Hello All: Our 18' obscure branded f/g bowrider is equiped with a '96 4.3 LX and Alpha 1 leg. The bottom of the hull where it meets the transom is flat, ie: parallel to the water's surface, and this flat area is 6" wide. Then the hull rises up at 32 degrees to meet the chines. When the leg is trimmed so that its anti-ventilation plate is parallel to the hull's long axis, that plate lies slightly above the bottom of the hull. And at that trim, the propeller is fully submerged, but the tips come up to about 7/8 from the bottom of the hull.
We have a standard Mercury 3 blade alu 23" propeller installed on the leg. It has developed small white mineral-like deposits inside the hub and on one or two spots on the outside of the hub. No deposits appear on the blades.
Given that: a) I'm not going to buy a different boat; and b) it is not practical to move the leg up or down on the transom, can anyone here suggest a propeller design that is particularly well suited to our boat's configuration? That is to say, would a stainless steel prop or one with more blades stand up better to running with so little water overhead when planing?
Currently we're quite happy with the boat's performance, which includes 50 mph @ 4600 rpm WOT, and 29 mph @ 3000 rpm burning about 3 imperial gallons per hour. All speeds per gps with full fuel, a bunch of water skis and three adults aboard. And FWIW, the boat has a set of SmartTabs installed.
Thanks for any tips or suggestions you may have.
We have a standard Mercury 3 blade alu 23" propeller installed on the leg. It has developed small white mineral-like deposits inside the hub and on one or two spots on the outside of the hub. No deposits appear on the blades.
Given that: a) I'm not going to buy a different boat; and b) it is not practical to move the leg up or down on the transom, can anyone here suggest a propeller design that is particularly well suited to our boat's configuration? That is to say, would a stainless steel prop or one with more blades stand up better to running with so little water overhead when planing?
Currently we're quite happy with the boat's performance, which includes 50 mph @ 4600 rpm WOT, and 29 mph @ 3000 rpm burning about 3 imperial gallons per hour. All speeds per gps with full fuel, a bunch of water skis and three adults aboard. And FWIW, the boat has a set of SmartTabs installed.
Thanks for any tips or suggestions you may have.
