Yes, I hate to do it but its another prop question :deadhorse:

2000 1895 Storm SC with an 06 225 Merc Opti. Currently I am running a 21P Tempest Plus with all the PVS hole wide open. The boat runs between 56-58.5 mph at about 5700 RPMs. The top of the operating range is at 5750 for this engine so I believe I have about the right pitch. I just keep thinking that maybe I should broaden my horizon a bit an try a few different props. I have a vengence as a spare but have found the tempest is better in every regaurd so the vengence is nothing more than a back-up. I figure if I'm gonna have a SS back-up why no have one that I can use when I need more bow lift or a better hole shot or a better ride or maybe more speed hence you'll see that I'm not after a single criterea but instead a max performance prop.

The fist would be a 22P or 23P Enertia. I figure with this I should gain a mph or maybe two and be able to spin within 150 rpms of the max 5750. I am also contemplating rasing my engine a hole and maybe two but I need to install my smart craft monitor so I know whats happening with my water pressure. I am thinking between the prop and raising the engine I could net maybe +3mph. The question will be if I have enough bow lift at lower speeds (25-40 mph)?????

The second would be a Revolution 4 or a Trophy 4 Blade. With the tempest it's decent out of the hole but it's not what I'd call neck snapping. I'm thinking that with either of these props I should have a much improved hole shot and the bow lift should be better which should yeild a better/smoother ride when it gets choppy (which is everyday in ND). Is my thinking flawed??? The question becomes do I stay with a 21P with these props????

Lastly I have access to a High Five so I thought I'd give it a try just for the heck of it. After running the High Five I should have an Idea of how the 4 blades should do since they should fall some where in the middle of how my tempest performs and how the High Five performs.

In the end I really don't know what I want out of the prop since I don't know how much they will affect the ride / hole shot / top end speed from what I already have? Maybe what I really need to do is send my tempest in, have it worked, and forget about the rest!!!

Lastly I do notice at lower speeds just below getting on plain (say 2000-3000 RPMs) I have a vibration that you can feel though the whole boat. Is my tempest prop causing this or is this a trait of the big Opti's?

Thanks

Steve

Steve. I have the same boat with a Yam 225 EFI. I run a 23 Tempest at about 5600, and have topped out in perfect conditions, full gas and tourney load (no livewell yet ) at 60.4......ONCE! I would say the average is aroung 57-58. The livewell has a significant impact (-3-4 mph) in this boat due to its location midship, however, it is also a reason why this boat rides so well. Also note that your motor is a 1:175 gear ratio, vs my 1:181. meaning yours is a little harder to turn. You post good questions, and I understand your desire to create the best performance from your combo. #1. Get your water pressure guage working properly. You need to maintain at least 15 pounds above 3500 rpm. #2. Get your prop shaft up to about 4 1/2 inches lower than the bottom of the centerline hull. This might even be the bottom hole on a Merc., it is on my Yamaha. Now for the props. I have tried many props including 21-22 and 23 pitch in several models including Trophy small hub 21 (my backup) = 5800 @ 56 mph. 22 small hub high 5 = 5800 @ 53 mph. 21 Rev 4 5400 rpm @ 54mph. (these turn hard) . The best overall has been the 23 Tempest. If I were to try additional props it would be a 23 large hub High 5, a 23 Trophy, and or add more cup for more lift for my 23 Tempest. IF I were you with the 21 Tempest. I would have it Balanced and Blueprinted by Mark Croxton, and have him add 1 degree and add cupping. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/marksprops1.htm
This boat does like the large diameter 3 blades, but they have to be able to lift the bow as they run so flat and smooth normally.
Ryno

Thanks Ryno!! That right there is the exact information I was after. I beleive I owe you a cold one if you ever come up to central ND because I'm certain you just saved me a pile of time and money!

I haven't been using my aft livewell much unless I am keep a few pike and want to keep them seperated from the walleye so I don't have a bunch of slime on the walleye when it comes to cleaning time.

Funny thing is the fastest I have ran was in mid June, 75 degree weather, 60 degree water temp: Rear live well, bait well, and cooler were all full and front bait well was full. I had 55 gals of fuel and 4 guys at an average weight of 200lbs each. We also had a regular chest cooler (in the back of the boat) that weighed probably 65lbs and my normal gear plus 2 extra tackle boxes. We ran 58.4 mph in a very slight chop. Thats the fastest I've ever ran and coinsidently the heaviest I've EVER been loaded. I think the key was the slight chop and having just about ALL of the weight towards the back of the boat. It was a little sluggish out of the hole! I've ran this rig with much lighter loads and on average it runs between 55.5 mph and 57.5 mph depending on conditions.

