newb prop ?

[GREASEMONKEYSC]

I have a 1980 Mercury 50HP serial #500 series outboard, exhaust throught the prop. The current prop is a 3 blade, roughly 8" diameter, kinda beat up. I want to upgrade, and replace the prop. My boat is a 15' kingfisher bass boat. There are no gauges so speed & rpm are a guess. It seems to run at a decent speed as it is, but as always if a prop will increase my distance per gallon, I'm all for it. The current prop has a # 48 73136A-4 13P. I know a little about repairs, so the removal & install is not an issue. I just dont know enugh about boat motor props to make an informed decision. I want to stay with an aluminum prop, so 4 blade, 3 blade, change pitch? What replacement prop do you reccomend?

 

[steelespike]

Re: newb prop ?

If you read the stickies at the top of the page and the helps on the prop store page it will help you understand props a little better.
Unfortunately without a tach and speedo or gps we can't be miuch help.
there are prop calculaters that with enough info can suggest a prop.But the info must be very accurate and seldom is and one small error can make big changes.
Without the tach and gps there is no way to know if the prop selection is right or if your whole setup is working right.A tinytach is about $47 and easy to install.
Perhaps you can borrow a gps.
All that said you have a 13" pitch prop. If you look up a 13" 3 blade prop for your motor here at iboats in your price range Solas for instance it will work for you.
Without the tach and gps there is no way to know if the 13" is the right one.
Then there are the possible setup issues.

 

[GREASEMONKEYSC]

Re: newb prop ?

I have read over the sticky's, and I do understand the basics, but was looking for advice on what I should do. Thanks for the reply, and I think I'll just let the local prop shop repair the one i have. Just as you say, there are way to many factors for me to screw up, and the wrong prop can cause all sorts of problems. I'll just let it be.