Here's the story. I'm very new to boating. I have a 16' bowrider with an 85hp Force. I chewed up the aluminum prop (13 x 19) the first few times out and can't swing the money for a new one. Coincidentally, my brother-in-law had a SS Raker prop (13 1/2 x 18) as a door stop in his milking parlor. It came on his boat but his engine didn't have enough power for it. It had a 15 spline hub in it and it slid on the prop shaft without too much of a problem...almost. I had to remove the anode (yes, I have a manual) that was behind the aluminum prop in order to get the SS one to seat properly on the thrust washer. I'm wondering if I really need to have this anode if I trailer the boat. I only take it out for two hours or so each week. The other issue is that prop will now hit the trim tab. I guess that's due to the rake in the prop? The prop is about 1/4" too long for it to get past the trim tab. I took off the trim tab this past weekend and took out the boat. There was no change in the steering of the boat but I noticed the exhaust out the telltale holes was much heavier. I suppose this is from the prop wash pushing up into the exhaust port where the trim tab was. My questions are: Does it hurt the engine to have the prop wash force the exhaust out the telltale holes? If I want to make this prop work should I have the prop diameter reduced or is there a way to modify the trim tab? The speed at WOT was 2mph faster than my aluminum prop before I got it chewed up. I don't have a tach to determine rpm's.
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom in helping make this new prop work.
Thanks.
I'd appreciate any words of wisdom in helping make this new prop work.
Thanks.
