What is the best prop for my boat?

[dirtyoldman]

I have a new boat that I haven't run much yet. The prop on there is a 14.75x19. The boat is a 1987 Sea ray sorrento 210 open bow with 260hp mercruiser v8 stern drive.

I was hoping to get one set up for water sports and one for cruising. I have a bunch of props that are too small that I was going to take to the local boat shop and try to do some horse trading for one a good size.

 

[usskydvr]

Re: What is the best prop for my boat?

You really need to know your current WOT with average load before any attempt to guess at prop sizes.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What is the best prop for my boat?

Ayuh,.... There juat Ain't any short cuts,... Start here....

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: What is the best prop for my boat?

Wow - you guys are ressurecting an old thread here.

No problem, I've been experimenting and ahve more data.

I have a 1987 sea ray sorrento 21', a fairly heavy boat. I think it's around 3500 lbs. It has a 260hp v8 with alpha 1. I don't know of any performance mods.

The boat takes a few seconds to get on plane. It doesn't seem to plane out until about 25 MPH. It also runs very high rpm's. With a 19 pitch aluminum prop I was runnign 5400 RPM at WOT, and with a 21 pitch I was running 5000rpm at 50 mph. It was choppy yesterday, so I plan on trying again tomorrow and expect to do better with more trim. None of my props are in very good shape. I boat mainly on small lakes so speed and even mileage isn't really a big deal, but we do go to some bigger lakes where it is more of a big deal too, so i was wanting to end up with two props - one for lakes around here and skiing, and another for the bigger lakes and mid range cruising.

 

[steelespike]

Re: What is the best prop for my boat?

What is the max rated rpm?You must be close at 5,000.

 

[dirtyoldman]

Re: What is the best prop for my boat?

What is the max rated rpm?You must be close at 5,000.

4600. i just tested it with the shop tach and now think it was closer to 4700 actual.