Prop Brand Suggestions

[THEFERMANATOR]

MERCURY MIRAGE PLUS in a 15 pitch is what I would reccomend as the number 1 choice after we talked the other day. I've got a 14 1/4 X 15 STILLETTO that I carry for a spare, and I HATE IT! It's a horrible prop for bottom end and mid range cruising, trolled poorly, and was a real pain when backing down. I'm running the 17 pitch MICHIGAN WHEEL APOLLO large diamter which is a generic MIRAGE PLUS without the vent holes, and LOVE IT. Only problem is that they don't offer them in smaller than a 17 pitch. Also I believe it is the EVINRUDE RENEGADE is a good prop and available in a 15 pitch. I could ship you this STILLETTO to try out if you want and see if you like it. I just spent a little over $125 having it redone only to find I didn't like it. My second reccomendation would be the APOLLO 4 blade in a 16 pitch(993203). The STILLETTO is an OK prop if you're after speed and top end, but for mid range cruising and slow speed trolling with manuverability you want a 4 blade or a large diameter prop for extra surface area and bite. You sacrifice some top end with the increased blade area, but you make up for it on a boat that is used offshore with milage, handling, and prop bite.

[willy]

Ferm after we talked the other day I called one of the big prop shops and the fellow was very helpfull, asked me questions about the set up and he said that he believes my original aluminum prop may be decieving me on the numbers as it is an OMC and that they flex so much that especially after they get older that it is hard to figure correct prop based on rpms alone. He said that your call with the 15 1/4 x 15 could work but he is suggesting that due to the old flexy prop I have on it might be too much and suggested a 15 1/4 x 16 stainless Power Tech prop.
Then when I called Dan's Props to check on best prices and after we talked and he asked about the boat he said to get to the rpms I should be at he was suggesting a 14 1/4 x 15 stainless and suggested the stiletto as a good prop for a fair price.
There was no discussion about a four blade though think that might be a good way to go, though I am really confused now.

[mtnxtreme]

Willy,
It's funny your looking for a prop, so am I, no I did'nt hit a rock! You mentioned the boat could use a different prop, ( and it would be nice to have a spare if needed) but could'nt remember what the guy you spoke to reccomended. Do you remember what prop is on the boat now, so I don't have to yank it to find out. I'm running 4500 RPM with a top speed of 35mph. The motor is rated to 5500 rpm and I know from running 2 strokes on sleds and bikes for years a 2 stroke should always be able to be revved out, but not over-revved, they just run cleaner and more efficient. I don't know if you spoke to the guys at Prop Gods, they have a forum, you can give them your specs and they will reccomend, I think they even have a return if not happy policy.They reccomended a Merc Enertia, for me, but need more info, so I'll get it to them and we'll see.
Louie

[THEFERMANATOR]

I was basing the size and pitch off of what has worked on my boat as I have a simliar hull set-up and simliar HP. The 15 1/4" X 16 PT would be a good prop as well. The ENERTIA is an EXPENSIVE prop, so that is one of the reasons I didn't suggest it. The STILLETTO was reccomended to me as well, but like I said I hated it. I've got it sitting on the front porch right now. OMC aluminum props actually tend to run lower on the RPM range for props I have found as they tend to not flex like other aluminum props. Give the guys over at POWERTECH a call and ask them what they reccomend as they are good guys to work with. When I had my flats boat I had bought a MERCURY TROPHY PLUS and it wasn't working out. I called up POWERTECH and they went and helped me set my boat up and get my TROPHY working for me. They could have just sold me a new prop, but they said what I had was good and just needed set-up. That is what I call customer service. i still think a prop with alot of blade surface area is gonna be what you want since I doubt you're after speed. Most of us now are after cruising milage and holding power for the rough stuff.

http://www.propgods.com/forum/
http://www.ptprop.com/

[mtnxtreme]

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

I was basing the size and pitch off of what has worked on my boat as I have a simliar hull set-up and simliar HP. The 15 1/4" X 16 PT would be a good prop as well. The ENERTIA is an EXPENSIVE prop, so that is one of the reasons I didn't suggest it. The STILLETTO was reccomended to me as well, but like I said I hated it. I've got it sitting on the front porch right now. OMC aluminum props actually tend to run lower on the RPM range for props I have found as they tend to not flex like other aluminum props. Give the guys over at POWERTECH a call and ask them what they reccomend as they are good guys to work with. When I had my flats boat I had bought a MERCURY TROPHY PLUS and it wasn't working out. I called up POWERTECH and they went and helped me set my boat up and get my TROPHY working for me. They could have just sold me a new prop, but they said what I had was good and just needed set-up. That is what I call customer service. i still think a prop with alot of blade surface area is gonna be what you want since I doubt you're after speed. Most of us now are after cruising milage and holding power for the rough stuff.

http://www.propgods.com/forum/
http://www.ptprop.com/

Thats probably why they reccomended the Enertia LOL. These props you are reccomending to Wllly, should I research them also, will they work on my set-up? I see the Appolo's on E-bay a lot.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by mtnxtreme

Thats probably why they reccomended the Enertia LOL. These props you are reccomending to Wllly, should I research them also, will they work on my set-up? I see the Appolo's on E-bay a lot.

For a V-20 you can use the smaller diameter or the large diameter props. The APOLLO 4 blade I would think would be a great match to the V-20 hull. The HYDRA-SPORTS hull's are heavy by comparison to other hulls there size and require more blade area for lift on them to work properly. The right prop can make all the difference in how a boat rides even. The wrong prop and the bow will go for the sky all the time, or it will nose dive and plow like a B!TCH on every wave soaking you. The STILLETTO I had didn't bite well at all and made my hull handle poorly and slammed quite a bit.

[willy]

Hey Ferm I talked with a good guy at the Prop Gods and after going over everything with me he is suggesting similar to you, and I ordered his suggestion as he will change it out if he is wrong for $29. He suggested i go with the Power Tech stainless three blade, 15 1/4 x 15) OFS3. He said it should get me to the upper end of my desired RPM range and should provide a great hole shot which I could use with such a heavy boat and give me a more effiicient cruise and mileage. He said I might lose a couple miles an hour top speed though which is fine with me as it is not important. The other up side is that it has great offshore performance and bite while improving manueverability.
He said the same thing about the OMC props as you are saying, that it is likely I am off by no more than 100 RPM's due to flex. He said I probably have more error in my tach than the prop is giving.
Two things of note they have found, in the four blade when you go below 17 you start getting some problems with bite in different sea conditions and they have found very few below 16 pitch that have performed well in that regard.Also diameter wise and fitting between the prop edge and the cavitation plate on the Evinrudes is important for vibration reasons so that is why he thinks it best I stay no bigger than his recommendation.