Got a Loaner Merc Inertia 17P Prop?

[McGillicuddy]

Originally Posted by Capt Terry

McGillicudy-
Thx for remark. I tried Bushwacker's Powertech 4B 15"x15P. It performed pretty well, but was short on both RPM & Speed versus my High Five:
POWERTECH, plus 5 degrees trim, DAY1 5340 38
POWERTECH, plus 6 degrees trim, DAY1 5380 38.5

HIGH FIVE, plus 5 degrees trim, DAY1 5630 40.7
HIGH FIVE, plus 6 degrees trim, DAY1 5680 40.2

CYCLONE, plus 5 degrees trim, DAY2 5280 40.8
CYCLONE, plus 6 degrees trim, DAY2 5330 40.8

My old Merc 3B Black Diamond 14.5"x17P was looking pretty good until it cavitated real bad during a hot hole shot. My dealer provided Cyclone was pretty efficient & performed well, but still short on WOT RPM (it worked perfectly for Bushwacker). Note: At beyond 6 degrees trim all were virtually unsteerable.

Well the Enertia Eco has been hailed as the magic prop...

Interesting. Were all of those props of same patch and diameter?

I believe Bushwackers PT Prop is an ELE4 model, very different shape with more cup than the MQS making it more difficult to spin.

The MQS4 is a SS 4-blade, comparable to the Black Max but designed with towing sports in mind. I think they nicknamed it SkiMax or something like that. I think your required trim angle puts a lot of undue pressure on the prop and combined with the extra force of a wake boarder maybe lending some effect to the cavitation you've experienced. Sounds like you'll need an easy to turn wheel and a favorable rake. You engineers are gonna have to figure that one out

Good luck with the Enertia.

[Capt Terry]

Sorry McGillicuddy, thought I had included the prop characteristics of the tested props. Here they are:
HIGH FIVE Stainless 5B 13.5" X 17"P
5 degrees trim, DAY1 5630 40.7
6 degrees trim, DAY1 5680 40.2

POWERTECH 4B 15" X 15"P
5 degrees trim, DAY1 5340 38
6 degrees trim, DAY1 5380 38.5

CYCLONE Stainless 4B 14.5" X 15"P
5 degrees trim, DAY2 5280 40.8
6 degrees trim, DAY2 5330 40.8

Black Diamond Aluminum 3B 14.5" X 17"P
5 degrees trim, DAY3 5420 41.1
6 degrees trim, DAY3 5530 40.1

Vortex Aluminum 4B 14.0" X 18"P
0 degrees trim 5250 36.3
5 degrees trim 5390 38.3

Recorded RPM and speed were digital from a GPS PerfectPass gage. I can set the desired PerfectPass RPM which holds steady within about +/-20, then record the attained mean speed at that trim angle.

My typical operation is between 0 and 5 degrees trim, at 6 it starts getting hard to steer. Sometimes start trimmed down for the accel particularly for slalom and footing, then trim up after planed out. All tests were similar conditions and all without towing anyone. Sometimes flatter water than other days. The Black Diamond cavitation (don't remember trim angle) also not towing anyone. Once again for my routine operation at watersports, the High Five is good. The Cyclone might have been a good cruise prop if it were tweaked a little with a smaller diameter or lower pitch to increase the WOT RPM. Cyclone WOT speed was good, just not revving high enough.

[Bigshrimpin]

old enertia 17p is the prop you want IMO. I have one but it's on my boat now . . . If you want to wait until October I can mail it down if you cover postage. I would bet it's 3mph faster than the highfive (same pitch).