New replacement prop..SS or alum?

[ashnic]

2000 Maxum with a 4.3L Alpha one..1900SR. Well have finally got everything open on the boat for the season, and pulled the prop and it's pretty beat up. So thinking of replacing. It is a 14x23P 832834a45 23p, 3 blade alum prop. Should I go ahead and step up to SS or a new alum prop? We tube and ski a bit when the kids are with us and mainly just Cruze around. Any suggestions? Also if I order a prop what else do I need to order with it? Thanks for any help!

 

[steelespike]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

From your description there is no need for a ss prop.A entry level ss prop may perform slightly better than an al prop but at a sizeable cost increase.If you boat where soft contact with mud or sand is likely the ss prop will hold up better but cost more to repair later.
If hard contact is more likely the ss prop could transfer more impact to the gear case though the safety hub should protect it.
Also again the ss prop is more to repair.For your casual boating the Solas Amita or Rubex should serve you well.
The Rubex is the same prop with a removable hub.Get the installation kit with your prop.

 

[ashnic]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

From your description there is no need for a ss prop.A entry level ss prop may perform slightly better than an al prop but at a sizeable cost increase.If you boat where soft contact with mud or sand is likely the ss prop will hold up better but cost more to repair later.
If hard contact is more likely the ss prop could transfer more impact to the gear case though the safety hub should protect it.
Also again the ss prop is more to repair.For your casual boating the Solas Amita or Rubex should serve you well.
The Rubex is the same prop with a removable hub.Get the installation kit with your prop.

Should I go up in pitch to get out of the hole a little quicker? Sounds like Alum prop would be fine..Are the Rubex Alum props pretty good?

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

For better hole shots you go down in pitch. For top end you go up. You also need to know the rated WOT rpm so you don't exceed that, especially if you drop pitch.

 

[steelespike]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

yes the Rubex is a good prop. You shouldn't make any changes until you get us your wot rpm and gps speed.
If you drop to a 21" pitch it will help your hole shot ,may stay on plane easier at reduced throttle.
You'll need to watch your rpm.May lose a little top end.

 

[ashnic]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

yes the Rubex is a good prop. You shouldn't make any changes until you get us your wot rpm and gps speed.
If you drop to a 21" pitch it will help your hole shot ,may stay on plane easier at reduced throttle.
You'll need to watch your rpm.May lose a little top end.

Think I will just stick with the 23 pitch, one more quick question..the only local marina recently closed and I use to get prop grease there..can I use another type grease?

 

[agallant80]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

I love my SS props. I always ran aluminum on my alpha and if anything touched it while it was spinning it was damaged. The SS on my bravo3 are bullet proof!

 

[jkust]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

If I am reading this correctly, you don't have a spare prop and hub that you carry in the boat. I'd take this opportunity to get one of each. Maybe make one a 23" and the other a 21". I've had good luck with Turning Point Hustler props. They are about a hundered dollars plus the hub (which they recently changed making my previous new hub useless so maybe my luck isn't as good). I tend to also carry a prop for when I go to unfamiliar waters. Usually that prop is a slightly dinged up one that I already replaced. Grab a crescent wrench or floating prop wrench as well and keep it onboard. I also keep a tube of propshaft grease that I ordered from Iboats. With the weight of my boat being powered by only a 4.3liter (it needed the 270hp optional engine), there is just no practical performance purpose for me to get an SS prop. It would go to waste so I stick with aluminum. Your boat on the other hand should have a heck of a lot less weight and I'm betting you could actually get some value from SS if you were so inclined. The aluminum TP Hustlers however have some feature that you might normally find on ss props so a decent compromise.

 

[jestor68]

Re: New replacement prop..SS or alum?

I would be interested to hear what your WOT rpm and speed are with a 23 pitch, since the Mercury prop selector suggests a 19 pitch prop for your boat.

The dry weight is 2860 plus 500lbs of people/gear plus 30 gals of gas equal a total weight of 3531; which it says equals a 19 pitch prop.

Your full throttle operating range is 4400-4800 rpm.

The details listed are 19 pitch at 3531 lbs, equals 4600 rpm @ 43 mph.

That assumes a 1.81 gear ratio. If you use 1.62, it drops to 17 pitch.