- 1. A modern aluminum prop works fine, but a stainless-steel prop will outperform aluminum in every way. ...
- 2. In our test situation, the four-blade prop matched the performance of the three-blade stainless-steel prop, and it felt better from the helm. ...
- 3. It’s better to be underpropped than overpropped. ...
- 4. If your boat already planes in four seconds, there’s not much room for improvement. ...
Full Answer
How to choose the right prop for your boat?
- First move the COG (center of gravity) forward or backward to get on plane quicker. ...
- If the boat will not come on plane, and the motor seems to be at full RPM the prop is cavitating. ...
- A well balanced and sharpened prop will always spin at higher RPM allowing a higher top speed!
- Always monitor motor or engine heat! ...
How to pick a propeller for your boat?
Tips on How To Choose The Correct Boat Propeller
- Pitch. A propeller’s pitch determines how far a boat moves. ...
- Rake. Aside from pitch, another factor to consider when choosing a boat propeller is rake. ...
- Number of blades. Theoretically, a propeller with fewer blades is more efficient. ...
- Material. ...
- Altitude and load. ...
- Engine height. ...
Do you keep a spare prop on your boat?
You can carry an affordable aluminum propeller as a spare for your more valuable stainless steel prop. Many boaters use a previously repaired prop as a spare and a new prop as their main prop, even if the pitch on the spare is an inch or two larger or smaller than the main propeller. The mission of the spare is simply to get you home.
What is the best paint for my Boat?
What kind of paint is suitable for my boat?
- One-part polyurethane & enamel paint – it is the most resistant and glossy boat paint
- Two-part polyurethane paint – it lasts a long time and is easy to apply
- Alkyd enamel – it is quite affordable, but not very glossy How to prepare your boat before painting it? ...
How do I know what prop to use on my boat?
The proper propeller size for your boat and engine combination is based in part on the wide open throttle (WOT) operating range for your particular engine. You can find this in your operator's manual, expressed in terms of a certain horsepower at a certain r.p.m.
Is 3 or 4 blade prop better?
3 or 4 Blades? A 3 blade propeller usually offers top speed performance while a 4 blade propeller provides maximum thrust and smooth cruising operation. Four blades have some features of their own, though. They often provide more lift at the stern which will help accelerate the hull, especially if it is stern heavy.
What prop pitch is best for speed?
The lower the prop pitch, the better your hole-shot. However, this comes at a price: top speed. The lower pitch makes the engine reach maximum rpm at slower speeds. Conversely, a higher pitch will deliver greater top speeds, but slower acceleration.
Is a 19 or 21 pitch prop faster?
Is a 19 pitch prop faster? Yes, it is on the top end, but if you desire to come out of a hole shot quickly, then the 21-pitch prop is the better choice of the two. But, of course, that is if your engine will run within its optimal power band when so equipped.
How much speed will I lose with a 4 blade prop?
At the higher end of the RPM scale, the 3 blade propeller will almost always outperform the 4 blade propeller, so you can expect to lose about 5% of the top speed with a 4 blade propeller.
What prop makes a boat go faster?
Change Your Propeller If you are running an aluminum prop, changing to even a basic stainless steel prop will usually improve top speed. Because stainless steel is stronger than aluminum, the blades on a stainless prop can be thinner, which reduces drag in the water.
Will a lower pitch prop make my boat faster?
A lower-pitch prop is like low gear in a car or a bicycle—you'll accelerate quickly but top speed will suffer. A prop with too much pitch may deliver more top speed because the prop moves further forward with each rotation, but acceleration may be poor and the boat will struggle to get on plane.
How do you pick a boat prop pitch?
A lower pitched propeller will create more power due to more engine RPMs, but the boat will move slower. A higher pitched prop allows the boat to move faster by travelling a farther distance with each rotation. When choosing a propeller, choose a pitch that will keep the engine RPM in its recommended operating range.
What is a 19 pitch prop good for?
Under-revving vs over-revving If you find that you are under-revving, it may be wise to choose a lower pitch propeller (19 pitch prop). If you are over-revving, buying a higher pitch prop (21 pitch prop) may be beneficial.
Is a 4 blade prop better than 2?
Four Blade A 4 blade is a great choice if the vessel is heavy for its length the increased blade area will power the boat more efficiently. Or there is a limitation in the size of propeller the vessel will fit a 4 blade will allow for a more efficient pitch.
