prop test more questions than answers.

[tjhawk]

So I decided to try a few props and see if I could improve my hole shot, speed and economy. I have a 19ft Sea Ray cuddy with a 140 hp. It runs in fresh water. It came stock with a very underpropped 17 pitch which I replaced with a 14.5x19p Michigan prop. This worked pretty nice had a great hole shot and went about 37 mph@4600. My buddy loaned me his 21p quicksilver prop and my rpms went down by 200 and I gained 1 mph. Holeshot was marginal planing at low speeds(15-20) sucked. Then I tried a co workers 4 blade 18p. Hole shot was great, low speed planing was great( I could plane at 17mph and hold it) and I lost about 3-5 mph and I gained back that 200 rpm. So with this prop I went about 34 mph@4600. I also noticed that I could not trim up as far and this prop ventilated kind of easy. My next choice would be a 20p 4 blade and maybe I can get back my mph and lose the excessive rpm and ventialting issues. I was also wondering if rake would help. BTW these were aluminum props. I would like to try SS but the prices...yikes!
Any input would be helpful.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: prop test more questions than answers.

I don't understand your dilemma, the 19P michigan sounds about right. There is always a trade off with pitch selection. Smaller pitch will give better hole shot and slower trolling speeds but you run the risk of blowing out and over-revving at WOT. Larger pitch will give better top speed but you run the risk of lugging the motor.

Me thinks the 19 is close enough to perfect.