Prop pitch

[Tennessee]

I bought my boat used and it came with a 4 blade prop and a 3 blade prop. I'm not a dummy to the idea behind blade numbers and I have a general idea of pitch but..How do you determine the pitch for your motor..I guess lets do this

Boat prop class 101 that way I don't miss a thing

Thanks in advance for all the help

Later Will


PS: I love this site already

[carolina-rig-01]

you can probably call a marine mechanic and ask them what pitches your motor will take. they should know.

[woody]

My Skeeter ZX185C is powered by a Yamaha Vmax 150HP, it came with a SS 3 blade prop w/25" pitch. imo it has a good hole shot, just less than 3 seconds to plane and at top end the tears start pouring from your eyes, I don't have any numbers yet, the speedo. and tach aren't working. I can say that there is no motor lugging and with that sized prop over revving shouldn't be an issue.

[Basscrazie]

I have a 23 trophy on my 150,17'10 ranger and like the hole shot and seems good on top.Merc xr6.
The 4 blade might make a diff in handling the chopped water.Most sites get to the point on what you want the boat to do as far as speed,hs,handling etc you get the picture..And if you ask they are gonna want such things as rpm,motor height,set back,water psi.
I think if you got good water psi and you like it with it loaded your good.I would try the 4 blade to see the difference..Doubt this helped any now go catch some fish.

[boater]

Alot depends on what boat you have ,what size motor,what you want to do with it waterconditions where you boat,engine height ect. More informtion is required before a Hypothocise can be offered.

[Bob Smith]

Boater is pretty close. You need to know the boat size, motor size, Jackplate (how much setback, motor height. etc), how much stuff do you usually carry, two people?
Two guys could have identical rigs with different needs, and therefore different props. So dial us in a little better and I am sure you will get a wealth of suggestions. We actually have few mechanics and real boat guys on here!

[Tennessee]

Never claimed to be a motor guy so no laughing at me

Boat length 18'6"
Motor Johnson 150 fast strike
there is a jack plate not sure how it's set up ??
Were do you measure from for jack and motorheight
2 people most the time roughly 400lbs average
No more than 100 lbs of other gear

Thanks Will

[Bender]

One of my friends has basically the same boat and motor as you, I think he is running a 23 pitch Renegade. I believe my 285 has a different hull since it was built after Stratos absorbed Javelin, but I am/will be running a modified ~23 pitch TR04. I ran a 3 blade before, but I feel like the 4 blade handles better and is an all around better prop.

Here's how to measure your prop to pad: http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zerothread/65514
And to measure your motor height from the transom: http://www.bassboatcentral.com/measuring.htm

Basically the way I set my motor is start around 3-3.5" below and run it, make sure you have good water pressure at wide open throttle, and see how fast you go with it trimmed just right. If your water pressure is good (not sure what it should be on the Fast Strike, 15-20 on my VMax) then stop and raise it 1/4". Repeat this process until either you are blowing out on the holeshot or your water pressure drops. Then lower it back down 1/4" and run it again to make sure it is good.
That is with a manual jackplate, and for the most part paraphrased from what 1fastlaser told me on here quite a while ago.

[zooker]

fyi bender.. stratos, javlin,and hydrosport all used the same hull molds..the interiors were vastly differant.i belive genmar dropped the hydrosport line in the late 90's and merged the stratos /jav line togather.. it is now just stratos.. the newly designed xt series buy stratos is being built in the same building as hydrosport's were made..

zooker

[boater]

4 blades handle better and maybe a litttttle bit better hole shot I think and 3 bladesd are top end inprovers. I would try different props ,try anyones prop see how is acts, a good prop shop might lone you one to try .I would start at a 23 pitch with a 150 hp engine and go from there. I've had mine 2 years tried 5 or 6 props so far ,I found my best hole shot prop but have not found the right prop for top end yet....trial and error.Trick is to have fun trying.

[Nitro 640]

Take a look here http://appcenter.mercurymarine.com/propSelector/home.do

How I found out which to use. Went with a 4 blade for better hole shot and handling.
Of couse I have only a 60hp so there are no selections out there in the first place.

Will give you the pitch for the app to.

[zooker]

nitro

http://www.ptprop.com/

powertech have stainless wheels for the lil moters..

zooker

[Nitro 640]

Zooker
I bought one of these composite props 4 balde.
http://www.comprop.com/
Lost a little top speed but handles better and better hole shot. $60 is better than $200 for a stanless one for now. Not sure if these would work good on a bigger motor but like it so far on mine.

[zooker]

i had one of those comps. i hit a branch in the water, snapped 2 blades off it. no MORE comps for me..

zooker

[Nitro 640]

ya, I know if will break but I thought a new prop is cheaper than fixing the bottom end!
I fish in lake I know and dont. Start out slow with the trolling motor and then use the big boy after I think I know where the bad spots are. Hoping not to hit anything but know I will sometime. Thats why I have my spare prop on board but still need to fine the nut for the props to have on board too.

[boater]

What nut did you need? I might have an extra one sitting around.

[Nitro 640]

The one to hold the prop on. Dont know what size that would be.

[boater]

I'll check and if I have one you are welcome to it

[Nitro 640]

Thanks boater just let me know.

[zooker]

your right nitro hitting stuff sucks. sucks huge when you wack something with a $500 custom ss prop..yep thats how much i got into my ss 3 blade on my 50 horse..

zooker

[1FASTLASER]

That paricular setup will LOVe a worked 23p Raker for top end at set at around 2 3/4 below pad to 3 1/4 below pad depending on H2O pressure and condition of motor. The 4 blade will be a great holeshot and rough water prop. A little more info will narrow down my recommend. Need topend numbers on both props and WOT rpms to tell ya what ya need to do to maximize performance AND hekp you get to maximized performance.