4hp weedless drive w/ 6" high pitch prop vs 4hp standard drive w/ 8" low pitch prop

[ali'i]

4hp weedless drive w/ 6" high pitch prop vs 4hp standard drive w/ 8" low pitch prop

So here's my dilemma, I have the option of buying one of two motors to use as an emergency kicker on my 14' fiberglass runabout. They are both 1970, 4hp Evinrudes that weigh about 30 pounds, but one is the weedless design with the angled drive and a 6" high pitch prop, the other is the standard drive, but with an 8" lower pitch prop. Both props are 3 blade. I am not concerned about which one would be faster, but which one would be the best for pushing my boat, especially against the wind or current should my main motor quit working.. They are the same price and in the same condition, but boat is not in the water, so I can't test either one on my boat before buying. Thanks

 

[steelespike]

A lower pitch will do better pushing your relatively heavy boat.

 

[alldodge]

So here's my dilemma, I have the option of buying one of two motors to use as an emergency kicker on my 14' fiberglass runabout. They are both 1970, 4hp Evinrudes that weigh about 30 pounds, but one is the weedless design with the angled drive and a 6" high pitch prop, the other is the standard drive, but with an 8" lower pitch prop. Both props are 3 blade. I am not concerned about which one would be faster, but which one would be the best for pushing my boat, especially against the wind or current should my main motor quit working.. They are the same price and in the same condition, but boat is not in the water, so I can't test either one on my boat before buying. Thanks

Depends on how heavy your boat is, then need to know the current speed and wind speed. Not knowing any of this, and could probably also say it might not matter, there is not enough HP to move the boat. Since your thinking about getting it as a safety item it probably will not work in an emergency. For example: a twin engine boat setup in most all cases runs fine with both engines running. If there is a failure the one engine allows the boat to return provided there is no high waves or current.

So you have a boat with an engine, and unless 4HP is at least half the total amount of HP for the main engine, it cannot move you given the question your asking. If you happen to be on a river, it can most likely move you to one side of the shore.

 

[airshot]

You should be fine with either one, keep in mind that you will be going slow and have the little motor cranked up to make serious headway but it will get you in without issue. I have a 22' with a 9.9 kicker and I can get 10 knots out of it at wot. Your 14' with a 4hp will be fine.

 

[Texasmark]

The other consideration is drive angle and prop type. If your 4 weedless has the angled lower unit like the 3 hp OMC engines had back in the '50's, the straight/regular lower unit will do better. Reason is two fold: Slanted lower unit does not deliver thrust as effectively as a right angle drive and second, the prop that came with those engines was weedless. To be weedless they had to bend the blades back, rather that stubbing straight out from the hub and in doing that you lost a lot of thrust. BTDT

A final thought would be knowing the gear ratio's of the two engines. That and the prop pitch per engine, which you already know, could shed more light on which is better able to push the best in your situation.

Mark