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Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | Anyone running a Alumcraft Navigator 175Cs with a 150 Opti? Im just getting it out for the first time and having some prop issues. The dealer started me out with a 21" pitch SS and was only getting 4500 rpms(pegged), put the stock 21" aluminum back on and pulled 5100-5200, still a little low I think. Now I am trying out a 17" SS, havent had a chance to get it out.
Anyone else have this set-up? |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I run the 165 navigator...being it is only about 8 inches shorter than your boat and 3 inches narrower, it is pretty darn close in spec.
First question I would have for you is this: Where did they mount the motor? All the way down tight to the transom or 1 bolt up? My guess is the motor is mounted one hole up... I have no doubt you can move that motor all the way to the highest mounting hole to begin with if you stay stainless...
The next question is what stainless prop did they put on it? With that set-up, I am guess a 19 pitch will be close and hopefully a good cupped performance 19 pitch at that... Not sure what the gear ratio is on that motor, but I do believe you are low on RPMs as well.
The moving of the motor is a move-and-test situation, to find a good balance. No matter what you do, there are trade offs and limiting factors as to what the rig is capable of doing. With my rig (90 hp yamaha) I ended up going with a 17 pitch ballistic prop, and a 4 inch manual setback plate to raise the motor up even higher... I suffer just a touch in handling/turning moderately at WOT, and at mid speeds I have to trim down a little to stay hooked up on turns as well...nothing we shouldn't be doing already to keep the boat under control, though...
I'm betting a good 19 pitch with the motor raised will get you real close...
Steve |
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Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | Im on the road right now but I beleive it is one hole up, meaning that it isnt tight to the transom, but close. The specific type of stainless prop was a Cabelas brand, I beleive Michigan Wheel makes them for Cabelas and I have heard good things about them. They gave me a 17 inch to try in place of the 21.
My question is this though, if I find that I am turning too many RPMs because the prop is too small, could I run the rish of over-revving the engine causing "warranty" issues as I assume it would get logged as such. Or do I just push it to the 5600-5800 RPMs limit and see if there is any throttle left to go? I would assume that if Im not close to full throttle, I should go to the 19 inch......
This process blows........especially when the dealer is 2 hours away. |
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| Props are not an easy thing to get worked out some times. I have to do this every year with a new boat and it takes time. I run Crestliner so my boat is differnt than yours but not by much. Your rig weighs more than mine but not by much. I also am runnig a 150 opti and have a few differnt props that I play with. I have tried 17 19 20 21 pitch props. At one point or another they have all done what I wanted.
What area are you in? Maybe I could help you get it dialed in, changing props is not a big deal if you have them to work with. It can be a pain with the dealer and they cant sell a prop as new if it was placed on the boat, it works out as a cost to you.
Give me a call if you want some help Tom Rozek 414-550-1379
I also have a extra 17 pitch Enertia for a 150 opti it is a extra lift proformance prop from Merc. Great prop retails for over $650 but I dont have that much into it and I could give you a great deal if interested. This prop is what I am running most often I guide and tournament fish so I am always loaded down. This gives me the best proformance and when I am alone I just watch my RPM at top end. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | The particular cabelas's prop is not going to be a performance stainless prop...it is pretty much designed as an all-purpose steel prop...very similar to the Rapture from Michigan. I do think you can find some good aftermarket props out there...ones that are a bit more aggressive but lower in pitch. Ballistic, Stiletto, Powertech just to name a few...
If your dealer has demo props to try, see if you can get a few different ones and head to the lake and "play" for the afternoon. One will stick out well over the rest, where it will make the boat do what you want it to do, and the boat will just kinda float along at midrange speeds....
Time consuming as stated, but when you find the right one, everything feels great.
steve |
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Posts: 117
| I got a alumacraft phantom v170 with a 135hp opti that has a ballistic prop on it. I have no probs with rev and the pick up, planning and hole shot is good on it.. Dont know the pitch though. If you want pix pm me with your email address. |
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| What is optimum prop performance? Just wondering as I'm pretty much in the dark about all the prop differences. I just bought a boat with a 115hp 4stroke mercury and trimmed all the way down and running WOT it hits about 5400 rpms. trimmed up a little it will hit about 6200. What are the benefits of upgrading props? |
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| All aplications are different but when a boat is proped corect you get the best top speed and a good hole shot. The best thing I can tell you is you motor should run at the top end of the rpm when the motor is trimed all the way up. Some times you have to try different props to see what is the best for your rig.
I recently went from a 19 pitch factory prop to a 20 factory but with diferent cupping and picked up 6mph I did lose some hole shot but 6mph is better anyway. |
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