Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

[oceanbarrel]

I own a 1996 sea ray 190br, with a 4.3(160 hp) and and alpha 1 outdrive (1.81:1) I found out the stock size prop that came out on my boat was 13.75x21. When I purchased my boat it had a 14.75 x19p. I replaced that with a 14.75x18p 4 blade prop. My boat always leans towards port when im running. Obviously with a prop this size my zinc trim tab anode is removed from the stern drive. Iv been searching the forum and found that too big of a prop can cause this lean. Should I go with a 14 x 20 4 blade prop? I use my boat only for wakeboarding.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

I own a 1996 sea ray 190br, with a 4.3(160 hp) and and alpha 1 outdrive (1.81:1) I found out the stock size prop that came out on my boat was 13.75x21. When I purchased my boat it had a 14.75 x19p. I replaced that with a 14.75x18p 4 blade prop. My boat always leans towards port when im running. Obviously with a prop this size my zinc trim tab anode is removed from the stern drive. Iv been searching the forum and found that too big of a prop can cause this lean. Should I go with a 14 x 20 4 blade prop? I use my boat only for wakeboarding.

Ayuh,... Hard to say, you mention the rpms at Wot, Nowhere...

 

[oceanbarrel]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

I cant actually get to w.o.t my rev limiter kicks in around 5100 with maybe 1/4 of the throttle left

 

[Bondo]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

Ayuh,... A 20" may, or may Not be enough...

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

This tab..If you look close its offset to accomdate the rake your experienceing

http://www.iboats.com/Mercury-Marin...08828219--**********.987846232--view_id.39250

View attachment 86864

These props are they alum or ss and there brand type....is the new prop realy new and why the switch from the old prop....do you want a SS.....1996 merc or volvo with fuel injection i assume....TBI or MPI

That tab should correct enigne touqre issues....Does that boat have power steering???

 

[oceanbarrel]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

its a 4.3 v6 carb. (160hp), The prop was used all last summer its aluminum. To much crap in the water for stainless steel and a lot of shallow parts as well. I switched from the three blade because I hit a log and broke it, and I figured I would get a 4 blade since they are supposed to be better for wakeboarding, then assuming the 1p difference I went down to 18. What i forgot to look into was the old owner had re-propped already and it wasnt the stock size. (he also was into wakeboarding) I just wasnt happy with the performance or the shape of the wake. I dont really care about mpg or top speed as all i do is wakeboard. The other thing is with that 14.5 inch prop on there that trim tab will not clear the prop, as the stock size was 13.75

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

So.....you took the trim tab off? That there be your problem. Put the trim tab back on, and go back to a stock diameter prop. The prop isn't going to affect the size/shape of the wake.

 

[oceanbarrel]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

So.....you took the trim tab off? That there be your problem. Put the trim tab back on, and go back to a stock diameter prop. The prop isn't going to affect the size/shape of the wake.

i didnt take it off, the po did. Then I bought a new one and realized my prop was to big for it to fit in there. I asked around and most people said it wasnt really needed. I guess they were wrong.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

i didnt take it off, the po did. Then I bought a new one and realized my prop was to big for it to fit in there. I asked around and most people said it wasnt really needed. I guess they were wrong.

oops...thought you took it off...guess I better read:redface: I can't believe someone told you they aren't needed. I'm surprised the wheel doesn't pull hard along with the hard to port. That trim tab when adjusted properly will stop it from pulling due to the prop torque. Did the PO give it to you?

 

[oceanbarrel]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

When I boat the boat it had a whale tale on the outdrive, so i thought that was the problem and i took it off, but it still did it, so then I thought maybe the original prop was bent a little, but the new 4 blade made it worse. The steering wheel does pull hard to port also. The po didnt give it to me, he had installed a round plate with no fin in that spot. I bought one when I was getting all new anodes, but when i went to put it on of course the prop was to big for it to fit. So i asked the guy at west marine and he said you didnt really need it because it didnt do anything anyway. So then I thought maybe the skeg on my outdrive was a little warped and that was causing it. Then i was told that wasnt the case. So then i just figured it was something I was going to have to live with so I try to position my friends to try and balance it out. I even thought that maybe one side of the foam on my boat had gotten wet, its a 96 sea ray 190 br, im not even sure if it has foam in it. If this little trim tab fixes the problem Im going to kick myself for driving around like this for the past 2 years.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

When I boat the boat it had a whale tale on the outdrive, so i thought that was the problem and i took it off, but it still did it, so then I thought maybe the original prop was bent a little, but the new 4 blade made it worse. The steering wheel does pull hard to port also. The po didnt give it to me, he had installed a round plate with no fin in that spot. I bought one when I was getting all new anodes, but when i went to put it on of course the prop was to big for it to fit. So i asked the guy at west marine and he said you didnt really need it because it didnt do anything anyway. So then I thought maybe the skeg on my outdrive was a little warped and that was causing it. Then i was told that wasnt the case. So then i just figured it was something I was going to have to live with so I try to position my friends to try and balance it out. I even thought that maybe one side of the foam on my boat had gotten wet, its a 96 sea ray 190 br, im not even sure if it has foam in it. If this little trim tab fixes the problem Im going to kick myself for driving around like this for the past 2 years.

Start Kicking! It will fix it. The 4 blade made it worse because of the increase in surface area of the prop....they use those to get better hole shots...one of the tricks they use on the inboard props is they reduce the diameter a little and add a 4th blade at the same pitch...so even though the 4 blade is called a 14" diam. It's actually more like 13.7"....so the rpm remains the same. Install the trim tab and turn it so that the fins leading edge points slightly to the port....it won't take much, and the pull will be gone. If you go to far it will pull the other way...then you move it back a little and you find where it works. Trimming the motor up a bit will help when your on plane.

If you let go of the wheel and the boat turns right, turn the trim tabs leading edge to starboard to counter act. If you let go and it turns left, turn the tabs leading edge to port to counter act. If you change props you may need to readjust it.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Need prop help, boat turns hard to port!

The tab should help....Trying to prop a boat for wake boarding is a bit of a oxymoron..Think about like this..Most people want out of the hole fast and on plane....Wake boarding depends on staying "in" the hole at speed....That is staying right ontop of the pressure creating tremdous strain on your motor and outdrive...Well i do not know for sure.. i suspect its not good at all.....By the way 4 blades actually fight against what you want they by nature lift the stern out

I dont recomend this but heres a thought...try a 14 or 13p prop and hopefully there will not be enough blade area to push that boat out of the hole and still maintain some kind of rpm that the motor will survive longer at....Actually go to the I/O forums and ask the guys im sure you will find that its a bad ideal.

Most wake board boats actually have ballast built in so they do drag...and there drive systems are much different...