aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

[joshcw25]

Will a stainless prop make any difference in my 15 hp 2stroke Suzuki on a 1448 tracker grizzly? I am having trouble getting on plane with 2 people in the boat and was thinking of changing the pitch of my prop is stainless worth the extra money?

 

[Fr3AkAzOiD]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

What size prop do you have?
What is your top speed with standard load?
What rpms are you running at WOT?

 

[steelespike]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

What he said^ also the 15 should plane easily with 2 aboard.Is the boat fully loaded decks,live well etc?

 

[joshcw25]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

Boat has a large casting deck on front. Its usually loaded down with gear also but I can get up to 25 mph alone but it will not even plane out with a fishing partner that's why im thinking I need to change props. Im not sure what rpm im running at wot

 

[joshcw25]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

15 Gallon livewell also, I am willing to suffer a little on the top end but not much. 25mph is hauling for this little boat . I gues the prop is just for top end because it is pathetic when you add a fishing partner

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I disagree with steel on this one...a 1448 tracker grizzly is a bit heavier than your average 1436 cheapo boat. I have never been happy with a 15 on a 14' boat, and would not even consider one on a 1448. in my opinion you should sell your 15 and get yourself a 25HP motor. you could try a smaller pitch prop, but you will go very slow if it does get on a plane loaded. SS is not needed in your case unless you just want one..I use alum on all my small motors.

 

[John_S]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

Hitting 25mph with one person plus the load and boat you discussed with a 15hp is real good performance. I wouldn't waste any money on a ss prop on a small outboard. Need the data that others have requested, but dropping pitch 2" - 4" from your current prop is, probably what you are looking at. Your high speed with the heavy load is going to suffer. No way around that without adding more hp.

FWIW: I have a new to me 1648 DMI (a mod v jon boat) w/25hp merc. With two adults (around 450lbs) with minimal gear, no decks, I am getting 26mph gps at wot and rpms right in the middle of the recommended range.

 

[joshcw25]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I have a 25 hp . This is just to reek havoc on my local 10hp limit lake in the bass tournaments. I just can't see this motor going 25mph when it gets on plane but doing so poorly with a fishing partner

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I dont see that rig going 25 MPH completely unloaded with just driver and 1 gallon of gas. maybe 20 but probably not... but drop a couple of pitch numbers and get an alum prop.

 

[John_S]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I have a 25 hp . This is just to reek havoc on my local 10hp limit lake in the bass tournaments. I just can't see this motor going 25mph when it gets on plane but doing so poorly with a fishing partner

OK, well, we are not the lake police, so best to tell us exactly what you have. Still need the rest of the data. BTW, happens allot with small motors. Not enough torque to get a heavy load on plane, so it never has a chance to rev up and hit its high rpm/hp band.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I think he means he has a 25HP and a 15HP, a lot of people use a 15HP motor with a 9.9 cowl on lakes/rivers that have a 10HP limit. get a 12' boat for your 15 and put the 25 on your grizzly. then you can go fast either way.

 

[John_S]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I think he means he has a 25HP and a 15HP, a lot of people use a 15HP motor with a 9.9 cowl on lakes/rivers that have a 10HP limit.

OK, rereading, that probably make sense. Still need the data.

 

[steelespike]

Re: aluminum vs stainless for a 15hp

I disagree with steel on this one...a 1448 tracker grizzly is a bit heavier than your average 1436 cheapo boat. I have never been happy with a 15 on a 14' boat, and would not even consider one on a 1448. in my opinion you should sell your 15 and get yourself a 25HP motor. you could try a smaller pitch prop, but you will go very slow if it does get on a plane loaded. SS is not needed in your case unless you just want one..I use alum on all my small motors.

I was "***"uming a bare bones 14/48 .Based on experience the larger bare bones boat will be faster with a load than a smaller boat with the same motor.
Our 15 ft lone star with a Gale 25 would barely plane with 4 adults. Our 18ft bare bones Crestliner with the same old Gale planed easily with 6 adults aboard.
The Tracker is probably double the weight of a stripped 14/48 jon.
Difficult to know what pitch a 4 blade should be without the specs with the present prop. Based on the first post I think a 4 blade w one inch less pitch.