What happens if your propeller is too big?
Overpitched and oversized propellers can cause an engine to work harder and hotter than it should and not allow it to reach optimal cruising rpm, resulting in poor performance and decreased engine life.
Should I go down a pitch for 4 blade prop?
If you are switching from a three blade to a four blade prop, drop one inch in pitch to compensate for the RPM change. Likewise, if you are switching from a four to a three blade, increase one inch in pitch.
Is a 4 blade prop worth it?
In short, a 4-blade propeller can improve all those characteristics that make for practical, all-around boat performance. Four-blade props usually have a lower pitch to keep the rpms the same as a 3-blade.
Should I switch to a 4 blade prop?
FOUR BLADE VS. THREE BLADE: A four blade prop will improve your hole-shot and get you on plane faster and keep you there at a lower RPM, hence, better fuel economy at mid range RPM, better handling, stern lift, cruising efficiency, and will resist cavitation and ventilation better than a three blade.
How many blades on propeller is best?
But with a single blade winging around at speed, the vibration would be intolerable. A propeller with three blades achieves the best balance of smooth operation and minimal drag through the water, which is why a three-blade design is the most popular for general boating.
What is advantage of 3-blade prop?
A 2-blade propeller produces two pressure pulses per revolution, whereas a 3-blade propeller will produce three smaller pulses per revolution for the same amount of total thrust. As a result, the 3-blade prop will be inherently smoother and therefore quieter.
How to test a boat prop?
To test the prop, run the boat at WOT and observe the maximum engine RPM on a tachometer. If the RPM is below the recommended operating range, switch to a propeller with lower pitched blades. If the RPM is higher, switch to a propeller with higher pitched blades.
What is the diameter of a propeller?
All props will be described by two numbers, such as 13 x 21. Those numbers are the diameter and pitch. Diameter is the overall size of the blade as measured from the tips. A large diameter propeller can push more water than a small diameter propeller, creating more power. Diameter is predetermined by the manufacturer for a family of products. Your prop selection will be focused on the pitch.
How to choose a propeller pitch?
When choosing a propeller, choose a pitch that will keep the engine RPM in its recommended operating range. Going under the range will cause the boat to lug, while going over can cause engine strain. Blades have other important features built into their design. Rake is the angle between the blade and the hub.
What is rake angle?
Blades have other important features built into their design. Rake is the angle between the blade and the hub. The rake angle can be flat, staying the same along the entire blade, or progressive, meaning the angle increases as it approaches the tip. Props have between 0 and 20 degrees rake. The rake angle determines how much the bow lifts out of the water. High rake propellers are ideal for light-weight, high speed boats. Too much rake, however, will strain the engine and reduce overall performance.
Why are propellers cupped?
Some propellers are cupped, which means they have a lip on the edge of the blades. The cup creates more space between the sides of the blades, reducing ventilation and slippage. If the cup is on the tip of the blade, the blade has an increased rake angle and a higher bow lift. If the cup is on the trailing edge, it effectively increases the pitch size, and the propeller will create more power at the cost of engine speed.
Why is the cup on the trailing edge of a propeller?
If the cup is on the trailing edge, it effectively increases the pitch size, and the propeller will create more power at the cost of engine speed. Blades are also designed to prevent ventilation and cavitation. Ventilation is when air is drawn around the blades between the blade surface and the water.
Why are 3 blades used in boating?
That’s why three blade propellers are the most common for general purpose boating. Three blades props provide the best combination of performance, speed, and efficiency.
What propellers are compatible with Go2marine?
Interchangeable propeller systems (and they are all compatible) such as the Solas Rubex System, Flo-Torq and Vortex are an option for quick swapping. For propeller choice, consultation or confirmation, please contact Go2marine at 1-800-998-9508 or Intl. +1-206-780-5670.
What is the rubber bushing on a propeller?
Most propellers have a splined flexible rubber bushing in the hub that connects the propeller to the propeller shaft. This rubber acts like a shock absorber in case the propeller strikes something hard, then the rubber flexes and helps protect the gear case components from damage.
What is the common rotation of a propeller?
The common rotation of a propeller is clockwise; often called right hand rotation, right or just “R”. When running dual engines on a powerboat, the engines will tend to be counter-rotating. Counter-rotating engines are when one propeller runs Right or clockwise and the other propeller runs Left or counterclockwise.
