Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

[mysweetone]

1) Performance issue you are trying to correct. Better hole shot and lower planing speed

2) Current prop manufacturer, model, aluminum or stainless as a minimum. aluminum THREE BLADE

3) Current prop diameter and pitch (required). J15 x 17p

4) Wide open throttle RPM and speed with an average load (very helpful) 4800rpm 47mph on GPS with me (180lbs) and two teenage girls around 110 bls each, 1/2 tank of fuel, last year with
just me, less than a 1/4 tank of fuel I ran 53mph on GPS

5) Engine/drive make, model, year, and HP 1989 5.0ltr sbc 228hp Alpha I with nosecone

6) Boat make model, year, length and weight 1989 Wellcraft Elcipse 216 bowrider 2900lbs

I boat almost exclusivly on lakes and am almost always pulling a tube/skier. Typically I will have an average of 5 people abourd half of which are between the ages of 6 and 15, all girls so not a whole lot of weight.

I am looking for opinions on what prop would provide me with the aforementioned goal started in #1. I am thinking about something like a 15 x 16p aluminum FOUR BLADE but I am not opposed to spending a little extra coin and going with a stainless prop. Please post your thoughts or direct me toa thread if you know of one which will help answer my questions. Thanks guys and girls!

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

I would start by mounting a set of these....

http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabsSX.htm

You would not believe how much they help both the things you are asking about.

They took my bow rise and time to get on plane from horrible to non existent. There are lots threads here praising them.

My low speed stay on plane from like 25mph all the way down to 18mph. Saved me from buying a new prop. My boat is propped optimally for top end and now with the tabs i dont need to play the prop swap game if we are tubing and skiing or cruising around the lake.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

A very good suggestion. They do need to be applied carefully with the least pressure to accomplish the results required.
Applied too aggressively they can cause strange handling and reduced top speed.
As far as a prop a 16" pitch seems reasonable though keep in mind while low to mid range performance should be better top end will probably be reduced.

 

[joewithaboat]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

A very good suggestion. They do need to be applied carefully with the least pressure to accomplish the results required.
Applied too aggressively they can cause strange handling and reduced top speed.
As far as a prop a 16" pitch seems reasonable though keep in mind while low to mid range performance should be better top end will probably be reduced.

DO you have these tabs???
I have never seen anyone who has them report weird handling problems. For mine it was quite the opposite, the boat is much more stable especially in rough water. Has the exact same top speed as they are fully retracted at that point.

 

[mysweetone]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

excellent suggestion joe... I will definetly look into these. My current prop has a few dings so it will need to be replaced anyway but maybe by installing the smart tabs I will be able to retatin my top end and acheive my goals. also, great video...made the install look so easy... is it really as simpl;e as it looks?

Lastly.... in everyones opinion if i went with a stainless prop would I keep the same size prop I am currently running (aluminum J15x17p) or would I go up or down one size in pitch since the Stainless wouldn't flex like my current Aluminum prop?

 

[Robbabob]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

You will have less flex and many do achieve a better hole shot and stay planning at lower RPM (which can be the same speed since less flex is taking place). Keeping it simple, it's mainly about speed and hull design (and weight and load placement) to be on plane.

And yes, generally you drop a size in pitch when going to SS, but it's not true for every prop change from AL to SS. Depends on the prop design of both. Some AL props perform very well, while some SS props do not. See if you can test the SS before the purchase or have an agreement to swap to a different manufacturer or size based on results. Some testers stay with their AL and keep the newly purchased SS as a back-up.

Good luck!

 

[mysweetone]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

thank you Mr. 'bob! more information for me to store in my head reagrding boats. I am admittedly a newbie to them but love learning all I can.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

DO you have these tabs???
I have never seen anyone who has them report weird handling problems. For mine it was quite the opposite, the boat is much more stable especially in rough water. Has the exact same top speed as they are fully retracted at that point.

I don't have the tabs but over the years I've seen a number of posts and a video from dissatisfied users.
Don't know if they were installed wrong or applied wrong.But very likely not the fault of the tabs.
I wouldn't hesitate to get tabs if I needed something like that.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

If the shocks are to stiff or the mounting angle is to high they will always drag in the water making the proper trim adjustment impossible, Fuel mileage suffer, and top end speed drop.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

A set of these little jewels will solve your planing issue.

A Solas Amita aluminum 15.5 X 17 pitch would make a great replacement for your dinged up prop.

They are called Doel Fins, and they work.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

A set of these little jewels will solve your planing issue.View attachment 155224

A Solas Amita aluminum 15.5 X 17 pitch would make a great replacement for your dinged up prop.

They are called Doel Fins, and they work.

You will find that fins are not popular here for stern drives.

It is said they can cause unusual handling issues when crossing wakes and put a lot of extra stress on the drive and transom. Smart tabs lift from the outside edges not the center and do not cause any added stress to the drive.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

I wonder why they're not popular here? They work just as well on a stern drive.

Had them on my Merc stern drive for these 15 years now.

I'm sure something bad is going happen any day now.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Do you think I am on targetto meet my goals with this prop???

Not sure why as I have never had one but not many people seem to like the idea. I know I love my smart tabs though