-4600. The prop I was thinking of getting after reading as much info as I can find on them is the 14 1/4 x 19. This is because 14 1/4 is the only size they offer for my boat and after reading and looking around if I get the same pitch as I currenty have (21p) I will probably get the same performance as I currently have but using less rpm's. And I have also read people recommend that if you are going from aluminum to a stiletto SS to go with the next pitch down to get your full rpm's from your engine and gain the top end. I am basically wanting a good all around prop. I really want to get out of the hole quicker when I have other people in the boat, and would like a lower planing speed for pulling the tube and of course want more top end speed. Now I know I am not going to get all this with one magical prop but from what I read this prop might give me a little bit. Anybodys experience with these props and any opinions would be great. Thank you

Also I am looking at the old version of the stiletto's that are a one piece prop. So it does not need a hub kit right? Is this a good thing or not? My thought is if I hit something the plastic hub would not be there to give before the gears give, right?

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

That boat/eng combo does real well with a Stiletto Baypro II in a 20P. The exact boat has been run by me any a few others here with best results using a 4bld SS, the Baypro II Has been at the top of the list.
Please understand not all props are created eaqual even though they may be the same pitch. The idea with your type of boat is to get as much boat "out" of the water as possible to reduce drag-front to back, not just one area. To give you an example, I have a certain brand of prop in a 17P that outperforms most other SS in 19P. think hard about what you want from the boat before going with the 3bld.

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

So what kind of results did you get with the 4 blade? Right now with my aluminum 3 blade I get around 49 mph (speedo not gps), slow getting out of the hole with more than 2 people in the boat and kindove tough to keep on a plane at low speeds. The only reason I was not thinking the 4 blade is I did not want to lose any top end speed but but I guess that is the choice I have to make, get out of the hole quick or top end speed.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

The bay pro 11 series have tremendous amounts of lift, enough so that there will be a very marginal if any loss of top end speed. It does this by lifting the hull out of the water creating less drag Your midrange response is dramatically better than a 3 blade and smoother..In the end and speaking for myself only i spend 90% of my time just off plane or cruising @ 40...Now when at wot the boat is barely in the water and jumping or dancing around @ 55 mph in a 19' boat thats plenty enough of a rush...1 or 2 mph is meaning less..

An performance example for me was 49 mph with a 3 blade alum @ 4950 the boat was under propped..4 blade 20 ss jumped to 55 @ 4900..Id bet a 18p would be in order

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Ok well I think you guys have me sold on the 4 blade. Might not even lose anything off the top end speed but maybe gain a little, along with better acceleration and handeling. Thanks you guys for your help

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

I can't think of any draw-backs of the baypro II for your application...that just seems to be where it really shines.

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Ya that is what it sounds like. thanks again for the help. When I put it on next spring I will try and remember to post an update.

 

[642mx]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Don't overlook the Mercury Revolution 4. Its a 4 blade thats darn near as quick as a 3 blade. Kind of like having your cake and eating it too.

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Don't overlook the Mercury Revolution 4. Its a 4 blade thats darn near as quick as a 3 blade. Kind of like having your cake and eating it too.

Only thing is that prop is more than twice as much as the Stiletto and it sounds like the Stiletto will be almost as quick if not faster.

 

[642mx]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

I doubt the Stiletto is any faster than the Rev 4. The Rev 4 is almost as fast as the Mirage Plus. Mercury Props are not cheap... but they do hold up. Its your money...

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

This is where things get interesting. Walleyehed has used the stiletto 4 blade on the same boat/eng combo I have and had excellant results. Tailgunner had 49 mph with a 3 blade alum @ 4950, switched to the 4 bld SS and got 55 @ 4900. It sounds like the Stiletto should work very well for me.

 

[642mx]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

This is where things get interesting. Walleyehed has used the stiletto 4 blade on the same boat/eng combo I have and had excellant results. Tailgunner had 49 mph with a 3 blade alum @ 4950, switched to the 4 bld SS and got 55 @ 4900. It sounds like the Stiletto should work very well for me.

Yep. Its interesting.... but my 4.3L with a Mirage Plus will smoke them all at 4900.... and still pull up a skiier on one ski. Cool uh?

The Rev 4 is almost as fast as the Mirage +, but it takes off quicker and will stay on plane at a slower speed.

The Stiletto may be a good prop.... I was just pointing out an awesome prop that you may have over-looked.

