Prop for Wakeboarding

wayhat · Newbie Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 3

HI folks,

I am new to this form and new to power boats and wake boarding. I have a general question. I don't own a wake boat but have a Doral 19.2 bowrider with 4.3 merc. It currently has a 21 pictch prop. The boat works great but my teen age son would like the boat to plane at a lower speed for wake boarding. If I reduce the prop down to 19 will this help at all. From what I have read I think it will increase the RPM's of the boat and may it get out of the hole quicker but I don't think it will change the speed the hull planes at.

Tks in advance for the helping a sailer that but a bow rider so his sone could wakeboard

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Mar 10, 2010 2:42 pm Post subject:

more blades and less pitch will get you faster holeshot, and better speed holding.
an 18-19 pitch 3-4 blade would do wonders.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

What speed does your boat seem to plane out at?

wayhat · Newbie Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 3

Tks Folks I think I will look for a 19 pitch prop and that that way I can also have a spare. Not sure what speed the boat was planed out . The issue was my wake boarded in camp on some real nice wake board. I had to level set him on the wake will never be close to the same on our bow rider but I thought the prop may help get out the hole (although this seems fine) and help plane at a slower speed

882001 · Posted: Mar 10, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject:

my buddy has a 17" 5 blade it comes out of the hole good.

walb0244 · Outlaw Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 122 City: Terre Haute

I would definately check into a 5 blade. From what I have read on these forums they help out with holeshot and keeping speed. Another thing that we did to our 1991 19' Caravelle with I/O was to put a Hydrofoil on our boat. It helped keep the boat at plane and to help with it to plane at slower speed. I would say 5 blade prop at lower pitch and a hydrofoil. Also, putting a bag in the front for ballast would help it plane faster I would think.

Okie Boarder · Ladies Man Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 10056 City: Edmond

Just keep one thing in mind. If your boat planes out at the speed you want to wakeboard, even a better prop will make it difficult to maintain the right speed. A friend of mine has that problem with his boat. It wants to plane out at 19-21 mph. You can keep it at about 16 mph or about 24 mph but it's a constant fight to maintain in between. The boat fights to plane out, then it planes out and the speed starts increasing.

The hydrofoil can sometimes help with this type of problem.

walb0244 · Outlaw Joined: 05 Aug 2009 Posts: 122 City: Terre Haute

So basically you want the boat to plane out below wakeboard speed so the boat is already up on plane and stable instead of being right on the edge of planing and not planing?

wayhat · Newbie Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 3

Tks Folks the last comments are great. The last one realy discribes my issue. I seem to come out of the whole ok and plane out fine. Once started the boards want me to decrease speed but if I do I am on edge of drop off plane so it's a tough balancing act. I should have a better info this summer when I am on the water. Just looking for general suggestion now and I was considering buying a prop for a spare and towing anyway.

Great advise all, many thanks for the help.

willgeorge · Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 28 City: Maplewood

I would say try 18 pitch 4 blade I had good luck with that on my old boat. also put a ballast bag up front. 400 lbs in the walkway of the bow will help. that will make a huge difference for keeping the boat on plane.