1999 Baja 192 better prop

[mcknight]

Hi folks,

I have a 1999 Baja 192 with the 5.0L Carb'd 220hp engine and Alpha One (1.62R) drive. It has the stock 3-blade propeller on it labeled "Quick Silver 23P".

The boat does great when pulling skiers, tubes and general riding around, but when I try to pull wakeboarders I have trouble.

It's not that it can't pull them, its that in order to stay on plane I have to pull them at about 20mph... and that's kinda fast, especially for beginners. If I drop much below 20, the boat comes off plane and wants to decelerate. It's also very difficult to maintain a certain speed... ie, if a wakeboarder cuts hard to the side, the boat will slow down.

I've heard that a different prop might help in two ways... first, it would help pull them out of the hole, and second, it would help the boat stay on plane at lower speeds and maintain that speed better.

My question is, is this true, and if so, what prop should I get?

Thanks in advance,
-Michael

 

[mcknight]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

Hi guys,

The more I look into this, the more confused I'm getting...

I've read several discussions and many of them recommend the 19" and 21" HighFive props from Mercury. It looks like Mercury makes two 5-blade props... the HighFive and the QST-5... apparently, the HighFive's cost a lot more and in the higher pitches (ie 25"), they have vent holes in them; but at the lower pitches (ie 19 and 21) they dont. So, would the QST-5 be just as good?

Also, I called one prop shop and asked about the 19 and 21" versions. They asked my engine size (5.0L), outdrive (Alpha One, 1.62R), boat length (19'), stock prop (23P QuickSilver 3-blade) and my WOT RPM's (~5200)... and they told me I should stick to a 23" pitch; that the 19 or 21 would push my WOT RPM's too high.

They assured me that moving from a 3-blade to a 5-blade alone would make all the difference in pulling people out of the hole and provide lower planing speeds.

Most of the discussions I have read seem to push the 19 or 21" props, but always caution the max RPM's as well. I'm trying to pull 250lbs up on a wakeboard, and not slow down when he cuts to the side, or have to go so fast to keep the boat on plane.

I don't have a local prop shop, so my "try" is really a "buy" and I need a little help in understanding all of this conflicting information.

If any of you can help explain all of this to me, and give some specific recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again,
Michael

 

[NHGuy]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

Hi, I have a similar situation which I discovered this past weekend while towing an air chair. The rider I was towing likes a low speed, just at the beginning of plane. At that rate sometimes my boat will start to take off, so when it starts to come onto a full plane I have to back down a bit on the throttle.
I have used trim tabs before & they are a very good solution for your situation. With tabs down you can push along without having the boat's bow up in the air. But if you want to just try to manage the rev's with your throttle hand try loading the front of your boat to keep the nose down. A 192 is an Islander which I believe is a bowrider, right? If so put your weight up there during the tow, it will help a little.
But if you're like me it's also going to take a steady hand on the stick and an eye on the tach.
I'd be interested if others think the multiblade props are better. I'm an old school guy & haven't tried a 4 or 5 blade.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

In my mind its pretty easy. Go to a 4 blade. If your running at 5200 your allready to high as far as I can tell.Assuming your present peop is al; If you go to a 23" pitch 4 blade Aluminum prop you rpm should drop about 100 to 200 rpm. And the hole shot will improve it will hold plane at less throttle,maintain speed
with less fiddling,may feel smoother,and handle better on plane and at the dock.
It will cost a lot less than a high5. The solas Amita has been predictable and reasonable.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

Sorry there is no real good solution for you issue....you want to plow water creating a heavy wake and maintain control...Wake board boats are special breeds...Notice there not i/o's....the have built in flood chambers...there engineered to create drag and there drives a very much different from a i/o.....You could play with a small hub prop that would slip badly someday i willl attempt that but not now.

 

[va20th]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

The prop shop is correct about the high five..Mercury straight up says if your RPMS are good at your current pitch then get a high five at the same pitch and it will give you the pulling power you are looking for.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

The prop shop is correct about the high five..Mercury straight up says if your RPMS are good at your current pitch then get a high five at the same pitch and it will give you the pulling power you are looking for.

