Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

mexicobeachrider

mexicobeachrider

Recruit
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
5
Hey there,
I am new to the wakeboarding world along with boats. I rode behind a 21V Supra and got HOOKED! I just purchased a 2001 Caravelle 188 fish and ski with a 4.3L Merc. It came with a custom made tower and I installed speakers and what not. I understand this is not (officialy) a wakeboard boat, but I would not spend 50Gs when I can have a good time for alot less! I know weight is a key factor to creating bigger wake, and we dont use fat sacks, just more people. Here is my PROBLEM,,,,, I want to plane out faster with the motor I have.I have heard about the hydofoil to plane the boat out faster (Pro or Con). I have a 23pitch prop as well, I hear 15-19 are where I should be...? any advice?
 
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Utahboatnut

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 15, 2009
Messages
785
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

I use a merc hi five prop and it makes it plane in the blink of an eye plus it seems to help with speed control ie when wake boarding or knee boarding or the air chair where low controlled speed is so important. They are spendy but worth it if you do alot of watersports. With a 23 i'm sure it takes you a while to get on plane my hi 5 is a 21 and my cruise prop is a 23.
 
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tawood

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
128
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

I also tried switching props, and it worked for me too. I went from a 3 blade 21, to a 4 blade 18, and the boat definitely got out of the hole quicker. Plus, after my first full summer of wake boarding, getting out of the hole quick is no longer a worry, because now with experience I have no problem getting up even with the 3 blade. Oh, and my boat is 19', and my motor is just a little 3.0.
I still use the 4 blade when I have a boat load of people...and then I also get the best wake!
 
truckermatt

truckermatt

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 29, 2009
Messages
384
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

i would either get a 21 p mercury high 5... (about $400) or you can get an aluminum 4 blade 20p from iboats for $100..... That is what i am going to do.....

I have the same motor as you and i have a 3 blade 21p alum. and it works for 3 in boat + the skier.... but any more it is a dog...
with the v-6 you dont need to spend the extra $$ on a Stainless prop, that you might not see a benefit.
 
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smartwork

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Messages
159
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

tawood - which 4-blade prop do you have and which boat are you running it on? I'm considering a 4-blade for a 19' Capri with a 3.0 for more hole-shot.
 
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smitty1258

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
155
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

get a 4 blade 17-19 and make the passengers sit in the front.
 
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grahamh

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 10, 2009
Messages
192
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

I would look into Smart Tabs/Trim Tabs before you get a hydrofoil, there's a lot of info on these forums about both.

I know that Smart Tabs work great for getting up on plane, not sure if they affect the wake size at all though, they may make it smaller.
 
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tawood

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
128
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

smartwork said:
tawood - which 4-blade prop do you have and which boat are you running it on? I'm considering a 4-blade for a 19' Capri with a 3.0 for more hole-shot.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the brand...but it is a 4 blade 18x14.25 aluminum, and it does require a new trim tab to use it (it would have hit the stock trim tab). My boat is a 04 19' Bayliner. Nice thing about this 4 blade is the WOT RPMs didn't change...so I don't have to worry about over rev either when I'm out cruising.
 
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ryland43

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
May 28, 2009
Messages
30
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

trim tabs make the wake rounded and washy. id go with the hydrofoil
 
Tabes117

Tabes117

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
181
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

I had a 23" and dropped to a 19" very happy with the result.
 
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smartwork

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Messages
159
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

Tabes - that's where I am now. A 14x23 and the boat runs great, but I thought about trying for more hole shot. I'm considering something like a 14x21 3-blade or a 14x20 4-blade.
 
Tabes117

Tabes117

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 8, 2008
Messages
181
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

Smartwork, I think thats a big prop for your set up. Check your RPM's at WOT. Dropping down will definitly improve your holehot. Propmed.com has a good web site. I believe if you buy a prop from them and are not happy you can exchange it for same prop but different size.
 
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smartwork

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jul 20, 2009
Messages
159
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

Tabes - I agree. The prop was on there from previous owner. The boat runs very well, but the RPMs are not quite hitting the zone, so I was going to drop a bit and see if I can improve the RPMs and the hole-shot. Thanks for the tip on the website. I've been looking for someone with some sort of exchange policy while trying to find just the right prop.

Edited: Is propmed.com the right site? I get a property manager site.
 
TahoeQ4Pilot

TahoeQ4Pilot

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 23, 2009
Messages
242
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

grahamh said:
I would look into Smart Tabs/Trim Tabs before you get a hydrofoil, there's a lot of info on these forums about both.
Click to expand...

Actually....for me getting a hydrofoil was cheaper (and less intrusive) than smart tabs for a first trial.

My hydrofoil was under $60 and the mount was another $40. No drilling in to the hull (or outdrive). And it got me up on plane quicker.

YMMV
 
mddubya

mddubya

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
150
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

TahoeQ4Pilot said:
Actually....for me getting a hydrofoil was cheaper (and less intrusive) than smart tabs for a first trial.

My hydrofoil was under $60 and the mount was another $40. No drilling in to the hull (or outdrive). And it got me up on plane quicker.

YMMV
Click to expand...

Doesn't a hydrofoil mess up the wake? I had considered getting one, but was told it would ruin the wake my boat throws out.

Mine has a Mercruiser 485, 222 cubic inch 4 bangers, 185 hp. I'm running a 21 stainless 3 blade prop. It planes out decent, but I'd like it to come down faster. If I went with a 4 blade, which pitch would I need? I've tried a 19 and the motor revs too high.
 
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fourwinnsnate

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
76
Re: Wakeboarding Boat Musts?!

I dont think that smart tabs or hydrofoils really affect the wake that much, lots of people like to speculate but i have had both on my boat and have wakeboarded LOTS in my life and didn't really notice a difference, but...the smart tabs make the boat stable, plane quicker and hold plane at a lower speed, increase fuel economy, and top speed. Hydrofoils do make your boat plane quicker but they also make the boat incredibly unstable, lower fuel economy, lower top speed, but....they do use less room, and you dont have to drill through your hull. But i would rather not jepordize the lives of everyone in the boat and just drill some 3/32 holes through my hull. When i had my hydrofoil on my boat just did not feel right always chinewalking and porpoising then i put on my smart tabs and my boat does not chinewalk at all or porpoise no matter how much i trim it out trust me the smart tabs are 100% worth every penny
 
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