Posts: 3486
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Those are actually some good numbers there!!
Here is what I think you can do... If you go onto ebay, find a 17 pitch michigan ballistic prop. Should be 15 spline and I believe 13-5/8" in diameter.
Once you have it, get it on and take the boat out for a spin. It will hop up on plane better and should hold the turns much better as well. Where you will see a drop is in your overall RPM's...probably around 300 or so from where you are at now. THAT will be solved by moving the motor up off the transom 2 more bolt holes. This could potentially put you at the highest motor setting, which should still do well. This prop is designed to be very aggresive, as it has thinner blades and substantial cup on the tip and trailing edge. I had one on my 90 yamaha 2 stroke and it performed extremely well. With this prop, I would bet you will see both an increase in hole shot and an increase in overall speed...especially if you raise the motor up a hole or two.
The 17 pitch ballistic will act more along the lines of an 18 pitch prop, but in my experience, I found it turned the same rpms as my stock aluminum....so I only gained with it.
The other option is to find a solas 3 blade aluminum, which will be cupped more than your stock aluminum, and it will be cast thinner as well. This is due to their process of what they refer to as "squeeze casting", which instead of just sending melted aluminum into a cast, they literally push it in there to remove the porous nature of aluminum, allowing for thinner blades and a more aggresive fin design. The prop acts more like steel, with the forgiveness of aluminum.
I feel in your situation, the steel could do you well. One note, though...not every prop works well with certain combinations, so you may find that both of the props I have mentioned here may or may not work...but the fun is trying them out!! If you can find someone who would let you borrow a prop, that would at least save you the $$ to try one out as well.
Ebay has good deals on used stainless...I've purchased many off of there and if the prop doesn't work for me, I am usually only out the cost of shipping as I can sell it for the price I purchased (in most cases).
Steve |
