Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

[NEboater28]

I'm planning to re-prop my current boat, a Hurricane 19' deck boat with a 4.3 mpi 220 hp. My current prop is a 14 1/2" by 19" pitch. I use the boat primarily for watersports (skiing and tubing). I'm looking for more hole shot and to keep from slipping while turning.

My current reads are as follows:

2 people on board, full tank (about 48 gals) smooth water:

RPM: about 4800 and then the rev limiter kicks in, but seems like there's more juice in the throttle.

Speed: 49mph

I'm leaning towards a turning point 4 blade aluminum??

Any thoughts on size and pitch going from a 3 blade aluminum to 4 blade aluminum?

This is my first prop swap so any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

I think you will have to drop a pitch to 17 if you go to a four blade but I could be wrong since you are triggering the rev limiter. I had a 4.3 in my last boat, 19 pitch aluminum, and I switched to a 3 blade 19 pitch stainless and it improved the hole shot.

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

Well if you want better hole shot maybe 19 4 blade ?

 

[NEboater28]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

I was leaning towards a 19" 4 blade but didn't want to be dragging...

 

[SkiDad]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

i don't have experience with one but it seems your only option if you don't want to over-rev your engine worse. Anything lower is going to make your over-rev problem worse. I'm guessing your speed will drop a few mph but should also drop your rpm slightly but improve hole shot some.

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

My story is as follows... Started with a Quicksilver 14.25x21p 3blade and it was a good match for the boat. speed 46mph and 4700 rpm..

I wanted more hole shot when i have 6 in the boat and 1 water skiing.. So i tried a Michigan wheel 14.5x18p 4 blade and it over reved too much and topped at 40 mph..

Then i tried an quicksilver 14.5x18p 4blade (the michigan wheel had a different rake then the quicksilver it was designed more for a bass boat)

Then finally i tried a quicksilver 14x20p 4 blade quicksilver... Hole shot is great, top speed about 42mph.. and rpm about 4900 with 2 people.. but i rarely go that fast anyways... I use this one for watersports and the 3 blade for a spare...

I guess you can have it all but i chose hole shot over top speed, and i just watch the tach when i run in open water fast....

 

[NEboater28]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

Yes, I'm leaning towards staying with a 19p as my rev is already high. Maybe it's just worth going with a stainless steel prop. I'm just nervous spending lots of $ to find out its the wrong size. I'm having trouble finding a prop place in the sebago region of Maine that will let me return props.

Do you think going from an aluminum 3 blade to a stainless 4 blade same prop pitch would be a good call and meet my needs for hole shot?

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

It might suit your needs but it is hard to say. Before I would buy one I would test it, and I know places that allow "test drives" are not always easy to find, or you will be stuck with a paper weight. Try the Mercury propeller selector and see what you get on that. The link is below. It helped with my selection for a propeller.


Mercury Marine

 

[NEboater28]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

Yeah, the merc selector page has me staying with the same pitch as I currently have, so I guess I'll stay with that.

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

Go for it then. You can always sell the prop.

 

[NEboater28]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

Update:

I bought a stiletto 18 pitch 4 blade SS prop. Under same conditions:

45 mph at 4900 RPMs ( rev limiter)

Hole shot: poor
Mid range acceleration: about same as before.

Overall very disappointed. After doing a ton of research, I thought I had picked it correctly. Ordered from Dan's discount and this was what he recommended... $350 later, blah.

I went to a local prop place and ordered an Merc Alpha 4 18 pitch (aluminum). Ill throw it on tomorrow. I'm hoping it will give me the hole shot I'm looking for... The guy at the prop place said anything lower in pitch may damage the engine. Fingers crossed...

Does anyone have experience using the Merc 4 blade aluminum prop?

 

[theBrownskull]

Re: Prop on Hurricane 187 w/4.3 I/O

That is disappointing. I have had that happen and it is why I have props on my garage wall...lol. See if the dealer will let you try a three blade stainless 17 pitch and see if it works better than the four. Who knows it might.