Yes the high five does a good low end grab...The problem here is the boat is trying to climb on plane and once there it falls off...its a constant struggle. Placing a high five on a i/o will lower the speed you plane at... however the wake leaves with being on plane, the results are no differnt once on plane you might as well have a 3 blade

 

[mcknight]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

Hello again,

My current prop is SS, not aluminum... does that matter?

My goal is to be able to pull heavier guys out of the hole and to maintain plane at lower speeds. I know the wake should be about same, so its not like I'm trying to push a bigger wake, but when I pull smaller females, the 20mph I have to go now in order to stay on plane is too fast. I'd like to be able to pull them at closer to 15mph without having to fight the boat from sinking off plane.

I have another basic question... I was under the impression that the pitch of the prop is what determined "power".. ie. a lower pitch was like driving in 1st gear vs. a higher pitch being more like 3rd gear. More power, but also higher RPMs. With a side benefit being less speed variation based on load (ie. skier pulling out to the side, turning, etc.). If this is true, how would adding more blades at the same pitch have the same effect as adding more blades at a lower pitch? Wouldn't it still be like pulling a skier out of the hole in 3rd gear vs. 1st gear?

One more... right now, when I pull a 280lbs guy up on a wakeboard, I have to give full power and then back it down once he's up. With a 5-blade, would I still have to give that full power initial pull?

You all are being so very helpful and I do appreciate it!
-Michael

 

[Varago]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

Michael

I have a question about your data, 5200 rpm 1.62 and 23" at 10% slip you should be doing ~63 mph is this right?
At 1.8 it works out to be ~57mph.

"I'd like to be able to pull them at closer to 15mph without having to fight the boat from sinking off plane."
Like TailGunner said I dont see how you will stay on plane at 15mph with an IO with out working the throttle.

Anyway the highfive is a great prop for what you want. I use one with smart tabs and can hold constant speed at 17-18mph (gps). I set rpm and then its hands off the throttle unless the boarder wants to change speed. The main problem with smart tabs is it can change your wake and some boarders dont like it. The highfive will give you more stern lift then the 3 blade and that helps keep you on plane at lower speed.

I run a BlueWater Vision 19.5' 2900lbs dry and VP 5.0efi 270hp and cant pull a 23" with a 1.6 ratio, fwiw.

Best of luck
Dave

ps Merc has a book on props that would answer your questions.

 

[John_S]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

FWIW: This boat may have been set-up for high altitude with the 1.62 ratio. Typically, a 19' boat with that engine would come with a 1.50 ratio. I believe that is why you can run a 23" P stainless at those rpms. If you drive ever fails, consider changing the ratio.

 

[mcknight]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

I haven't GPS'd the speed, but at WOT, trimmed out, I get just over 55mph on the speedo. I have also confirmed, it is a 1.62 gear ratio and a QuickSilver Stainless 23" pitch. The boat has no trouble at all with the prop. I can pull skiers, tubes, wakeboards, etc without any trouble. The only issue I have is when I try to pull really big dudes up on skis or wakeboard (ie ~250-300lbs), and the fact that I have to go about 20mph to stay on plane.

Don't get me wrong, I have been thrilled with the boat and its performance, I was just looking for a way to get these larger boys out of the hole quicker and stay on plane at lower speeds.

I operate the boat in the mid-North Carolina area with an elevation of about 900' -- certainly not what I would consider high-elevation. I think the boat was made in Ohio back when Baja had their plants up there. Now I think they're owed by Fountain and made here in NC.

I still have one lingering question... right now, when I pull a 280lbs guy up on a wakeboard, I have to give full power and then back it down once he's up. With a 5-blade, would I still have to give that full power initial pull?

Again, thanks to you all for your help.
-Michael

 

[Bondo]

Re: 1999 Baja 192 better prop

With a 5-blade, would I still have to give that full power initial pull?

Ayuh,... Pretty much so...