Real World Tests of Turning Point Hustler vs. Stock Prop on 75 HP Evinrude

[sutor623]

Hey guys I have a 16' aluminum boat with a 75 Horse Evinrude with PTnT.

Original prop was a 15" pitch with 13 1/2" diameter. I hit something with it and unbalanced it, so I needed a new prop. RPMs were up to about 6000 when I had a medium load on the boat. (RPM range is 5200-5800). I wanted to bring the RPMs down a hair.

I heard about turning point hustlers, and how they vent the prop for holeshot. I got some advice on here from a well-known prop guru to give the 17p hustler a try.

Response got better, and it handled the chop better also. Definitely a big difference. Only problem is now I am lugging pretty badly. Holeshot isn't great either. No pulling tubers for sure. I got 3650 RPMs at 21 MPH which is a great cruising speed on this boat. I got 4850 at WOT at 31 MPH. You can tell the motor wants to rev higher. Prop pitch is 17, but since it is cupped, and much heavier aluminum than the stock, I added one pitch to my calculations.

( Difference in the Hustler and stock prop are as follows; Hustler weighs quite a bit more, is thicker aluminum and has a higher cup.) If I had known all this I would surely have not stepped UP in pitch size.......

18% prop slip at cruise, 9% at WOT. These numbers seem pretty reasonable to me, as they are very close to my slip numbers with the stock prop.

Bottom line, I really like the added handling characteristics of the Hustler. I also can switch the hub to the new prop so it wont cost me but $92.00 off here to get one. The hustlers are not vented in smaller pitch props than the 17, but I don't think that matters in my case. So what do you guys think, a 13p hustler should bring me up to 5650 RPMs in theory? An 11p will give me great hole shot and take me up to 6050. I often have a 25 gallon bait tank in the boat with another passenger, or have 4 people in the boat so I am thinking smaller pitch may be the way to go. Otherwise I can sacrifice the added benefits of the Hustler (to remove the guessing game) and just get another stock 15p.

 

[MikDee]

How many blades Hustler are we talking about here? 3 blade, 4 blade?

 

[jestor68]

Is there some reason that you did not use the same(15) pitch TP prop?

TP and Solas props generally run about 200 rpm slower than the same pitch BRP props.

 

[sutor623]

Mikdee, it is a 3 blade.

Jestor I didn't receive very good guidance when I got the 17 pitch. We thought that the vents would help out some. I have a feeling even the same pitch prop will be revving up way too low. That's why I want some guidance on whether to go with a 15, 13, or 11p Hustler.

Basically I want my WOT revs to go up 1000 RPMs or a hair less.

 

[MikDee]

I would look for a prop shop nearby. Then have them take some cupping out of the Hustler. I'm sure it would be cheaper to go that way if you could.

 

[sutor623]

Mik I need to gain 800-1000 RPMs. It is going to take a lot more than removing the cupping to do this.

 

[MikDee]

Mik I need to gain 800-1000 RPMs. It is going to take a lot more than removing the cupping to do this.

Sorry, I just don't understand how you got 6000rpm out of a 15" pitch prop, and Only 4850 rpm out of a 17" pitch prop? Where did the other 1150 rpm go?

 

[sutor623]

I know, I am puzzled myself. The hustler is way more aggressive in every aspect. It is also a lot thicker and weighs quite a bit more than the stock prop. I was even getting higher top speeds with the 15 pitch. (34 MPH)

 

[steelespike]

What year is this 75?Describe this 16 ft aluminum boat Dry weight?

 

[sutor623]

Steele, the boat is a starcraft, dry weight is 650lbs, but actual weight after being scaled (-trailer weight) is 1300lbs. Typical load with livewell full and two people onboard, full gass, all that is around 1800. Evinrude is a beauty, and is a 1984.

 

[steelespike]

What was the gps speed with the 15" at 6000?
Your reasoning was in error. When going to the aggressive Hustler you should have stayled with the original 15" pitch
You went with a 17 and lost 1200 rpm when rule of thumb says about 400 rpm. It appears a 15 would have put you at about 5400.
Prop weight doesn't figure in at all when selecting a prop.

 

[Texasmark]

I have a Turning Point Hustler Prop. It is about the size of yours. It is Ported for better hole shot, high rake (blades bent back) for bow lift which reduces drag and allows rpms and mph to increase, and cupped for holding power when running at WOT in tight turns and a chop.

Your 2 extra inches would hurt you in the hole shot but the ports should have mitigated that and then some. The Rake should have provided you with the ability to trim out more, getting your bow up more, wetted area reduced, and improved top end performance even though you added a couple more inches of pitch and with the cup actually more like 3 at WOT which is a lot, but the rake should take care of some of that if not all once up and running. The cup isn't going to cost you in the hole shot.

Like Steel said, forget the weight.

You aren't going to run water toys with a prop made to max out your WOT performance when running light. Just not going to happen. Need 2 props.

References: Everything I said in here I have personally experienced over my 50+ years of boating.

HTH,
Mark

 

[sutor623]

Thanks fellas. Steele my top speed (GPS) was 32MPH @6000 RPMs. (Unless my tiny tach is malfunctioning.) If I had known this prop was this much more aggressive, I would have stayed with the same pitch.

Tex, I hardly ever run my boat light. I either have 2-3 friends with me and pull water toys, or I have 1 fishing buddy, with all my fishing gear and a 20 gallon livewell up near the bow. Either way you look at it, the boat is up towards it's max load which is 1300lbs. persons motor gear, which for this rig would be 1900 lbs. So I guess what I am saying is all I really need is one prop, something that will run the boat at my upper limits. I know the stock 15 was a good match, but after seeing the hustlers performance, I'd like to go that route. What pitch Hustler should I go with 15 or 13? And remember that the 15p and smaller has no vent ports.

Numbers were 31MPH GPS, 2.42:1 gearcase, 17p cupped prop, 4850 RPMs.

 

[sutor623]

Oh and is it correct to add one pitch in the calculator for a cupped prop?

 

[Texasmark]

Oh and is it correct to add one pitch in the calculator for a cupped prop?

1" for WOT rpms.

 

[steelespike]

Usually suggested to add 1" for a cupped prop.
While I like the Hustler but it can at time be somewhat un predictable.

 

[Texasmark]

13-15 no porting, answer is up for grabs. Assume both would be cupped. Cupping has little effect at low rpms like in the hole shot. If you go with the 15 and have less than stellar results in the hole, you can always have a prop shop port the prop for you. I ported my SS Ballistic. One thing to consider is that depending on the water toys and rpms you maintain while playing, ports COULD work to your disadvantage. Directions are here on the site for doing it yourself if you are mechanically inclined. As I have said many times, you know not till you put it on your rig and run it. All else is a SWAG, may be an educated SWAG but a SWAG none the less. If you put them in and are worse off you can always epoxy/JB weld them shut.

Mark

 

[Texasmark]

On doing your own porting, the attached thread is compliments of Mr. MikDee in a thread about 5 or so below yours from a guy wanting to get the most from his setup. On the dimension stated, start small and drill out as needed. On my Ballistic I started with 1/4 and 5/16 was my sweet spot. This is a picture of an OMC prop and is the one I had in mine when I mentioned that there is one out there.

http://www.marinemechanic.com/site/page76.html

Mark

 

[sutor623]

Well thanks for all the help guys!

 

[MikDee]

Disregard, wrong thread!