Micigan wheel ss props?

[Bushwacker]

John - I have both a Michigan Vortex 4B Aluminum and a SS 4B Apollo and they're both great props. After trying a couple of 3 blade loaners from the dealer, I found that I get much better performance with the 4B with my relatively stern heavy rig. Although the Apollo is advertised as a bow lifting prop, the extra blade in the 4B version gives it more stern lift than the 3 blade OMC and Stilleto loaner props I tried. I also tried GFS's 3B Mirage 3+, I think about a 15 1/4 X 17P, on a back-to-back test, and the Apollo was noticeably better. The 4B 14.125 x 20 was about 1/2 mpg better in cruise MPG, min planning speed was about 5 mph lower, and it was 3-4 mph faster at all rpm's. Both are too much prop for my rig if I'm loaded very heavy, however. The Michigan 2-piece hubs are also quite a bit more robust than the Merc system, so the plastic sleeve doesn't tend to crack around the splines.

I had the 14 x 20 Vortex repitched to a 14 X 18, and it's just about perfect. Currently running a SS 15x15 4B PowerTech with the old SST blade profile for heavy loads; it has an awesome hole shot and seems to be a little more efficient than the Vortex. It might pay you start with the aluminum Vortex which a good shop can repitch by +-2", so you could dial it in before spending big bucks for SS!

I know your sterndrive rig is quite a bit different and you'll need more diameter, but the 4B Michigan props work well on my outboard rig. Denny