4 Blade SS Prop?

[TooFly]

So I took my new-to-me 20'er for its first (12 hour) spin last Wednesday and absolutely LOVED it. I've been in a few boats over recent years and have to say that, aside from the wetness due to self-bailing issues, it's the nicest ride I've experienced in an 18-22'er. IMHO, the ride is even softer than my buddy's 22' Hydrasport (kevlar hull) in up to a 2' chop. I told him that.

My concern, ATM, is getting up on plane. With two of us onboard, a bunch of fishing gear and tackle (~ 60 lbs.) moved forward and 50 gallons of gas, I can't get on plane until I hit 18 mph. Here are the stats:

20' CC with a Gil Brackett (2' long)
150 Evinrude E-TEC
14 3/4 x 16 Viper 3 Blade Lefthand () SS Prop
32 mph @ 4200 RPM
38 mph @ 5000 RPM

I haven't gone above 5000 RPMs, yet.

Will a 4 blade prop make a discernable difference with getting up on plane at a lower speed? Will I lose a ton on the top end? I'm debating a Cyclone 4 Blade lefty SS prop. Can anyone recommend the right size prop? A couple shops (believe it or not) seem iffy on the subject.

Thanks,
Paul

[Old'sCool]

My last boat, 22 whaler or w/225 yam ox66 and current boat 23 sc cc w/250 yam ox66 have 4 blade ss props. whaler had 18p solas and sc has 19p solas. they've improved all the above for me. minimal top end loss on both. the 19p is little too much. i should have gotten either a 17 or 18. savvyboater has good prices and free shipping right now. no affiliation here but my purchase experience was good through them.

[TooFly]

Wow. Thanks for the info. I was about to order a Cyclone 14 1/8 x 18 LH for ~ $450 shipped ($630 retail). I think I'm going with this now:

http://www.savvyboater.com/p-2493-so...propeller.aspx

$326 and free shipping is tough to beat.

Do you know if Cyclone props are more dough because of the name? Or are they a better prop?

[76Red18]

A Viper was the worst prop I've tried on my 18. Too much bow lift. I settled on a 15 x 15 "Old style" SST. Works very well. Less cup then the new ones. I can plane at 12 -13 mph with tabs.

[Old'sCool]

Wow. Thanks for the info. I was about to order a Cyclone 14 1/8 x 18 LH for ~ $450 shipped ($630 retail). I think I'm going with this now:

http://www.savvyboater.com/p-2493-so...propeller.aspx

$326 and free shipping is tough to beat.

Do you know if Cyclone props are more dough because of the name? Or are they a better prop?

I'm not sure on Cyclone. Post some #'s back, I think you'll be pleased with Solas quality. I know I have been.

[Bushwacker]

My concern, ATM, is getting up on plane. With two of us onboard, a bunch of fishing gear and tackle (~ 60 lbs.) moved forward and 50 gallons of gas, I can't get on plane until I hit 18 mph. Here are the stats:

Will a 4 blade prop make a discernable difference with getting up on plane at a lower speed? Will I lose a ton on the top end? I'm debating a Cyclone 4 Blade lefty SS prop. Can anyone recommend the right size prop? A couple shops (believe it or not) seem iffy on the subject.

Thanks,
Paul

Inability to plane at low speed is a common symptom of a stern-heavy boat! Been there, done that! I had no such problem with a 300 lb motor on the transom, but a 430 lb motor set back 30" on a bracket shifts the boat's CG aft by more than a foot. The extra stern lift from a 4 blade prop will make a huge difference! I'm running a 4 blade PowerTech 15x15 prop with the old SST blade profile. On my 2 week Fl. circumnavigation trip with a very heavy load in my Seafari(with 2 170-180 lb guys, 2 large coolers, grill, 45 gallons of fuel, 6 gal of water, fishing gear, extra clothes and sleeping bags) I was able to plane at 12-13 mph, cruise at 27 mph at 3700-3800, with a top speed of about 39 at 5450 with the big Bimini top up. I averaged 4.35 mpg over 700 miles with that load. The I-Command gage will show throttle position sensor reading, and with the PowerTech prop, it has an awesome hole shot. I rarely use more than about 45% throttle to get on plane, and cruise at about 36-37%. The same rig with the top down and just me and a full tank of gas aboard has run almost 50 mph with a 14.125x20 Michigan Vortex 4B prop at about 5250 rpm, but I'm not really interested in top speed, and that's too much pitch for any kind of load. I carry a 14x18 aluminum Michigan Vortex 4B prop as a spare that will turn up to 5500-5600, but is a couple of mph slower than the SS PowerTech prop. All of these 4B props will plane the boat at 12-12 mph.

You may also want to try a Doelfin or equivalent fin on cavitation plate to help with improve low speed planning.

[TooFly]

Thanks for the input, Red. I think I'll sell the Viper once I get a back-up prop.

[TooFly]

Well, it sounds like there are lots of good prop options, even in lefty.

[Bushwacker]

$326 and free shipping is tough to beat.

That's about what I paid for the Michigan Apollo at local prop shop (NO shipping! ), although it was a few years ago. You might also be able to find a PowerTech for similar price - check the suppliers on PowerTech website. Both are high quality props and the Michigan/Powertech replaceable hub system is more robust than the Merc design. Also PowerTech is made in USA and they have great technical support.

[TooFly]

That's about what I paid for the Michigan Apollo at local prop shop (NO shipping! ), although it was a few years ago. You might also be able to find a PowerTech for similar price - check the suppliers on PowerTech website. Both are high quality props and the Michigan/Powertech replaceable hub system is more robust than the Merc design. Also PowerTech is made in USA and they have great technical support.

I was just looking at props and found the PowerTech for $304. Originally I was looking for an aluminum as I will sometimes fish tight to rocks. But a LH aluminum appears to be impossible to find.

I took the Viper to a local shop to be reconditioned. I failed to mention that, BTW. I lightly hit a rock at the very end of the the day on Too Fly's maiden voyage. The shop wants $240 to fix it. I'm thinking of not bothering and selling it as is. I'd probably get no more than $300, refurbished, anyway.

Yep. The PowerTech, Solas and Apollo are all comparably priced. Because your boat is similar to mine in size and identical power, I may go with the PowerTech because you're getting good performance.