prop/motor combinations

Hey how about a few technical discussions to help pass the winter? What prop do you run on your boat / motor. I’ve never seen anything change the characteristic of a boat like a change in prop selection. I ran a trophy plus 26 pitch most of the season on my 225 Pro Max (Stroker boat). (82-84 great holeshot) I tried a 28 chopper (no hole shot but sounded cool) a 28 trophy (86 mph with the boat light and empty, a little chine walk) but dropped to 72-73 with water in the livewell, and the gas tank full. Mercury finally made a 27 trophy plus. I ran it one time this fall gas tank full and all tackle on board ran 88.2, (nordskog gps speedo) with great holeshot. My dealer Tom Geesaman Eagle Marine) also tried one and said he ran 79.8 on his boat, tank full and 2 people on board when he delivered it to a new customer. Seems like this is the prop for my boat. Any one else play with their setup? Let us know what you found.

Your set up sounds great! Have you gone to anglerworld.com? Rich Boger is under props and you just ask him questions and he replies usually right away. Lots of boats for sale at that sight also. Lots of Ranger boats for sale.

Am thinking about the Everstart. Called and there is a waiting list. Will all depend on my wifes schedule that week in June. That’s the thing about kids. Someone has to take care of them. (ages 8 & 9). Can’t see why I can’t at least win entry fee back. Hard to think about it now with all the ice. Just have to watch it on TV Sunday mornings. FLW on ESPN2. Can’t wait to see the Everstarts on PAX in mid January.

Jim,

I’ve got a Promax too on my Allison. Stock Sportmaster w/ 1.87 gears. For props, I have a 26 DAH worked Trophy. Runs 87 light, 84-85 loaded. A 28 Merc big eared Chopper, stock to my knowledge. It runs 91-92 light, 85-86 loaded. Third wheel is a 30 Mazco RE. 92-95 light, 86-88 loaded. Chopper and Mazco relatively stink out of the hole. The Mazco actually hole shots better. The midrange is average with both. The best prop I’ve ever run on the boat was a Labbed 28 ET. Hole shot was great and the midrange was scary quick. But, alas, it cracked a blade. Would really like to try the 27 and 28 Trophy’s sometime, but have never come across either. A Spinelli might be fun too, but they’re real pricey and also out of business, I’ve heard.

Cliff

I have the 28 you can put on and run. If it turns on your boat I’ll make you a deal on it, it is not much good to me. I have 2 of the 27’s now too. If we can hook up one day next spring, I wouldn’t mind letting you give one a spin to see if you like it as well. Who is DAH. I’m a little ignorant on these things having only been running high performance for a year and 1/2 now. I’m thinking of sending a prop into Boger. I hear he can do wonders for them. I’ve only heard it second hand though. Be nice to talk to someone who actually had a prop worked by him… Any one else out there have any experience with custom prop shops?

Sounds like a plan, Jim. I don’t hear much good about the 28 Trophys, but haven’t heard anything at all about the new 27 (other than they’re available). They had been anxiously awaited by the Allison crowd. I’d like to have a Trophy that I can hit 90 with. I’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews of Rich Boger. He must really know his stuff. I have heard not one bad comment. DAH is Preformance Propellers in Wisconsin. John Janaky is the man’s name. DAH stands for his mentor Don Heinrich (sp?) of OMC propeller fame. The OMC SRX’s are great props, too. They typically run REALLY good stock out of the box, and even better after they’ve been ‘tuned’. Have you ever tried one?

What we have to answer here are to things.1.getting out of the hole.2. top end speed.Being a aircraft mech prior to police work props are my bag.Unless you race boats for a living don,t worry aboat it. There,s a thing called mechanical advantage.In short you have to give somthing to get somthing. If you increas. the pitch of the prop you will get a higher top end,If you decease the pitch you get out of the hole faster. Now let us look at the down side of fooling around to much.First lower pitch,low top end and worse over rpm engine bad news amigo.Nest increase pitch bad hole shot,also bad troll speed. also top end at full speed may give to much head preasure causing cylinder failure. Look at your motor warranty,you may be introuble fooling around to much. Also if you have a perfactly balanced prop one ding and it not balanced. I assume it.s a stainless,hits on rocks go right up the drive train aluminum is very forgiving and costs alot less remember these prop guys work for aliving(fixing props). You pay for speed!!!!!!.

