I have a 16ft Aluminum Sylvan Sport Select. The weight of the hull is around 840lbs
(http://boatspecs.iboats.com/Sylvan_M...95/bp/66b91289)
Mainly I use this boat for towing kids tubing, towing one, sometimes two props with two kids who are about 100lbs. Inside the boat are my wife and I and gear. The hull has a 750 lbs max rating for gear and people and I'm usually right there if not over.
Originally it came with a 3 blade 15 pitch aluminum prop; but that cavitated like crazy in turns, so about 24 years ago I got a four bladed comp prop (I had no money) with a 17 pitch. It's worked great for me so far, though I can overspeed the engine a bit (I can top out around 5700 rpm if I let it at WOT, and it will get me maybe 37mph with everyone and a full tank of gas, but that is nearly fully trimmed down because the boat loves to porpoise).
So, last year, I dinged the comp prop, and I need something new. What are my options? I've been online and I was hoping for 'Here is your boat engine, here are the 5 available props, with reviews' almost like buying a tire, but it seems like there is nothing like that. Just lots of choices and little idea of how it will perform.
So my questions are:
* Is there a performance difference of composite vs aluminum vs stainless steel? If so is it significant?
* If so, how does that affect pitch and blade selection? I went to four blade due to cavitation on my aluminum in turns. But would a Stainless eliminate that?
* Is there a place to go for reviews? I'd be awfully upset to get a 3 bladed stainless prop and have it not perform, or have it cavitate, given the price on these things.
* are there good/bad makes and models of props?
* Should I get a cupped prop?
* are there good/bad retailers?
* are there gotchas (I.E. if I have a prop strike with a stainless do I need a new lower unit because the stainless prop won't bend or break?)
In my platonic ideal of prop shopping, I'd go to a store where a guy could look at the boat and my use and give me four to try for a day; and at the end I'd buy one. But that doesn't seem realistic.
(http://boatspecs.iboats.com/Sylvan_M...95/bp/66b91289)
Mainly I use this boat for towing kids tubing, towing one, sometimes two props with two kids who are about 100lbs. Inside the boat are my wife and I and gear. The hull has a 750 lbs max rating for gear and people and I'm usually right there if not over.
Originally it came with a 3 blade 15 pitch aluminum prop; but that cavitated like crazy in turns, so about 24 years ago I got a four bladed comp prop (I had no money) with a 17 pitch. It's worked great for me so far, though I can overspeed the engine a bit (I can top out around 5700 rpm if I let it at WOT, and it will get me maybe 37mph with everyone and a full tank of gas, but that is nearly fully trimmed down because the boat loves to porpoise).
So, last year, I dinged the comp prop, and I need something new. What are my options? I've been online and I was hoping for 'Here is your boat engine, here are the 5 available props, with reviews' almost like buying a tire, but it seems like there is nothing like that. Just lots of choices and little idea of how it will perform.
So my questions are:
* Is there a performance difference of composite vs aluminum vs stainless steel? If so is it significant?
* If so, how does that affect pitch and blade selection? I went to four blade due to cavitation on my aluminum in turns. But would a Stainless eliminate that?
* Is there a place to go for reviews? I'd be awfully upset to get a 3 bladed stainless prop and have it not perform, or have it cavitate, given the price on these things.
* are there good/bad makes and models of props?
* Should I get a cupped prop?
* are there good/bad retailers?
* are there gotchas (I.E. if I have a prop strike with a stainless do I need a new lower unit because the stainless prop won't bend or break?)
In my platonic ideal of prop shopping, I'd go to a store where a guy could look at the boat and my use and give me four to try for a day; and at the end I'd buy one. But that doesn't seem realistic.
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