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Location: Hayward WI | Anyone else running this rig? If so what prop are you using and what's the performance (hole shot/speed/rpm's). The 21p Laser I bought  is keeping my rpm's too low, ~5000, and speed is 45 mph. Lookin' for a good all around performance prop.
Eric |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
Just looking at the numbers: rig weight, gear ratio, prop, etc...I have a feeling you are about 2 inches too much in pitch. If you drop the 2 inches in pitch to a 19, you'd gain roughly 300 to 400 rpms...possibly even more. Then, if you can move the motor up two holes on the transom (which I am guessing you probably can..most are mounted one bolt hole up), you will gain another 150 or so... Thus...with a gain of 550 rpms, you are getting real close to an optimized setup (although you could go to an 18 pitch and gain even more rpms)
Theoretically, using your numbers as a starting point you should see anywhere from 45 to 49 mph and your rpm range is right where it should be. Hole shot will be much better than where I am guessing it is now (I'm guessing pretty slow coming out if you punch it and extremely slow if you have a heavy load). If you happen to gain 600 or so RPMs with a change to a 19 pitch, and you move the motor up two hole (if possible) you'd be right at 5750 for the motor... And..figuring around a 10% slip factor or so if the prop holds well, you could be almost touching the 50mph mark (being generous here a bit...nothing I would expect, but it may be possible...)
Motors are funny things....at one point somewhere along the line, one will exceed the power of the motor and rpms drop dramatically. I currently have a 17 pitch prop on my yamaha 90, and I can pull 5400 rpms. when I tried a 19 pitch in the same exact prop, I dropped rpms to 4800 max and speed dropped off dramatically. With the 17 pitch I am able to pull 40 - 41 mph.
That prop looks to be decent, but if you can try different ones, I would consider giving the enertia a try as well...and, it wouldn't hurt to try a 4 blade too...just to see what it's like for handling purposes.
Definitely some things to try and experiment with...can get frustrating if you are not into doing things like that, but if you are, it can be a very fun and rewarding project.
Steve
Edited by VMS 6/9/2009 9:29 AM
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Location: Hayward WI | Thanks Steve, I got a little ahead of myself when I got the boat this spring and didn't have the "normal" load of gear/equipment in the boat when I had it out for the first ride, rpms were higher and the prop calculator on the Merc site said a 21p was the one to get.
Time to start tinkering with the set-up  |
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| I have a 1850 DC but other than that I have the same rig. I am running a 20 pitch Enertia from Merc. and with a lite load I get 5550 RPM and 52 MPH when I have clients or with a tournament load I lose some MPH and 100 or so RPM. I ran a 19 pitch Tempist pluse also and got more RPM but the speed did not change. The Enertia gives better lift that the tempist. My hole shot has never been a problem.
The prop you are running now is a great prop but I think your load may be to much for that prop and that is why you are not getting the proformance you are looking for.
One other note I would not mess to much with the motor height. It did not help me when I did it. The only thing that raising it did was make the boat a bit lose at top end but did not give me any performance increase. |
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Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | Tom,
Sounds like you are getting good performance out of that prop, I have a navigator 175cs with a 150 opti and currently have a 17 inch cabelas prop (from Michigan wheel) and am getting about 46-47 mph at 5200 rpms but that is before the break in period is complete and I figure that I can gain another 200-300 rpms after that is done.
My question is, is the performance of the mercury that much better than a "cabelas" type prop and is it worth that additional $300 given that you can run less rpms to get the same speed (and thus gain fuel mileage).
Im thinking of a 19 inch tempist SS for it. |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | i have a 98 tournament 1850 with a optimax 135 on it and i run a tempest plus 19p and that is the pest prob i have ran on her...bill |
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| As far as the difference betwen the cabelas prop and the Merc. I think the props from them a just Michigan Wheel with thier lable. I have tried less expensive props and not had the performace? So I stick to the high end stuff.
The Enercia has some different cut and give better lift and is a little differnt metal I have been told. The prop itself is great and gives me differnt proformance than the Tempist ( great prop and cost is little lower I think )
For your Alumacraft it is a heavy boat and the Enercia would make a big difference in my opinion. You would also get the RPM that you are looking for. I have a 17 Enercia and I also have a 17 Balistic ( speed prop ) that if you wanted to try one I would be happy to meet with you and let you see what difference they would make. The 17 Enercia is also for sale and I am willing to give you or anyone a good deal. I am going to a larger boat and I will not need it any longer. |
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Posts: 75
Location: Aurora, IL. | That larger boat wouldnt happen to be made of fiberglass would it??
Edited by run n gun 6/15/2009 2:21 PM
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | if erico is asking this quection for a crestliner he would be better going with the tempest plus 19 p.. that prop is made to pugh big heavy boats.. no problem.. i run that one and i keep the holes plugged and get almost 50 mpr gps. with 5500 rpm's he will love it on that boat.. i run a little bit bigger one with a full load and she getts out of the hole like a rocket....bill |
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| I ran the 19 Tempist pluse all of last year and it was a great prop. This year I tried a 20 Enercia and got alomost the same performance the main difference is weight, if you have a heavy load the 2 run the same but with less load the Enercia is faster at top end. Also with the Enercia the boat has more lift witch gives you a dry ride in comparison. As I said before every prop that I have tried has given a great hole shot. The Laser is also a great lift prop and if he went down to a 19 his proformance would go up slightly but when I ran one it was not as good as some of the others. But if you change the motor angle and move it up 2 holes it was fast as hell but the boat was real lose and a dog when you had extra weight.
And Yes the new boat will be glass after many good years with Crestliner I will be going to a new boat line.
Anyone interested in a 2008 1850 Fish Hawk DC with a 150 Opti for a good price? |
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Location: Hayward WI | Thanks for the input guys. I'm not planning on messing with the motor height, I"m happy with the ride and don't really care to tweak the set-up for the max performance.
Now I just need a 19p Tempest/Enertia/Laser, anyone got one for a decent price? |
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| Cedar lake sales in West Bend has a used one that they are selling but I am not sure what the price is. Ask for Rich and tell him Tom Rozek sent you. I traded it in on the new Enercia that I am running now.
Sorry I dont have the number in front of me.
Tom |
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