need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

I want to know what you think/suggest, and yes... another friggin prop question. Let's hear what you have to say please.

I currently have a 14.25 21p aluminum mercury prop on my 1999 Shabah 202 5.7L. It works well for all around. decent holeshot (a tad slow) but pulls 225lbs guys out of the water on wakeboards out of the water no prob and pulls two tubes with ease. Has hit just overv 50 a few times. will lose speed in turn quickly when pulling, will blow out easy and will not trim all the way up. WOT RPMs are good.

I want a bit more performance off bottom and pulling. want to trim up more and quit blowing out on corners

So based on your opinions (Mikeyt) I am looking at the solas HR Titan 4 blade. 14 1/8... and here's the question 19p or 20p?? I am thinking 19 due to the cupping and I'm thinking the 20p won't be enough of a difference for me to have spent the $300.

I like going fast and I like pulling. I know I can't have both but from all the reviews and in your own words it seems the efficiency of the 19 4 blade may just get me better holeshot, better handling/performance/trim and probably match what my 3 blade aluminum 21p can do with 5 ppl in the boat... not to mention in a year and 1/2 I have added the tower, speakers, subs, amps, 2 big ass batteries, two heavy tubes, etc and am thinking of adding 600lbs ballasts... I have felt performance has dropped off the last year or so (except for when I didn't have all the **** in the boat... Hmm... lol) so maybe based solely on that and what I've added in weight the last two years, the 19p 4 blade solas may just be the way to go...

Your thoughts?? Thank you for your opinion, I value it a lot. and yes I have smart tabs, no I've never put a hydrofoil on an outdrive... lol.

Matt in GA

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Matt,

Excellent post....I have a 1994 Z202 Shabah with the 5.7mag (w/ a 21P SS Laser II prop), with the same questions regarding replacement prop selection.

I bought my boat last year and installed a tower as well. I use it 50/50 cruising and watersports. I currently get alot of porpoising when I 'm at cruising speeds. I have to trim down to stop it and then try to trim back up slowly, but it eventually starts bouncing again, so I can never trim up to get the bow out of the water.
Did you have that problem also; if so, did the Smart Tabs help? I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts and recommendations on the Smart Tabs. I contacted Nauticus last week and they recommend the 80# Composite tabs (SX9510-80) over the Stainless ones (ST1290-80). When I questioned why, his response was basically that they'll perform the same and the only difference is prices due to the different material.

I'm sorry I'm not helping YOU at all as far as your question on prop pitch, but I'd appreciate any recommendations you have. I look forward to seeing repsonses tp your post as far as prop pitch, I'll be buying a new prop in addition to the tabs.

Thanks,
Jeff (from MI)

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Hooligan- If I were to tackle a prop selection issue personally I would be using either a local company with great prop selection or seeking advice from B Blades (or similar). They have policy that allows you to basically use a prop and return it till you get the one you want. That's probably your best bet.
I have a feeling a four blade may be in your future.

Meyers- Smart tabs are the answer to your battle with trim and porpoising. If you wakeboard understand they will change your wake. It's becomes flat. At least on my boat it did.

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Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Thanks Motoxxx43. In researching the forum, I see some people went down to the 60# springs vs the Nauticaus recommeded 80#'s. Any recommendations on that?

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

I have run both on my boat. Currently running #80 an they work good. The #60 were a little light for what I wanted.

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Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Moto....what size Mariah do you have?

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

25' shabah it's around 4500-5000 lbs

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Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

LOL. This is why moto runs 80# and I run 60# on a 202 he's got 5 more feet of boat than us!

I bought the 60's based on the posts in that huge smart tabs thread that I actually read in it entirety. lol. I run the 60#'s on the lightest setting. Probably could even go to 40"'s but they work well at the lightest 60" setting so...

Made a huge difference, best upgrade so far. What they may take away from whatever wake we can manage, they more than make up for in the ability to plane at a lower speed and maintain a constant speed when pulling a boarder. I rigged a way to unhook them, tried it pulling wakeboards, hooked them right back up as it was a PITA to stay on plane pulling at 20 mph and maintain a constant speed. I'll take the smart tabs.

