What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

[justinwhitt]

Just bought a 08 Tahoe Q4. It has an alum prop that is a bit chewed up, I would like to put a SS prop to replace the aluminum one. Would like to know what other Tahoe owners run and how they like it. Mine has a 4 cyl, 3.0 liter engine with the alpha one out drive. I haven't had it out yet so I can't speak on specific rpm or speeds, does have the plastic smart tabs. I pull tubes & fish with 3-4 people. Looking at a 4 blade 14x20 prop.

Thanks Justin.

 

[steelespike]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

Experience says your not likely to find anyone with a match but we can help.
When you get her on the water.Get us the deatails on the Q4 and your present prop size and your wot rpm and gps speed with a light load.
Smart tabs can do a wonderful job if adjusted carefully.Too much and the boat will drag and handle strangely.
A 20" prop may be too much.The results will depend on the present props performance.

 

[justinwhitt]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

Thanks Steelespike. I had her out yesterday on Lake Anna. The smart tabs are good but I think they drag just a bit, the are set on the middle slot #3 on both sides. So with 2 ave size persons, some fishing gear, & 3/4 tank gas. Weather was 70-75 deg & 10 kts wind. Current prop is the standard factory Mercury 3 blade aluminum 14 3/4" 21 pitch. Trimmed up as far as it would go without coming out of the water & the tabs feel like they are still pushing the bow down a little too much. Plus I feel the top speed should be a few MPH higher based on similar boats with the same power plant I've owned before & specs from iboats tests. Again boat is a 2008 Tahoe Q4 SFS with a mercruiser 3.0 & Alpha one gen II 2.0 final drive ratio.

Boat planned at 2800 RPMS about 16 MPH GPS
3000 RPMs 21.5 MPH GPS
3500 RPMs 27 MPH GPS
4000 RPMs 32 MPH GPS
WOT 4500 RPMs 38.2 MPH GPS

 

[steelespike]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

your performance is respectable 38.2 @ 4500 is about 14% slip just a touch high.
If you back off on the tabs so they are just affective enough it may help.
Your dinged up prop could be causing the slightly high slip numbers as well.
A Solas Anita or Rubex prop in the same pitch should help They are likely more technically advanced than the standard
Merc prop.The Rubex has a removeable hub.A 4 blade will improve low to midrange performance at the slight sacrifice of top end.
If hard contact is likely you may want to think twice about a ss prop.They hold up better in mud and sand but hard stuff
could get expensive.The entry level ss prop may not out perform the Solas. al prop.
I found a 2004 Q4 test 4.30 135 hp 19ft.I had to guess prop size at 21" wot was 4900
@ 41.7 mph with the same 14% slip.

 

[jkust]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

I'm thinking the extra you spend on an SS prop will be a sunk cost compared to a decent aluminum performance wise. I tend to like the Hustler props because they are so cheap but they tend to get chewed up even on sand. They are cheap for a reason but I just simply carry a spare. Only reason I'd buy a SS is to combat the sand strikes but an happy to have aluminum in the event of a rock strike. The hub however provides some protection as does the outdrive that will move up in the event of a hard strike then return to it's pre strike position. I change props depending on my familiarity of the water I'm boating on.

 

[justinwhitt]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

Awesome, thank you very much!

 

[littlerayray]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

i have a 2012 tahoe q4ss with the factory 21p prop. i find it a good all around prop the speed increase on a ss prop, which would only be a couple mph does not mitigate the cost.
stick with the aluminum prop and figure out your mph with rpm go on the mercruiser website.
they can tell you if you need to increase or decrease the pitch .
imho i will keep my aluminum oem prop and probably replace it with the same.
if it is dinged up a few pictures on here could help.
maybe your loss of performance is due to your prop being banged up too much

 

[littlerayray]

Re: What Prop does your Tahoe Q4 have?

oh and smart tabs are useless on a tahoe because the stern is rounded they simply do not work.
taking off the smart tabs would be the best thing you ever do
my marine mechanic refuses to install smart tabs on tahoes he doesnt want to waste his customers money