Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Hello,
I made a purchase of a 1998 Volvo Penta fuel injected 350engine With 1.95 ratio Duo prop Stern Drive. It was in a 26' Boat but plan to re-power a 22.3' Bayliner Nisqually.
I went online and found out this prop is good for acceleration. However looking for good economy and plan to cruise at 3000 rpm or less.
thank you in advance for any advise.
Rob
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,148
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

Ayuh,...

Not near enough Info to say,...

Put it together,+ Test run it,.... Without a baseline,.. There are No answers...
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

Basically you boat needs to operate at or near its max rated rpm at wot.(wide open throttle)Give the present prop a test run.Give us the prop size(pitch),max rpm and speed.Also the max rated rpm labled on the motor.
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

Ok Thanks, will see how the sea trials go
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

I just posted the wot results in the engine section but thought i would post rpm results here as well, big job replacing an engine /drive but feels real good to be on the water again.
Today was the big day! finally got everything done. Launched the boat, first thing I noticed was how smooth and quiet the motor was.
we have a no wake zone so after that the boat just jumped up on step, first run wot was 4600 rpm. next time was 5000 just for a few seconds I don't have a gps but man I was flying!
is this prop ok? maybe an F5?
 

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

An addendum to STEELSPIKE...Your boat should run at max RPM at WOT with your boat loaded as will be used. If your boat is always empty you can run a higher pitch prop, but if you have 6 people, ice chests, etc on board you will need a lower pitch prop to keep your engine in its best range.

Proping is very subjective to weight, condition of hull, altitude, and other variables.

i.e. a 50 hp on a houseboat will want a 8-12 pitch prop but same engine on a 14 ft. alum. boat will run a 19-24 pitch.

Most books will suggest a range of pitches baised on type and weight of boat.
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

An addendum to STEELSPIKE...Your boat should run at max RPM at WOT with your boat loaded as will be used. If your boat is always empty you can run a higher pitch prop, but if you have 6 people, ice chests, etc on board you will need a lower pitch prop to keep your engine in its best range.

Proping is very subjective to weight, condition of hull, altitude, and other variables.

i.e. a 50 hp on a houseboat will want a 8-12 pitch prop but same engine on a 14 ft. alum. boat will run a 19-24 pitch.

Most books will suggest a range of pitches baised on type and weight of boat.

It ran 5000 rpm that's a little high. it's usually just me my fiance and the dog.
I'm at sea level. The hull is clean.
I hooked up the speedo today and took on fresh-water don't ever fill it up with gas lol see how it goes on the weekend.
Thanks for your replies
Rob
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

Just read the wot specification is 42-4600 rpm
that's about what it was on the first run. Maybe i do have the right prop, considering the boat was empty, cept my dog hanging on for dear life.
it would be intresting to try a F5 set, but for now unless I trade with someone i'm stuck with what I got.
 

Maclin

Admiral
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
6,761
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

As you already suspected, that F4 set is for a larger boat. But you should really get an accurate MPH speed before any decision should be made.

Here is a link to the Volvo prop guide, go to the Type F section and look up your engine and you can see the MPH ranges for each pitch.

My opinion: A 22 footer with that engine should be able to accelerate and cruise well with an F6-F7. An F5 would give great acceleration with loaded conditions with some sacrifice in top speed. As it is now you have to watch your RPM's and are crusing at higher RPM's than needed.
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

Hey Maclin,
looks like your boat is about the same size as mine, so what kind of props have you got?
I took it out today with the speedo hooked up and 2 people on board.
Results are WOT 4600 speed 43mph
@3000 rpm cruised real nice, speed about 27 mph

 

Maclin

Admiral
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
6,761
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

I have the older "white" drive, the aluminum propsets are B series, the stainless are C series. My engine is a carbed 275hp 5.7.

I have B5's on mine, they would be like an F5 or F6 in your drive series. I get 48mph in good water at 46-4800 rpm. I had B7's on it and the top speed was 50+ but it took a while to get past the 48mph mark and was not quite as spunky out of the hole. This is by speedo, but I have checked side by side with a couple of friend's boats and it is accurate enough for this kind of test. I did not try a B6 set, I had the B7's and B5's already in hand. I went with the B5's because the lake we frequent is small and no place to cruise, it only takes 10 minutes or so to go from one end to the other. We almost always have a load of kids and adults tubing and kneeboarding and skiing, that is our main use. It comes out of the hole fast with any load and planes very quickly. Cruises at 40mph at 3800-4000 rpm, 35mph at about 3500. It can hit 46+ with any load, and the engine has never gone past 4800rpm but I think mine has an rpm limiter as I have seen it in the manual.

If your boating is mixed cruising and watersports then the F5 or F6 would be a good choice. With lighter loads an F6 would work well, heavier loads then I would go with the F5. That F4 set is definitely too low of a pitch for your combo but is ok for now. An F5 should get you past 30 in the cruising and 45 or more top speed at the same rpm's. My boat is just a cuddy cabin, your boat does look heavier so I am thinking that an F6 might end up being too much pitch for when the boat is loaded.

This is mine in action, I putted thru the turn then gave it 1/4 throttle as soon as it was straight then hit full throttle about 7.5 seconds into the video...:
http://forums.iboats.com/showpost.php?p=1830246&postcount=1
 

coastalcruiser

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 2, 2007
Messages
559
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

I have the older "white" drive, the aluminum propsets are B series, the stainless are C series. My engine is a carbed 275hp 5.7.

I have B5's on mine, they would be like an F5 or F6 in your drive series. I get 48mph in good water at 46-4800 rpm. I had B7's on it and the top speed was 50+ but it took a while to get past the 48mph mark and was not quite as spunky out of the hole. This is by speedo, but I have checked side by side with a couple of friend's boats and it is accurate enough for this kind of test. I did not try a B6 set, I had the B7's and B5's already in hand. I went with the B5's because the lake we frequent is small and no place to cruise, it only takes 10 minutes or so to go from one end to the other. We almost always have a load of kids and adults tubing and kneeboarding and skiing, that is our main use. It comes out of the hole fast with any load and planes very quickly. Cruises at 40mph at 3800-4000 rpm, 35mph at about 3500. It can hit 46+ with any load, and the engine has never gone past 4800rpm but I think mine has an rpm limiter as I have seen it in the manual.

If your boating is mixed cruising and watersports then the F5 or F6 would be a good choice. With lighter loads an F6 would work well, heavier loads then I would go with the F5. That F4 set is definitely too low of a pitch for your combo but is ok for now. An F5 should get you past 30 in the cruising and 45 or more top speed at the same rpm's. My boat is just a cuddy cabin, your boat does look heavier so I am thinking that an F6 might end up being too much pitch for when the boat is loaded.

This is mine in action, I putted thru the turn then gave it 1/4 throttle as soon as it was straight then hit full throttle about 7.5 seconds into the video...:
http://forums.iboats.com/showpost.php?p=1830246&postcount=1

I can see why you went with the b5's considering you use the boat for watersports. video really shows how she gets up and goes! My manual says the motor i have is 250 hp not sure if that's right or not.
We use the boat as a weekender, it's got a head, small galley and often loaded with lot's of water and fuel etc. i agree f-5s would change the rpms 300 less and gain more speed. Thanks for the input. have fun this summer!
Rob
 

Maclin

Admiral
Joined
May 27, 2007
Messages
6,761
Re: Is a F4 pitch prop the right one for my boat?

For your year the HP was rated at the prop shaft, mine is rated at the crank so they are very similar. Mine would be 230-240 at the prop shaft.


Good luck with yours too, looks cool :cool:
 
Top