Hello Denny

[Vezo, Part II]

Have located a PowerTech four blade SS prop on THT. Looks like a fair asking price from a SeaCraft 23, but I believe it was hubbed for a Yamaha. Also it is a 14x16. Keep hunting a 15x15? Thanks.

Michael.

[McGillicuddy]

Michael,
Curious, what are boat/motor are you putting it on. What model is the prop.

[Bushwacker]

I assume this is for your Seafari with the 150 E-TEC? If you install a Yamaha or Merc hub and thrust washer that doesn't seat properly on the tapered surface that takes the thrust load, you risk failure of the prop shaft! It's very important to run the correct thrust washer! However if it has a 2 piece hub system, you might be able to just change the splined adapter and thrust washer. I would find out the part No. of the prop, and what type of hub it has, then call PowerTech and ask them some questions:
1. If it's a 2 piece hub, do they have the appropriate splined adapter and thrust washer for an Evinrude, or if it's a 1 piece hub, can a good prop shop change it to an Evinrude hub? (The thrust washer you currently have might work.)
2. Tell them what rpm you're turning with your current BRP Viper prop, and ask them if that specific 14x16p prop will work and what rpm you could expect?
3. Ask them what they'd recommend as the BEST stern lifting prop for your boat that would let it hang on plane at low speed, and turn 5300-5500 @ WOT (assuming your motor is actually a 2007 vintage like mine).

Based on my experience, and assumming you raised the motor so AV plate is 1.5" above keel, the optimum prop for your boat will probably be a 14.5" x 15P BRP 4B SS Cyclone. Once I got motor height correct, I found that it's 2-3 mph faster than the 15x15p PowerTech @ WOTand at least 0.25 mpg better in fuel burn at cruise! Might be worth checking the E-TEC Owners forum to see if anyone is trying to sell a Cyclone prop, which would use your existing splined adapter. My local prop shop guy said he's been very impressed with the recent BRP props! I think they're made by Solas, so you might be able to find an equivalent Solas model.

[Capt Terry]

Originally Posted by Bushwacker

I assume this is for your Seafari with the 150 E-TEC? If you install a Yamaha or Merc hub and thrust washer that doesn't seat properly on the tapered surface that takes the thrust load, you risk failure of the prop shaft! It's very important to run the correct thrust washer!

Hey Denny & Michael-
On my 2012 ETEC 150HO. I use a Merc QST5 which (along with a PerfectPass GPS speed control) provided much better wakeboard speed control than the Cyclone prop or others I tried. My ETEC dealer recommended a Solas RBX 100 hub kit for the Merc prop. Based on the info and illustration in
http://etecownersgroup.com/post/prop...mation-5968919
I was anxious about prop shaft damage from a thin thrust washer. Therefore, I used an old, thicker Evinrude thrust washer (like the one in the above link, sorry would have to remove it to read the part number). The thicker washer meant getting a machine shop to shorten the splined RBX spacer which is aft of the prop, so the cotter pin would fit into holes in the prop shaft. This has worked well for three years and about 120 hours. The thicker spacer resulted in a .220” axial gap between the leading edge of the prop hub and the lower unit. I’ve heard there may be a plastic spacer to reduce/eliminate this gap.

[Bushwacker]

Terry, I got your text and saw post on E-TEC forum about looking for a plastic spacer between prop & gearcase. That gap might allow some exhaust gas to induce cavitation in reverse, and maybe on takeoff, much like the vent holes on some props, but I doubt it would have much effect at cruise. You might try contacting some of the prop makers like PowerTech and Solas about a plastic spacer, and also ask them for some good cruising prop recommendations as well, based on your test data with the Cyclone prop. If you still have your Shopsmith, you might also be able to make a spacer out of starboard that attached to gearcase rather than the prop! Denny

[Capt Terry]

Hey Denny
I posed the spacer question to Barnicle Bills. Guess they are just about shut down this time of gear..so he suggested posting it on the ETEC site. But may follow your suggestion.