porscheguy
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2013
- Messages
- 441
1990 wellcraft eclipse 196
LOA: 20'
Transom deadrise: 17.5
Fuel: 40 gallons
Dry weight: 2800
Test weight: full tank plus myself, minimal other stuff
Ratio: alpha 1, gen 1, 1.84
Engine: 2002 4.3lx carb, 175 hours
GPS: garmin echo map 44dv/cv
Prop 1: Mercury black max, 3 blade aluminum
Size: 14.25X21P
Top speed: 45mph
RPM: 4900 or wherever the rev limiter intervenes
Slip: 14.5% @ 45mph
I have no complaints with the holeshot on this prop. That's really the only good thing I have to say about it. It doesn't tolerate much trim out before it lets go. Forget about sharp turns. With smart tabs installed top speed is reduced and even less trim out is tolerated.
Prop 2: quicksilver lightspeed (laser II) 3 blade stainless
Size: 13.75X23P
Top speed: 52mph
RPM: 4800
Slip: 8.5%
This prop came with the 3/8" square pvs holes. Mercury doesn't supply plugs. First runs without plugs were not impressive. Holeshot was awful. I did get some of the big square plugs used in the older laser 2 which I forced to fit. Lost one plug on early speed run and couldn't repeat the results. Filled pvs holes with jb weld. Have not had favorable water conditions for further testing. Filling the holes did improve holeshot. This is a very fast prop. But it makes the boat feel a bit loose. It will hold through the full range of trim. It will blow out if too much trim and making a sharp turn. I haven't really reached a verdict on this one because so many variables came into play.
Prop 3: Mercury mirage, 3 blade stainless
Size: 14.75X21P
Speed: 48mph
RPM: 4800
Slip: 7.5%
I got this one used for a fraction of the cost of new. Although this prop is a little slower than the lightspeed, it more than makes up for it elsewhere. It has an excellent holeshot. On par with the aluminum. At high speed the boat felt stable and sharp. It tolerated the full range of trim and gripped like a pit bull in the sharpest turns. Very impressed with this prop.
I'm on the lookout for a tempest plus/torrent in 21 and 23 pitch. This prop seems to bridge the gap between the Laser and mirage and I'd be curious to what it can do for me. I'm not really looking for a specific performance goal, I just want to see how it runs.
LOA: 20'
Transom deadrise: 17.5
Fuel: 40 gallons
Dry weight: 2800
Test weight: full tank plus myself, minimal other stuff
Ratio: alpha 1, gen 1, 1.84
Engine: 2002 4.3lx carb, 175 hours
GPS: garmin echo map 44dv/cv
Prop 1: Mercury black max, 3 blade aluminum
Size: 14.25X21P
Top speed: 45mph
RPM: 4900 or wherever the rev limiter intervenes
Slip: 14.5% @ 45mph
I have no complaints with the holeshot on this prop. That's really the only good thing I have to say about it. It doesn't tolerate much trim out before it lets go. Forget about sharp turns. With smart tabs installed top speed is reduced and even less trim out is tolerated.
Prop 2: quicksilver lightspeed (laser II) 3 blade stainless
Size: 13.75X23P
Top speed: 52mph
RPM: 4800
Slip: 8.5%
This prop came with the 3/8" square pvs holes. Mercury doesn't supply plugs. First runs without plugs were not impressive. Holeshot was awful. I did get some of the big square plugs used in the older laser 2 which I forced to fit. Lost one plug on early speed run and couldn't repeat the results. Filled pvs holes with jb weld. Have not had favorable water conditions for further testing. Filling the holes did improve holeshot. This is a very fast prop. But it makes the boat feel a bit loose. It will hold through the full range of trim. It will blow out if too much trim and making a sharp turn. I haven't really reached a verdict on this one because so many variables came into play.
Prop 3: Mercury mirage, 3 blade stainless
Size: 14.75X21P
Speed: 48mph
RPM: 4800
Slip: 7.5%
I got this one used for a fraction of the cost of new. Although this prop is a little slower than the lightspeed, it more than makes up for it elsewhere. It has an excellent holeshot. On par with the aluminum. At high speed the boat felt stable and sharp. It tolerated the full range of trim and gripped like a pit bull in the sharpest turns. Very impressed with this prop.
I'm on the lookout for a tempest plus/torrent in 21 and 23 pitch. This prop seems to bridge the gap between the Laser and mirage and I'd be curious to what it can do for me. I'm not really looking for a specific performance goal, I just want to see how it runs.