Prop Question

Night_Sailor · #1 03-27-2015, 05:24 AM

What about prop type?

Aluminum I'd stainless steel?

Spares?

smokeonthewater · #2 03-27-2015, 05:47 AM

Minimal difference in performance .... Stainless is tougher but aluminum is cheaper.

tsubaki · #3 03-27-2015, 06:39 AM

FERM and smoke do have valid points.

I normally carry one of the spare props I have tested previously, not to mention the stuff to install/replace it with, all the way down to the thrust washer.
The prop composition usually depends on your habits, I happen to like the stainless.

Other spares also depends on your habits. I usually keep a spare portable bilge pump with alligator clips and hose connected, spare drain plugs, fuses, oil, anchor/rope, one more safety vest and throwable than needed. If offshore fishing or camping or riding the grandkids around there will be other things added to the pile of stuff.

Depending on what your jack plate setback is and how you normally load the boat, you might need to raise the engine yet higher than a regular transom mount. A 5" setback might need to go up 1 or 2 bolt holes, a 10" might need to go up 2 or 4 bolt holes.

If you don't have a prop already, I'd expect to start out with about a 15x17" stainless and go from there. If the engine is setup correctly and depending on your habits you might need to go to a 15" or 19" and/or anything in between. This is where a dealer setup situation will save you time/money and get the best performance.

THEFERMANATOR · #4 03-27-2015, 08:32 AM

Before I would make a remondation, I would need to know what you're boating is. If you run shallow or an area with alot of obstructions, I'd go aluminum(props are cheaper and easier to fix than lower units). If you are after max performance then stainless is your prop. And how you are going to use it will dictate which style and brand I'd reccomend. Theres dozens of styles of props out now, each for a different useage. Its not the olden days where your choices were just stainless or aluminum.

bradford · #5 03-27-2015, 07:16 PM

I run a stainless 14 3/4 X 17 Solas and am very happy with it.

jamesbalog · #6 03-28-2015, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THEFERMANATOR

Before I would make a remondation, I would need to know what you're boating is. If you run shallow or an area with alot of obstructions, I'd go aluminum(props are cheaper and easier to fix than lower units). If you are after max performance then stainless is your prop. And how you are going to use it will dictate which style and brand I'd reccomend. Theres dozens of styles of props out now, each for a different useage. Its not the olden days where your choices were just stainless or aluminum.

I run aluminum props for this exact reason

Night_Sailor · #7 03-28-2015, 07:49 PM

I will be running it mostly in Long Island Sound (deep water zero visibility). I may pull it to the Florida Keys (very shallow/good daytime visibility), and occasionally up to the Georgian Bay and French River in Ontario (rocky bottoms, clear water/good daytime visibility). I bought this boat originally because I wanted a trailerable boat.

smokeonthewater · #8 03-28-2015, 08:38 PM

Is it worth hundreds of dollars to you to top out at 42.5 instead of 41.2?

Is most of your running WOT, just on plane, trolling, or looking for best economy.

What's most important to you? Hole shot, cruising, top end, etc

Night_Sailor · #9 04-30-2015, 06:36 PM

I left the country for the last two weeks, delivering a yacht to St Thomas. So I didn't discuss the project much with the installers. I was not totally sure what size motor to get. I knew I wanted a white small block and decided to go for the 200HP model.

The original plan was to use a jack plate. I requsted the installer put on an aluminum splash plate to raise my transom back up to the original 25". This morphed into putting on two thick aluminum plates and eliminating the jack plate. They put spacers in between them also, which stiffens up an already strong transom.

For the prop, I let the installer decide for me. They picked a three blade stainless steel--ok I guess fast is good. I wanted the digital gauges--two of the large ones. I may add two small gauges to fill the gaps.

Next up, is registering the boat and I'll probably rewire the whole boat.

I am thinking about removing the T-Top and repainting it and that might be a perfect time to form up a hardtop.

I am a happy camper. The motor looks so good, I'll have to spruce up the boat. I'm thinking about using a hard finish bottom paint, and perhaps at some point I'll repaint the topsides.