Prop suggestions for a 200hp mercury blackmax

[rjcamel2355]

Hey guys,
I have a 80's model 200hp blackmax, it is bolted to a 17' skeeter starfire. I'm currently turning a 14.25x23P quicksilver prop @ WOT trimmed up and giving it hell (which I have only done once or twice) it buries the tach @7000RPMS. I know that is way too many RPMS to be running, and I keep my foot out of it and cruise around 4500. Holeshot is excellent (compared to what I am used to), if I put it in gear and mash it it spins up to about 3800/4000 and jumps on a plane and just keeps climbing from there as I feed it trim.

I've seen a few different props (on ebay) that I have considered picking up.

1. a 13 3/4 laser II 25P
2. a 14.25 Rapture 25P

I'm not sure what exactly I need to be hunting at the moment. I haven't jack plated the engine, but I plan to do so soon, and I believe that will also affect which prop and pitch I will need.

I'm open to any suggestions and would like a general idea where I need to be looking. Suggestions on brand, diameter, and prop pitch would be great.

Thank you very much.

 

[Texasmark]

The 13 is for the smaller 4" gearbox, not yours. The quicksilver standard SS prop is an excellent prop. The 25P Rapture may pull you down some, but I doubt 1k rpm. From your input it sounds like besides WOT, you could tolerate more pitch. You can always buy the Rapture and if you don't like it and don't mess it up testing it, put it back on ebay and go after a 14+ x 27P.

I used to run 5800 - 6000 on my Mercs day in and day out. They loved it. With all that said, with 200 ponies on that boat what do you expect but sizzling performance!

 

[rjcamel2355]

Oh, I'm not complaining about performance at all... it's definitely got some power sitting on the back of it. I just wasn't sure about the rapture I've read good and bad about them, but I guess that comes with anything everyone has their favorites. I'd like a tempest, but spending that kind of money.... The prop would cost about 3/4's of what I paid for the boat and motor.

I've heard nothing but good things about these motors, and it definitely loves when you drop the fuel to it.... also loves drinking it I noticed lol... I wouldn't complain about 5800-6000ish, but 7 grand just seems like a one way ticket to tear down town.

I think I'll grab the rapture and see what happens.... for $100 shipped to me, and it's polished and new... I don't think I could really be hurt too bad with it...

I appreciate it texasmark.

 

[Texasmark]

Oh, I'm not complaining about performance at all... it's definitely got some power sitting on the back of it. I just wasn't sure about the rapture I've read good and bad about them, but I guess that comes with anything everyone has their favorites. I'd like a tempest, but spending that kind of money.... The prop would cost about 3/4's of what I paid for the boat and motor.

I've heard nothing but good things about these motors, and it definitely loves when you drop the fuel to it.... also loves drinking it I noticed lol... I wouldn't complain about 5800-6000ish, but 7 grand just seems like a one way ticket to tear down town.

I think I'll grab the rapture and see what happens.... for $100 shipped to me, and it's polished and new... I don't think I could really be hurt too bad with it...

I appreciate it texasmark.

I doubt it unless it's damaged causing vibrations.....which can happen and sometimes is a reason for someone to sell to an unsuspecting sole....BTDT receiving end.

 

[jimmbo]

Hey guys,
I have a 80's model 200hp blackmax, it is bolted to a 17' skeeter starfire. I'm currently turning a 14.25x23P quicksilver prop @ WOT trimmed up and giving it hell (which I have only done once or twice) it buries the tach @7000RPMS. I know that is way too many RPMS to be running, and I keep my foot out of it and cruise around 4500. Holeshot is excellent (compared to what I am used to), if I put it in gear and mash it it spins up to about 3800/4000 and jumps on a plane and just keeps climbing from there as I feed it trim.

I've seen a few different props (on ebay) that I have considered picking up.

1. a 13 3/4 laser II 25P
2. a 14.25 Rapture 25P

I'm not sure what exactly I need to be hunting at the moment. I haven't jack plated the engine, but I plan to do so soon, and I believe that will also affect which prop and pitch I will need.

I'm open to any suggestions and would like a general idea where I need to be looking. Suggestions on brand, diameter, and prop pitch would be great.

Thank you very much.

Some people have run the smaller hub props on the V6s. they will ventilate heavily on acceleration but some, but not all, will hook up well at higher speed. About your Quicksilver prop... If it is just a SS version of an Aluminium prop, it may have a tad more rake and cup, but it still is basically the same as the Aluminium. It might be blowing out if you are getting 7000+. How high is the engine mounted on the transom? Is the anti-ventilation plate even or higher than the bottom of the hull? A higher performance prop, with more cup and rake would grip the water better and could bring your RPMs into the proper range. At 7000 rpm, your engine is probably only putting out 170 hp

 

[Texasmark]

Hey Jimmbo, where does a guy get some Merc torque curves? Since HP is (torque x rpm)/5252 one would be very interested in how fast the curve falls off from the peak and where it's located in the rpm scale.

 

[jimmbo]

You can try Mercury. I doubt they will give them out

 

[rjcamel2355]

It's just the plane jane from the factory quicksilver prop, it is SS though. It seems to be in the right spot in correlation with the bottom of the boat, I'm tempted to wait on the jackplate before I start throwing money at props, but at the same time I'd like to get one... Kind of impatient at times. I'll try to get a picture this afternoon of where it's mounted and maybe yall can tell me more about what I do and don't need to do.

I appreciate just the feedback on it.

 

[Texasmark]

It's just the plane jane from the factory quicksilver prop, it is SS though. It seems to be in the right spot in correlation with the bottom of the boat, I'm tempted to wait on the jackplate before I start throwing money at props, but at the same time I'd like to get one... Kind of impatient at times. I'll try to get a picture this afternoon of where it's mounted and maybe yall can tell me more about what I do and don't need to do.

I appreciate just the feedback on it.

The big guns on here always said: "Get your setup right and then tweak the prop". Sounds like your mention of the jackplate first is the right way to go.