Changing pitch to compensate for weight....and

bonvivant · Newbie Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 6

Hey all. I'm looking for some prop advice for my

2003 Searay Sundeck 220. It weighs
3500 LB, not counting
50 gal. fuel
10 passenger load
new aluminum tower, with speakers X3, amps X2
Full tool kit..about 60 LB
2 fat sacks at 250 lb a piece..if I use them

it's got a deep V hull with 260 horse stern drive merc 5.0 small block V8.

Currently, it's got a 24 pitch Bravo III (dual) prop.

I'm having a hard time planing with all the extra weight, and most of it is in the back obviously. I've tried changing the loads up, but it's only helping a little. I mounted the tower towards the back, so it's adding to the problem a bit.

I'm looking to change my pitch, and was thinking a 20 P would work a lot better. Before I added the weight, I was running at about 51 MPH with a crew of two.

I do more wakeboarding than anything else..and we usually have a full boat...so I'm thinking 20 P would be better, with about a top speed of approx 40 mph?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Hey,

I will post it shortly but there is a thread labeled Improving your I/O. I believe it is in the DIY section. More than half the thread is about props. From my personal research the favorite for wakeboarding is a 17/19 Pitch High Five Prop. I am personally running and 19P 4 Blade Prop, it works for the time, but will be upgraded to a High Five.

As far as your weight goes, there should be zero problem if/when you upgrade your prop. Your running a very strong engine and even if you had 800 lbs of ballast it should still be able to plane out with no problem.

Good luck on your projects and wake boarding!

Pat

CPGrandelli · Criminal Joined: 24 Oct 2012 Posts: 90

Here's the thread I was talking about!

http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=40609

bonvivant · Newbie Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 6

I had not considered changing the number of blades, but I'll have to consider that also. Thanks for the help Pat!

pet575 · Posted: Nov 14, 2012 8:47 am Post subject:

bonvivant, that is a good thread but I don't see a whole lot of discussion in there when it comes to B3's. I'm also running a 22' Four Winns Horizon that is comparable to yours but it has a 350MAG and I'm spinning 26's on mine. a dropdown to 20 might be the best bet but it seems like the outdrive is pretty well suited to easy planing with the 2 props. I guess what I'm getting at is that moving to 20's might be an expensive experiment.

Are you sure you're getting everything out of that 5.0?

rowlex · Outlaw Joined: 05 Oct 2006 Posts: 207 City: seattle

GP, he has dual props. so there are two props on the hub. = 6 blades.

dunno if more blades would help with that.

OP: have you considered a whale tale for the sterndrive? suppose to help plane out. a pitch change should help. i went from a 21 3 blade to a 19 4 blade. made a big difference and my boat is almost as heavy as yours (3200lbs).

my top speed with the three blade is 55mph. max 45mph with the 4 blade.

Ps205Rider · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 130

I thought bowrider's liked weight in the bow? Put the sacks in the front?