Laser 2 vs Trophy Plus

[100333624]

Hello I'm back again after further testing and I need some more help. I did another run with the Laser 2 and ended up only turning 5050 rpm and 46 mph on the GPS. Since plugging the vent holes, holeshot has improved quite a bit, but I think it can still do better. I feel that having maybe the smallest hole size plug would work best as it had some hesitation this time, but no crazy slipping like with the vents completely open. Anyways that's not the problem, obviously this is too much prop for my rig and so I've listed it for sale and I have someone interested in a trade plus some cash on my end. The thing is, he has a 19P Trophy Plus, and my Laser 2 is a 20P.

From the research I have done I concluded that a 3 blade would run faster than a 4, but the 4 would hold better and give a much better holeshot, though I may lose 1-2 mph on the top end. I got an opportunity to see a Trophy Plus yesterday at one of my local dealers and I noticed the amount of cup on the blade tips, it could almost fit my thumb in there! My Laser 2 has almost no cup at all. I was wondering would this be worth trying or am I wasting my time? I still need to come up almost 450 RPM and I am not sure if this prop would do it.

Also, I raised my motor 1 hole up as the anti vent plate was buried in the water at speed during the last few tests and I never got around to it till last night. I still got another hole to go if I need to raise it more but I will see what will happen now. Theoretically I should gain some rpm now since I raised it yes?? Will the cupping on the trophy hurt my rpm? I MIGHT be able to do a swap with him to try out the props on the lake at the same time. Just want to know before I do that if I am wasting my time and his and I won't want to do that.

Thanks and God Bless!

 

[100333624]

this is in continuation from this thread if anyone cares to read:

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/gene...s/10031433-help-propping-with-mercury-laser-2

 

[steelespike]

You should make one change at a time and test.
I'm a seat of the pants guy.It might be suggested to drop an inch if the the Trophy has more cup.
The calculator says to to add an inch when calculating a cupped prop.
If a prop is said to have bow lift it may slow hole shot.
When trying to have the best hole shot and top speed with one prop you may have to compromise on both.

 

[100333624]

You should make one change at a time and test.
I'm a seat of the pants guy.It might be suggested to drop an inch if the the Trophy has more cup.
The calculator says to to add an inch when calculating a cupped prop.
If a prop is said to have bow lift it may slow hole shot.
When trying to have the best hole shot and top speed with one prop you may have to compromise on both.

Hello thanks for the reply. I'm looking to get my engine running at 5500 rpm, that's the point. It's not a speed boat but it's a fishing boat. I am satisfied with the top speed, not so much with hole shot. I noticed the 17 and 19 pitch props I tried gave me amazing holeshot but revved 6000 rpm. The 21 terrible holeshot but ran 48mph at 5300ish. These were aluminums though so if I can get a stainless running me 5500 rpm I think I will gain top speed as I still have 450 rpm left in the powerband... Also I believe in order to get that extra 450 rpm I need to reduce pitch, which in theory should give me better holeshot? So I might get the best of both worlds actually... But the point is my question, will the trophy plus in a 19 pitch rev more then my laser 2 in a 20 pitch, considering all variables stayed the same? Only difference is I lifted the engine one hole now.

 

[steelespike]

I think that is a tough call. obviously a lower pitch but with a noticeable cup.
It would appear your right on with the suggested lower pitch an inch when you have more cup.

 

[100333624]

I think that is a tough call. obviously a lower pitch but with a noticeable cup.
It would appear your right on with the suggested lower pitch an inch when you have more cup.

Do you think I'd be wasting my time trying it?

 

[steelespike]

Are you investing in these props,or are they available for testing?
By all means test if its not going to break the bank.
As I understand it there are different cup designs that produce different results.
​ There is also rake to consider.Very basically rake is the angle of the blade in relation to the
body of the prop or the shaft. Positive rake angles away from the boat. Positive rake raises the
bow possibly improving speed.props for heavy applications might have zero or negative rake.
I have 2 Merc 500 props from the 1960s they have very slight positive rake.
I think lot of positive rake might slow hole shot.You can eyeball rake with a carpenters adjustable square.
Just hold it against the trailing edge of the prop.
These props probably have positive rake.
There are props with so much rake you have to change the anode near the prop.

 

[100333624]

Are you investing in these props,or are they available for testing?
By all means test if its not going to break the bank.
As I understand it there are different cup designs that produce different results.
​ There is also rake to consider.Very basically rake is the angle of the blade in relation to the
body of the prop or the shaft. Positive rake angles away from the boat. Positive rake raises the
bow possibly improving speed.props for heavy applications might have zero or negative rake.
I have 2 Merc 500 props from the 1960s they have very slight positive rake.
I think lot of positive rake might slow hole shot.You can eyeball rake with a carpenters adjustable square.
Just hold it against the trailing edge of the prop.
These props probably have positive rake.
There are props with so much rake you have to change the anode near the prop.

I'm not exactly investing in the props, well the Laser 2 is mine but the Trophy Plus is someone else's who is willing to swap for a test run as hes interested in trying my Laser 2. I understand what you mean regarding rake. My prop shop guy told me the Laser 2 is a high rake prop, such as to provide more thrust from what I understood. I did a test run today actually with the motor raised one hole and got 5200-5300 rpm which is like 150-250 rpm more than usual. It didn't feel like it gripped as nice though but I can live with it, it wasn't too bad and we had a little chop to so testing conditions was perfect, windy, choppy etc. Maybe got 1 mph more top speed if that, not sure as I didn't have the GPS with me to check. Speedo showed 1 mph more and I know its off by about 4 mph, so it read 52ish, normally showed 51 at top speed, so realistically should be 48 mph. Really curious as to what the trophy would do though. Still have 200-250 rpm to go and I also didn't get to really see the anti vent plate that well, still looked to be buried a bit. Though I'm not sure I wanna raise the motor another hole up.