Cheap High 5 Clone?

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 5:14 am Post subject: Cheap High 5 Clone?

Anyone know of a cheaper alternative to the Merc High Five prop for I/O's? They are 300+ used, the High Five is the only one I cant find a cheaper clone. Any help is appreciated.

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 5:50 am Post subject:

You can't find it cos its not available.

Sorry.. they are what they are. they are the best therefore they are also silly expensive...

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 7:58 am Post subject:

So I hear.
Talking to my local prop shop he stated that a 4 blade, such as an apollo stainless 16P or 18p would be a huge improvement over my 3 blade. He also said the High Five kills the top end.

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 03, 2006 8:02 am Post subject:

Roger · Outlaw Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 145 City: Dallas

I haven't seen any cheaper high-five type. There are some cheap 4 blades though. I'm considering the Michigan Wheel xhs Props for my i/o. I'm thinking of trying the 16 pitch and living with the loss of top speed. I think they are only about 110 for aluminum and around 280 for the SS version. You'll also need a hub adapter kit unless you already have one or are using a mercury flo-torq II system, I think that's another $40.

Ethan31 · Posted: Aug 04, 2006 12:23 pm Post subject:

I bought a 19p 4 blade, for our sea ray sport ( 3.0 135hp merc)

And it made a !HUGE! differance.

I had 1400lb's in the boat last weekend, and pull me (6'5 230lb) out of the water with no problem. And only took about 3mph off the top end.

The prop was cheap also, $150 Shipped from iboats.com

Good luck.

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

4 blade 18-20 is perfect for a wide range of water sports. A couple of weeks ago I pulled my Old Man out on the Slalom (way more drag than a Board) with 7 peeps in the boat. He drank a lot of water but surfaced in a relatively short period of time.
The thing I noticed most about my 4 blade is the consistency in speed and throttle response. Quicker, not necessarily faster.

High Five is just High Price. I wanted one but cant see spending the cash when the 4 blade works fine. I go back to that old saying, if its not broke....upgrade it anyway?

Brit Rider · Posted: Aug 10, 2006 4:02 pm Post subject:

Ethan31, Not sure on your situation but be careful when quoting weight amounts... just cos a fat sac says it'll hold 600lbs doesn't mean it is doing... its very rare to be able to get them anywhere near that, especially when rammed in a place like a walkway or something.

I used to run a 19pitch High Five on a Maxum 18ft with a 4.3 and there was no way in hell that thing would plane with a true 1400lbs in her.... 550lbs or so plus 4-5 people was about hitting the limit for any kind of quality driveability and safety.

The best I've known anyone get in a 3.0litre 17ft bayliner was about 800lbs with 3 people on board. after that she was bogging right down and holding speed very very badly

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

wakeskier, I am not discrediting the validity and benefit of upgrading to a High-5. I am certain that it offers some improvement. THe question is, is it necessary? A 4 Blade with the correct pitch will offer certain benefits greater than a 3 blade, a 5 blade would offer more. The real question is will it help Rhawn. I do not think that the added cost assocatied with an extra blade is worth the extra 3-400 bucks for a high-5. Besides if you put a high-5 on your boat you just put a neon sign on your outdrive asking for someone to rip off your prop.

wakeskier · Addict Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Posts: 593 City: Leominster, MA

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

wakeskier, I just cant see paying 300+ for an extra blade. If you need that kind of improvement get rid of the outboard and buy something with a V8

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 14, 2006 6:35 pm Post subject:

I cant see it either, nor can I find a High Five for $300ish. When I upgrade I'm going for the knock off 4 blade 19p.

My I/O is a V8. Twisted Evil

But to your point, I should be sinking monies into a Inboard. Oh Well.

The wake on the Maxum is getting better lately. Rider is 6 foot.

joedirt00 · Posted: Aug 15, 2006 3:32 am Post subject:

wakeskier, I completely agree with you, High five is the way to go. I went from a 3 blade to a High five for a year. It pulled like a mofo, but I wanted just a tad more top end. So this year I sold it and and tried a 5 blade knock off in the next higher pitch. Turns out the prop design was different and didn't perform as expected. I ended up selling it and just replaced it with a 4 blade. Let me tell you, I can see a major difference between the 4 and 5 blade props.

