Best water sports prop?

Lucky_twin

Recruit
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
5
I am new to the boating world and this forum... I just bought a 2012 bayliner br185 flight with the 3.0. The current prop is 14.25/21 p.

As stated in the title I am wondering if there is a better prop recommended for this combination to use when pulling a tube, skier or wake board.
Thanks
 

444

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 16, 2010
Messages
704
Re: Best water sports prop?

I find with my boat, towing one tuber or one skier or knee boarder doesn't put all that much additional load on the engine. However two knee boarders for me was very noticeable so I ordered a stainless prop 2" pitch smaller than my current aluminum prop. Are you feeling a lack of pulling power with your current prop?
 

Lucky_twin

Recruit
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
5
Re: Best water sports prop?

I am just looking for a little more bottom end to get the skier, wake board and tube out of the water a little quicker
 

jestor68

Commander
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
2,308
Re: Best water sports prop?

What rpm does the engine reach at full throttle?

It should be hitting 4800 rpm with a light load(driver and 1/2 tank of gas).

The 4 bladed props are good water sports props. It's recommended to go one size down in pitch from your 3 blade.

I have a Solas Rubex 4 blade aluminum that I use for a ski prop on my 23 ft Bayliner. It works very well; good strong acceleration to pull a 190 lb slalom skier up quickly. :)
 

Lucky_twin

Recruit
Joined
Jul 6, 2012
Messages
5
Re: Best water sports prop?

Had a chance to use the boat for some pulling this weekend and cruising......pulled 2 tubes ok but a bit of struggle with a wake boader and 3 people on board. with 4 people and a full tank of fuel on board and fully trimmed it hit 42 on the speedo at 4700RPM. I was told that i would notice a world of diffrence on the bottom end if i went to a stainless some size and pitch. But im still leaning toward a 4 blade 19 pitch. Any one have any experience with either?
 

smitty477

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Dec 25, 2009
Messages
44
Re: Best water sports prop?

"Any one have any experience with either?"


You may get some direct answers on this one for the same boat over at the baylinerownersclub.org. There is a section on these types of boats with a lot of activity posting on this type of question.

Hope this helps
 
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