Best Prop for Outboard?

[drifter136]

We have a 150hp (w/175hp carbs) Mercury V-6 outboard. Right now we have a 3-blade 19-pitch prop (I think it's aluminum and not stainless). It doesn't seem to have very much pulling power. I have a friend who weighs around 200lbs. and it has trouble pulling him up. The big problem is, I'd like to add weight to the boat to help out with the wake, but I'm not sure if the boat would get up on plane with the prop we have now.

Do any of you recommend a good prop to help out with this? 3-blade vs. 4-blade? Different pitch? Different companies? Going to stainless (if the prop we have now is alum.)? Any help would be great! Thanks

[Leggester]

Take this as it's meant,. it's not intended to be mean.

First, you need to learn about props. Period. There's quite a difference in a 17" or 19" or 21". Also, will the prop have a progressive cup? ( power cupping ). What do you want out of the boat? Top end? Towing Power?

How heavy is the boat?

What is the WOT and what prop will keep at or under WOT ( Wide Open Throttle )

Do you idle the out board alot? Don't.

Do you trim the motor down all the way for a hole shot? Is the motor trimable?

Hull, motor and prop all work together. You cannot give a motor size and expect an answer to the best prop to have.

That being said. If the 19" prop ( aluminum has thicker blades than SS ) isn't satisfactory, try an 17" Stainless Steel progressive pitch prop. Youi will not go as fast, you will have more of a tractor though. I'd suggest hooking up with a local prop shop and demo some props until you find the one you're happy with.

[drifter136]

Wow, didn't realize there is so much other information needed to go into choosing a prop...ok, this is what I know from the questions you asked (the rest I will need to find out about):

What I want out of the boat: Mainly towing power. We hardly ever run it wide open and we usually cruise at about 30-35mph.

Trimming: I never pull any boarders, but I'm pretty sure dad does trim it all the way down, then once I'm up, adjusts the trim.

Hull: It's a 19' Glastron deep-V, basic runabout hull

That extra information probably still won't help much, but thought I'd give it just in case. I'll take your advise and try and find a decent marina around here. Not sure if any of them have a demo program though. Thanks for your help.

[Leggester]

Drifter, where you live, there should be a bunch of prop shops. Try the yellow pages under boating equipment.

You want a tow boat - a tractor. Well, you would be very safe going down two inches. I'd highy recommend a Stainless Steel 17" Progressive pitch prop. Although a 19" same style may very well work too. Hard to say.

Sometimes, shops like a prop doctor ( almost every city has one - even Denver ) will let you try props with a credit card for a deposit. As long as you wind up buying from them.

I have an 18' Searay Open Bow I/O. I run a 17" SS prog pitch and it works quite well. Both for boarders, and skiers which are much harder to get up and going.

Just watch WOT whenyou try a new prop. Don't want to redline the motor.

[bluefish86]

Go here: http://www.mercurymarine.com/prop_selector
Also, many marines have a program where you can try different props before you buy. Because its hard to predict how a prop will perform on your particular boat, its usually a good idea to do that.

[bluefish86]

Heres more info on props from mercury: http://www.mercurymarine.com/propellers

[hYpErLiTe]

We have a 115 Yamaha engine on our Outboard and we use a 21 pitch High Five prop made by mercury and it works awsome. Its a five blade prop with tones of tork. I will give you a lot more towing capacity.

[drifter136]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. I'll try and look around for a prop shop.

[senate62]

i got a 21ft outboard bowrider and a 200hp yamaha V-MAX engine with a 3 blade SS 19 pitch prop.... we mainly wakeboard and the towing power is absoloutley awesome!!! and it has good top end (50 - 60mph) and torque (7-8 secs to 50mph)