You can find them on Ebay used for under 300, if you are patient and constantly looking. I will be looking for another one this winter if I decide to keep the boat another year.

kevthayer · Outlaw Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 231 City: Benicia

Rhawn, V8 with a four blade 19-20 will pull anyone that can hold on out of the water. I like your wake, have you made any mods to build it? Can you W2W it looks wide where you are riding? I have a I/O as well, there is no need to invest in an inboard, in my opinion an I/O is an economical way to enjoy the sport and still be able to participate in other watersports.

Ethan31 · Posted: Aug 15, 2006 3:42 pm Post subject:

Brit Rider, It wasnt fat sacs, it was all my fat uncles. One is 350+lb's. others 200lbs+

7 People on the boat.

The biggest guys up front, and the rest just spread around. It took a little bit to plan (maybe 10secs longer than w/out wight) I was very surprised it pulled my big ass out.

Rhawn · Posted: Aug 17, 2006 11:32 am Post subject:

kevthayer, No mods at all, I had about 1100 pounds in the boat and it turned the wake into spaghetti. Its a 23 foot Deep V hull, its huge for 23 feet. I took all of the weight out, I put 1-2 riders up front and trim it up. Thats it. Its super heavy already, I think the extra weight just botched it up and killed my gas consumpton. I do have 3 or 4 50lb sand bags total, 1 to offset my dual batteries being on one side, and one in the nose, and one to move around when needed. The boat is real sensitive to weight, due to the deep hull.

That rider is at 60 feet, and it is really, really wide. I was landing W2W about half the time. Right now I have to ride light due to an eye injury from a faceplant. Once I get it (w2w) down consistently I want to add about 5 feet, for more cut distance.

I'd love to switch it up for an inboard, but it would have to be a large one. The Maxum stays for now.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

High Five definately worth it. I sold mine on here to some dude for around three hundred after I got my inboard.. Probably one of you guys!

Roger · Outlaw Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 145 City: Dallas

gene3x, didn't you have a michigan wheel 4 blade 15x16 for sale a few months ago?
Can you give an impression of how that prop performed and maybe a comparison vs a high five.
Any chance you still have that prop?

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

Yep, I still have it. I never put it on my boat but kept it as a backup to my High five.

Roger · Outlaw Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 145 City: Dallas

gene3x, PM sent.

Rinker04 · Newbie Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 17 City: Orland Park

Check out www.hillmarine.com. They make a 5 blade stainless for $329. I personally have one of their 4-blade props which works great. Very good people.

Roger · Outlaw Joined: 16 Aug 2005 Posts: 145 City: Dallas

Rinker04,

Where were you with this a week ago?

Rhawn, If it helps you any. I just switched from a 14 1/2 x 19 3 blade aluminum to the XHS 15 x 16 4 blade aluminum. Here are a few impressions from my first short run with the new prop today.
I gained about 400-500 rpm at 23 mph, about 2800 rpm now. It's hard to say for sure, the 3 blade sometimes needed more throttle/rpm to maintain speed depending on weight and distribution. Maintaining speed is easier now.
The 4 blade seems to have more bow lift(?). I can't run as much tilt/trim without the bow lifting on the starts and cavitation in turns. This doesn't seem like a problem, I just have to adjust the trim settings differently than before to offset this.
It definitly seems easier on the motor to get out of the hole. Before, a hard start would flash the motor to 3000 rpm and hold there as the motor seemed loaded down. Once the bow nosed over the rpm and speed would shoot up, and the driver would have to throttle down quickly. Now, it will sweep well past 3000 if you give it the same amount of gas. With a little getting used to different amount of throttle and tilt/trim settings, I feel like I can pull the rider smoother and easier than before. I'll be adding more ballast soon, as I feel the boat is much more capable.

gene3x · Addict Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 759 City: Dallas

I am so glad that prop worked for you Roger! Pretty good deal huh? Razz