What is a 20 degree rake?
A propeller with 0 degree rake has blades 90 degrees perpendicular to the center of the hub. A 20 degree rake results in a blade that is angled 70 degrees from the hub.
How much does 1 inch of propeller pitch reduce?
Adding 1 inch of propeller pitch will reduce full-throttle (WOT) RPM by 150 to 200. Subtracting 1 inch of propeller pitch will increase full-throttle RPM by 150 to 200. Moving from a 3-blade to a 4-blade propeller, a 4-blade generally turns 50 to 100 RPM less than a 3-blade propeller with the same pitch.
What is a propeller?
Propellers are comprised of different materials, shapes, and sizes to suit the broad spectrum of use cases and conditions in which a propeller must perform. If you're looking to change your propeller for one that better suits your need, it will help to learn a little about propeller construction, types of propellers, materials used in constructing propellers, as well as the number of blades on a propeller, and other blade performance factors.
What is the difference between Enertia and Mirage Plus?
Enertia props are smaller in diameter and have more moderate rake, and less aggressive cup, than the Mirage Plus props they superseded. But they have more blade area than fast bass-boat props. 1. A modern aluminum prop works fine, but a stainless-steel prop will outperform aluminum in every way.
Why is the Enertia propeller 1 inch?
The reason the Enertia propeller is offered in 1-inch pitch increments is because it was designed specifically for Mercury Verado outboards. The 5,800 to 6,200 peak rpm range of Verado outboards both is higher and occurs in a narrower band than two-stroke outboards, such as the Mercury Optimax, which has a peak operating range of between 5,000 and 5,750 rpm. Since prop pitch is essentially the final drive gear ratio for an outboard, smaller pitch increments allow adjusting top rpm to suit load conditions for engines with narrower top rpm bands.
What is a spitfire?
Mercury SpitFire The Mercury SpitFire is a new four-blade aluminum propeller that promises to deliver better acceleration and handling than the Black Max. At the time of our test, the SpitFire was available only for Mercury 25- to 125-horsepower outboards, but a SpitFire model to match the gear cases of the MerCruiser Alpha One sterndrive and Mercury 150 FourStroke outboard will reach dealers in December, priced at about $200. Mercury says the SpitFire is a cutting-edge design and the most aggressive aluminum boat propeller it’s ever offered, with lots of blade cup and rake for strong acceleration and hull lift. Boating Magazine
How much fuel does a Key West 2020 have?
Choosing the Right Prop From its Oshkosh, Wisconsin, testing facility Merc offered us the use of a 1,900-pound Key West 2020 center-console rigged with a Mercury 150 FourStroke outboard, and a full complement of data acquisition gear. We tested each boat propeller “light” (just the tech on board) and “heavy” (with 350 additional pounds in the boat), always with the 60-gallon fuel tank full. Boating Magazine
What is Tempest Plus?
To move up to stainless steel, we chose the Tempest Plus, a performance three-blade boat propeller designed to produce good top speed and a popular choice with tournament bass and walleye anglers.
Which is better, the Revolution 4 or the Tempest Plus?
If three blades are good, will four be better? To find out we ran the Revolution 4, sort of a four-blade cousin to the Tempest Plus designed to deliver better hole-shot acceleration than the Tempest simply because it has more blade area. The Rev 4 is very popular on twin-rig outboard offshore boats because it really holds well in rough water, especially in following seas that can lift the transom and ventilate the prop. Merc also recommends the Rev 4 for stepped-hull boats, which send a lot of frothy, aerated water to the props. The extra blade should also produce more drag and thus lower top speed. That might be true on a faster or heavier boat, but in a more modestly powered rig like ours, the difference in performance between these two props is negligible. That said, the Rev 4 feels great from the helm. There’s pronounced bow lift at the last 5 percent of the trim range, it holds well in turns, and it offers better reverse thrust than the Tempest Plus. For general-use boating, overall smoothness is the key advantage of a four-blade prop.
What is a Rev 4?
The Rev 4 is very popular on twin-rig outboard offshore boats because it really holds well in rough water, especially in following seas that can lift the transom and ventilate the prop. Merc also recommends the Rev 4 for stepped-hull boats, which send a lot of frothy, aerated water to the props.
