Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

[doyall]

Does anyone have any experience with the Quicksilver Tunderbolt DPS prop for VP duo props? Based on the press releases is was apparently introduced early in 2011. About all the information I can find is what is on the product page http://www.qsprops.com/stainless/thunderbolt-dps/ or press releases, which all say the same thing as the product page. They are a 4 blade front, 3 blade rear and are sold in pitch ranges like other props instead of the number/letter nomenclature of VP. Makes it kind of hard to determine which ones are correct for an application, especially when Quicksilver's prop selector doesn't include the T'bolt DPS. (And Mercury's web site requires model/serial numbers for your owned Mercury/Mercruiser product before you can ask a question on their web site.) They claim better acceleration and top end. At $1,100 to $1,300 for a set, depending on vendor, they are not something I can buy just to test out.

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

Apparently there are few people acquainted with this prop.

I did find someone on the phone at Mercury (even he was unaware that QS made a prop for Volvos) who had access to more information regarding pitch recommendations. Decided to try the Thunderbolt as opposed to Hill Marine Signature Four by Four for a variety of reasons as outlined on some older posts on this board. If the T'bolt arrives before the boat gets put up for the winter I will report my findings.

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

I happened to run across this application chart on another forum, in case anyone is interested.



It will be another week or so before I can test the QS T'bolt DPS on my boat. The place I bought the set from sent the wrong pitch front prop in the box labelled for the correct pitch.

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

Seat of the pants impressions (my GPS is not cooperating these days) of the QS T'bolt DPS 22.5 pitch vs the stock F5 VP on my Azure AZ220 with a 5.0GXi and DPS-A 1.95 ratio: slightly better acceleration, no noticeable improvement on top end. Worth the cost ... probably not, but for my purposes (skiing, wakeboarding) a better hole shot will be beneficial and at least I now have a spare.

As the boating season could be over any day here, I doubt if I will be able to do any serious comparisons this year.

 

[moosehead]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

These and the 4x4 feel like a solution looking for a problem. Hard to tell if you are serious or spamming, but if legit glad they are working for you.

The VP Duoprops are superb, come in multiple sizes and materials, and are not meaningfully more expensive than these oher examples which seem to have spotty histories. If cost is the concern, the used and reconditioned VP Duo market is reasonably active.

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

... Hard to tell if you are serious or spamming ...

OK, I'll be curious, maybe even offended. What would I be spamming about? Is this not the place to discuss propellers? Obviously you did not read all my posts ... I was investigating these props, bought a set, used them and reported less that the full range of wonderful results advertised. It was no big surprise to me. Are you a shill for VP?

 

[moosehead]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

Then my bad for assuming otherwise. As stated in my earlier post glad it worked out, especially after you chose to drop $1,200 large and hang a new offering off the rather expensive VP outdrive. Even if you experience a better holeshot, perhaps that is as much a result of the QSTB being propped down relative to your VPs, rather than an extra blade on the front prop? How did it impact your WOT RPM's or RPM at plane?

IMO what we hope to see in the aftermath of the VP DP patent expiration is a meaningful less costly prop alternative for these rigs. Still waiting.

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

... especially after you chose to drop $1,200 ...

Lucked out and with research didn't have to pay nearly that much. Vendor has already increased their price since my purchase though.

... perhaps that is as much a result of the QSTB being propped down relative to your VPs, rather than an extra blade on the front prop?

Someone on another forum speaking with authority (hey, doesn't everyone on the intertube speak with authority?) stated his prop specialist told him the VP F5 was 23 pitch. Read someone on yet a different forum who posted that it was 22.75 pitch, 14.41" diameter. (That diameter measurement agrees with my crude measurement of the front prop.) At the stated 22.5 pitch and 15.75" diameter on the QSTB front (14.25" dia. rear on the QSTB and a good bit less on the VP F5), I don't know if there is enough of a difference to wholly attribute it to pitch alone. I suppose with a greater diameter and more blades, the pitch would need to be reduced.

How did it impact your WOT RPM's or RPM at plane?

No noticeable RPM changes at WOT. Didn't pay close attention to RPM at plane as it was a very short day. Probably be after I get my GPS issue settled before I can really nail everything down.

 

[rschap1]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

my Azure AZ220 with a 5.0GXi and DPS-A 1.95 ratio:

Hey, I got one of those too.
I have a 2008. You say that you wakeboard, your boat equipped with a tower? or do you use the tow eye?
Mine has the eye on the rear of the extended swim platform and is way too low.
I may look at adding another eye up the transom higher or a pylon to the swim platform before next summer.
Been enjoying your boat? I like my 5.0 DouProp, really surprised by the performance all around. I have no intention of playing with props. Stock seems to do better than I would have ever imagined in that boat.
Thanks for sharing your findings! Hopefully I will never need them though

 

[doyall]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

Hey, I got one of those too.
I have a 2008. You say that you wakeboard, your boat equipped with a tower? or do you use the tow eye?
Mine has the eye on the rear of the extended swim platform and is way too low.
I may look at adding another eye up the transom higher or a pylon to the swim platform before next summer.
Been enjoying your boat? I like my 5.0 DouProp, really surprised by the performance all around. I have no intention of playing with props. Stock seems to do better than I would have ever imagined in that boat.
Thanks for sharing your findings! Hopefully I will never need them though

The boat had a factory tower on it when I got it (earlier this year). Probably wouldn't have a tower otherwise and wouldn't have got back into boarding without it because the ski eye definitely would not make for good boarding. Enjoying the boat but it is somewhat underpowered. A 5.7L would be better, but ... . (My prior 17.5', 2,000 lb., OMC 3.0L HO boat actually had better power/torque to weight ratios but of course it gave out way quicker than the 5.0L, even in a 4,300 lb. boat.) That is why this prop may be a good thing. Objective testing will tell. Looks like it will be spring before that happens. Oh well. My Azure has trim tabs and they really make a difference as well. (Seat of the pants testing done without using the trim tabs.)

 

[rschap1]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

Tabs too huh?
With the dou prop and it's long cavitation plate, I would not have thought there would be a need for them.
But I guess the boat is big enough to make use of those.
Congrats on the tower.
Wife isn't crazy about them. We keep our boat on a lift and I would have to re configure the top and canvas for it's canopy.
Son does most of his boarding with friends and neighbors. Nearly 50/50 on our lake. Pontoon owners or wake boats. A few fishing boats but not too much outside of those. My old Regal had everyone stunned and the Azure did for most of the summer. Like nobody had any idea there were such things. THEN neighbor got a Crownline 220EX same colors and everything. So there are 2 now. And the deckboats sure are close to being twins.
Enjoy yours and the prop set !

 

[Maclin]

Re: Quicksilver Thunderbolt DPS (for Volvo Penta Duo Prop)

For what this is worth doyall, when I crunch the numbers on my boat the B5's are about 23 pitch, and I think the numbers in the VP B-C-D-F series DuoProps represent relatively equal pitch.