If we want a better wake, the answer is to fill the big ass ski locker with a ballast bag, there is a sac out there (may even be a fat sac, it's on wakemakers.com) that will get us like 600-800 pounds (or something like that) by almost completely filling up the available space in the ski locker. Which is the absolute perfect place to put the weight to get a good, firm and not overly rampy wake. Lets face it, we are only going to get so good of a wake. I've seen a guy jump wake to wake behind mine from the ski eye with no ballast and smart tabs... it can be done. Lol.

Hope this helped.

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Thanks Gahooligan. That's exactly why I was asking the boat size, wondering if the 80# tabs were on a bigger boat than mine. I'll go with the 60's as well. Any recommendations on prop selection? I currently have a 21P, 3-blade, Laser II stainless. Hole shot isn't too bad, but I'm thinking of trying a 4 blade.

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

LOL - If MikeyT would ever Chime in we might have an answer... That's why I started this thread.

I currently have a 14.25 21p aluminum stock Mercrusier prop. I'm in the same boat (pun intended) Holeshot isn't bad. Can hit over 50 mph. Good all around prop. I have a 1.47 final leg on my outdrive. (not sure what you have) I have added weight with tower, speakers, two big ass batteries, two subs and two more bigger towables. With the added weight and drag of the bimini I feel I have lost some Holeshot and top speed. I also hate that I can't trim way up at speed and turning without blowing out. I too am looking for a 4 blade but don't know if I should go 21, 20 or 19p. I like my prop but want some of my performance back.

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

For what its worth, and while you wait on MikeyT; I have a '95 Shabah 202, with 5.7. Have 3 blade aluminum 14.25 x 19. As you described, good speed, blows out in turns, no holeshot with loaded boat. I do have Smart Tabs installed.

We use boat for tubing, almost exclusively. Loaded boat and pulling two tubes is our norm. Changed to a 5 blade QST prop. 13.5 x 17. Top speed is now 40 at best, but it will literally jump out of the water, comes on plane immediately, almost impossible to get it to blow out in curves. Before I had to carry more speed than necessary just to stay on plane and avoid bogging / blowing out in turns. Now I can tow at practically any speed without worrying about having enough "kick" to get back up and going again.

I don't think you're going to get enough value in changing from 21p to 20p. I think the 19p is the minimum you should drop to. Especially if you add the ballast bag.

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Thanks for the input McKenzie. I do think 17 would be too much. I don't want to give up that much top end. My holeshot with the 21p 3 blade alum. isn't horrible. It will pull 220+ lbs boarders out of the water no problem.

Those 5 blades are big $$!! I'm thinking the 19p to see a difference. That with the 4 blade cupped ought to make a world of difference! Thought about buying one of the cheap 4 blade aluminums in 21 or 20 from amazon as a back up...

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

I used a Solas 4 blade aluminum on my SC21 when I had it. It worked great for around 150$

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

Hey Moto,

any experience with the turning point 4 blades? They are aluminum, and really inexpensive on amazon. I just don't know how I feel about the cheaper prop with a combination of blade types. The solas HR Titan looks like it's really good but not a whole lot of reviews... some say good, some say all solas are cheaply made and junk... lol. opinions, opinions...

Also, any experience with one of these props that give good stern lift and wakeboarding??

Thanks Moto!

Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

I've had zero with TPs. I can tell you the Mirage Plus works great on my 250 Shabah. (Minimal towing, decent holeshot, good cruising speed, spot on WOT and acceptable top speed)
The Solas 4 blade was a 17p I put on the SC21 from a beat up 19p 3 blade and it put my RPM in the sweet spot and it had a great holeshot.
If you are seeking a true prop guru you need to talk to a prop specialist. BBlades, Props Plus, etc. I personally have used props plus out of Denver for my 250 and it's running great. I can't expect a 4500+ lb I/O to tow like a wakeboat but thats fine. It's not purpose built to just tow. When the water gets rough and I want to cruise I enjoy blowing past the tow boats while they are revving along at 30 mph or so.

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Re: need prop Opinions (especially Mikeyt's)
 

i currently run the turbo 4 blade 2+2 with i believe 19 p. great for tubes skiers and wake boards. excellent hole shot and hard turning. top end around 55mph.