ProPulse Prop

[solar7647]

First off I would like to say this site rocks! It has been a great tool.
Now I have always used a 14 1/2x 19 prop on my boat, 1987 Four Winns with a 3.7L Merc and I have been happy with it, but i was resantly given a 14 1/2 ProPulse prop as a gift and it has been siting for some times because I didnt know how I felt about a plastic prop on 180hp motor. Well last weekend i put it on the boat and headed out, with tools and back up prop just in case. I must say I am very impreased with this thing. I never though the boat ever handled badly but after installing this prop it is so much better, I also picked up about 8 mph. It really lets you see what a differance 1 inch of pitch makes since you can adjust it. After adjusting a few times I went with a 21" pitch witch is keeping the boat at the top end of the power curve and allowing me to hit my WOT RPM on the dot with little to no trim adjustment. I know there is a lot of people who say stay away rom them but so far its is living up to what the companys web site said. I will let you guys know how it does after some more use. As a side not, the water i run in isnt rocky and the only proop hazards are drift wood, the maumee river and lake erie in Toledo Ohio.

 

[steelespike]

Re: ProPulse Prop

8 mph increase is spectacular.Was your old prop in good shape?
What was the old rpm and speed and present rpm and speed.
I've heard they flex on take off allowing a higher pitch to have a better hole shot. Its a 4 blade isn't it? that would improve low end performance in itself.
Does it stay on plane at less power?
Someone reported on one on an inflateable and had similar results to yours.

 

[solar7647]

Re: ProPulse Prop

My old WOT RPM was just above 5000. So it needed to come down, with the adjustment it droped in just a hair below 4600. The old prop was in good shap, lower end 3 blade alum. I was getting a lot of slip and in turns it just seemed to drop out with the old prop. Yes the propulse in four blad and it has great hole shot and stays on plain at low speeds very well. You would think that because it is a plastic compasit that it would flex but this thing is solid. The material is sapposed to be stronger than alum. I have a lot of experance with metals from welding for some years and from my impressions of the compasit it feels that it would take impact better than an alum prop, this is a down fall in it self, alum bends when hit with to much force the compasit will not it will break, but you can replace the blade for $19 as apposed to prop shop coast or $80 plus dollars for a new 3 blade alum prop. I cant wait for the water to warm some more so i can see how it does with pulling tubes and what not. I am hoping that being able to adjust the pitch on the fly will be helpful in getting the best possible ride when pulling towables. Its deffinatly not designed for shallow rocky water were it seems people that r giving these things the bad rap are operating. Like i said before we will see what my resaults are when I start beating on this thing every weekend! Thanks for reading