old ranger – What you say here is generally true (pitch vs speed vs RPM, etc..). But as far as boats, if you’re talking anymore than 30 mph flat let’s be realistic here. What these noted prop tuners (Boger, DAH, any one of many others) do is FAR beyond just adjusting pitch. Be aware that bass boat props can be tuned for a multitude of performance characteristics. Engine RPM, hole shot, top end, acceleration in specific ranges, bow lift, tail lift, wheel torque, you name it. My point is, don’t limit yourself to the notion that all you can do is adjust the pitch and live with it. Tell us about your boat, how it’s rigged, what you like and don’t like and maybe someone can help you with your setup. Another thing to keep in mind is that some of the biggest gains in performance can come from the simplest of setup changes not even involving expensive prop work. And the aforementioned guys aren’t cheap. That’s why it’s in your best interest to research and experiment with your combination to maximize your current performance, before sending your wheel and 2 or 3 bills off….. just my 2 cents.

What we need is variable pitch prop. hydrolicly operated with stops so not to over rpm or overboost. state at low stop for hole shot and work up to top speed notch that should take care of your over time for next year{salary}. But being absalutly mecanicaly corect if you do not have this type you are stuck with a fixed pitched prop. if your prop is set for a good hole shot you cannot have a good top end and vice versa you can ha ve a pitch that gives a not bad hole shot and not bad top end,but I tell you this from a proven scientific principal that a fixed pitched prop cannot and will not give ouy a great top end and great hole shot

Right on, old ranger!!!! We can agree on that. All of life is a compromise of some sorts. I can say, however, that a good prop man can make you pretty a pretty darn good compromise. shifting props have been around awhile. expensive to buy, really expensive to maintain, very difficult to dial in on a high performance rig. they also tend to sling ears in elevated transom height applications like we’re talking about here.

The problem with the shifting props is: In order to be able to shift there has to be a pivot point, where the pivot point leaves the hub, water can pass between the blade and the hub. These props are inefficent because of the loss of thrust, and disturbance that the gap causes. In theory every 26 pitch prop should push a given boat at a given speed all other variables the same. In practice no two 26 pitch props push a boat the same speed even if made by the same manufacturer. Anyone who has had a prop re done by a standard prop shop will tell you that they come back a different animal. Nothing you would note at 30 mph but on the upper end of the spectrum huge differences. What I understand custom prop shops do is: Blueprint, and balance the blade, as well as thin it somewhat (yes making it weaker) There is also work on the cup or tip of the blade that can be done to change bow lift, hole shot, and handling characteristics. (all information gleaned from reading articals in Bass and Walleye boat Mag, no practicle experience). The blueprinting allows the custom prop shop to give you the same prop back every time, as well as make slight modifications based on customer feedback. The $350+ (as much as a stainles prop costs from a discount dealer) they charge for this service guarantees that somone who doesn’t care about 2 miles per hour isn’t going to patronise these services. But if you’re the type that is going to spend the money on a boat that can go 80 + you are probably the type that will drop an extra 300 to find out where the plus ends. Some people take this to extremes (like I should call anyone extreme ) and mess with the motor giving it higher rpm’s and more HP. I personally draw the line there. I’ll play with my prop, but leave the motor stock out of the box.

Well, I am a fisherman that runs a crestliner out there because i am a big walleye fisherman too so i like that. i just have a 115 on that one, but i have a high performance boat also. it is a hydrostream with a 2.5 merc on it. I run a chopper with a 28 pitch on it and last year with me and my buddy i hit 115 miles per hour down the channel, if you want an excitement that is it. i do go walleye fishing, and am putting a livewell and trolling motor on it this year might do some bass fishing in it and mount something for walk on up top. you will know it is me if you see a black and white streak go flying by you slow pokes at 90. i rebuild motors and that for a hobby so if you have any questions i am a good guy to ask, i will give you my advice for free, i am good with fitting props to motors.

Howdy larsonlawyers!

Welcome. I’ve had a few Hydrostreams myself. Is yours a V-king, HST or some other model? If your numbers are right, you’re running EXTREMELY well. Sounds like you’re twisting your Merc in the high 8000’s. Where do you run? I’d really like to see your rig someday.

Geeze you guys……I’m happy to hit 40 with my 115 Yamaha . Sounds like you guys don’t even get your boats on the pad until faster than that…..sure would like to talk to someone in “my” puney 115 category, specifically 115 4 stroke Yamaha….