 

[josh1981]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Yep. Its interesting.... but my 4.3L with a Mirage Plus will smoke them all at 4900.... and still pull up a skiier on one ski. Cool uh?

The Rev 4 is almost as fast as the Mirage +, but it takes off quicker and will stay on plane at a slower speed.

The Stiletto may be a good prop.... I was just pointing out an awesome prop that you may have over-looked.

It is an awesome prop and thank you for you input. That is why I asked my question here to get different ideas also. Thanks again

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Mercury sends me about 30 props a year to test-all SS props.
I've ran the Rev4 and it has it's place, but in this case my Data tells me other-wise.
In fact, the Rev4 Produced some of the lowest numbers speed-wise of 9 four-blade SS props tested. It has great stern-lift but becomes inefficient when trying to lift the entire boat-something the Bay pro II excells in.
Price(high) does not mean better performance.

To add to this, the Mirage+ is not a fast prop nor is the Rev4...they are both built for the same basic application; Heavy Boat/Heavy load pusher.
The Mirage is a std SS prop engineered to push a major load at ave. efficiency.

 

[cribber]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

I put a 14.25x20 Stiletto Bay Pro II on my Glastron 18.5 foot 3.0l. I lost about 5 mph top end dropping from 48 to 43 mph GPS wide open throttle but gained nearly a second on time to plane and can plane out at 19 mph when my stock prop planed at around 21. It's all give and take with what you are looking for on your setup.

Forgot to add... my wife will not let me change this prop out because she likes how it handles when she's at the helm.

 

[642mx]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Mercury sends me about 30 props a year to test-all SS props.
I've ran the Rev4 and it has it's place, but in this case my Data tells me other-wise.
In fact, the Rev4 Produced some of the lowest numbers speed-wise of 9 four-blade SS props tested. It has great stern-lift but becomes inefficient when trying to lift the entire boat-something the Bay pro II excells in.
Price(high) does not mean better performance.

To add to this, the Mirage+ is not a fast prop nor is the Rev4...they are both built for the same basic application; Heavy Boat/Heavy load pusher.
The Mirage is a std SS prop engineered to push a major load at ave. efficiency.

Don't get me wrong... the Stiletto is a decent prop.... but I doubt they out perform a Mercury prop... If you want to test this theory, send me a stock Stiletto that out performs my Mirage + (better wait until Spring tho, my boats already winterized...lol)

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

I put a 14.25x20 Stiletto Bay Pro II on my Glastron 18.5 foot 3.0l. I lost about 5 mph top end dropping from 48 to 43 mph GPS wide open throttle but gained nearly a second on time to plane and can plane out at 19 mph when my stock prop planed at around 21. It's all give and take with what you are looking for on your setup.

Forgot to add... my wife will not let me change this prop out because she likes how it handles when she's at the helm.

Your pitched to high you should be running a 18...Never seen a 3.0 turn a 20p 4 blade....Actually thinking about it 48 mph gps verified in a 3.0..

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Don't get me wrong... the Stiletto is a decent prop.... but I doubt they out perform a Mercury prop... If you want to test this theory, send me a stock Stiletto that out performs my Mirage + (better wait until Spring tho, my boats already winterized...lol)

I have them both..the rev4 is slower prop...You should try a bay pro its something to see..your boat completely out of the water almost runs on the cav plate @ WOT and that's where the speed comes from..

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

Our prop that is designed to compare to the 3-bld Mirage is a 3-bld Turbo, Not Stiletto. There was no application noted for that size that wasn't taken a step farther and incorporates the Turbo Geometry.
As far as sending you a Stiletto that will out-perform a "Mercury" prop, and there are Many that will, I've ran all the test data myself under extremely controlled variables and I already have the data on 7 different boats to date, each representing a specific catagory.
In-fact, Mercury used (by my permission) about 70% of my test data to enter into there Prop Calculator, as did Michigan wheel corp. and Solas.

Cribber, what RPM were you getting with the 20P BP II? Compared to the 3-bld prop? What pitch was it?
EDIT; TG, you're reading my mind on cribbers application

642, what Pitch Mirage+ are you running?

 

[642mx]

Re: Stiletto prop or not???

642, what Pitch Mirage+ are you running?

Right now, a stock 23. I've got a labbed one too.... and a 21 Mirage. So you have data on an 18 foot boat with a 6 cylinder?... If so, I'd be interested to see the on-plane times and top ends of the props.