I think as soon as I get my smartcraft monitor installed I'll raise the engine. From there I will probably take your advise and have the prop worked to have a little more cup and maybe anothe degree of pitch. Do you know what Mark charges do B&B a prop?

The only question I have left regaurding the props is: did any of them seem to offer much better bow lift or a significantly better ride over the tempest?

Thanks again!

Steve

never mind about what mark charges, I wrote that before i checked your link!

Talked to mark the other day. I now have a plan of attack (grin)!!!! I'm gonna get my smartcraft monitor installed so I can watch my water pressure. I'll raise the motor so the prop shaft is 4.5-5" below the keel of the boat. I'll run what I have to find my baseline assuming I keep enough water pressure. If I don't, I'll have to dial in the motor height first. Mark figured that just his balence and blue print of the prop alone would gain me RPMs as will raising the engine. So since I'm already running near the peak of the RPM range we are guessing at this point that he'll have to add 2 degrees of pitch to get my Rs back where they should be (5600-5700), he''l balance and blue print the prop and add cup to keep my bow lift as I will likely loose some bow lift when I raise the engine. In the end I'm hoping to pickup between 3-5mph between the prop work and raising the engine (It's really low right now). This should put me right in the low 60s for speed (BIG GRIN, lol). He thought it was pretty realistic and figured the prop work alone would net me 2 mph and maybe 3 mph.

It upsets me that the Bass Boat guys can do this same stuff and pick up 5-9mph depending on how poorly their stock setup is! I guess I need to remember that those same guys would be sitting on shore or really wet 60% of the days I spend on the water here in ND.

How do you like the rig so far?

Interesting your not getting the speed I got with my 21p. I hit the rev limiter a couple times while it was still accelerating. Both times I was at 60+MPH when the horn went off.

Enjoy the boat!

Jack

Jack, the boats been good! Even managed to put a few eyes in wet well although my sister inlaw put the largest fish in the boat so far and it's the first fish she's caught in two years!!!! It hasn't seen the as much use as when you had it but I've been out about 20 times through the 12th of July, been dry docked in the shop since due to work. hopefully I start getting back out in the coming weeks.

As far as the boat goes I couldn't ask for a better deal and it's drier and rides better in the big stuff then any other boat that I've been in. The motor runs like a champ but I wonder if it's a difference in speed is due to the difference in elevation, or maybe how I have the boat loaded, or maybe the tempest prop that I have is a little off compared to the one you had on it (most likely). Regaurdless of a couple mph, because 56-58 is plently fast, she's a good machine.

I've done quite a few small things getting it the way I wanted and fixing a few minor things. I removed all the stickers, filled a few small nicks in the gel coat, buffed and waxed it. Changed the gear lube, drained the water seperater and greased all the zerks on the engine. Painted all the ram mounts, changed out a few interior and livewell lights and got them all working, put a new set of Class 29 interstate deep cycles in for the TM. Changed the copilot battery, fixed the holder for the marine band mic, rewired the 12V receptical, had all of the seat backs reupolstered, changed out the bunks on the trailer and replaced the carpeted trailer steps with aluminum diamond plate, picked up a tempest prop, changed the leaf springs and hardware to 4 pack springs (I broke one so I changed them both with a heavier set per the manufacturers recomendations). Added a Nav chip to the X19c. I'm sure there were a few other little things but when I guy has a new toy you don't mind working on it so long as it's nothing major. I think the only real problems that I've had so far is the trolling motor plug burned out so I replaced that and the timer switches on the back live wells quit but both worked at the first use so I chauk them up to a matter of keeping things working since anything mechanical can and will break at some point!

I have about a 1/2 dozen things I still want to do. First is to get the prop and engine height dialed in. Install a smart craft system monitor where the indash flasher is now and remove the flasher. Install a keel gaurd, wifes request since I won't beach it for a bathroom break, lol. Permanet mount the GPS puck (the cabe and mounting plate are on order), and eventually add a second sonar/gps unit to bow and net the two units together. Lastly I need to have a travel tarp made for it. The tarp you gave me is fine for sitting at the lake but would probably get tore up if I traveled with in on. The first trip to the lake that I towed it behind the camper about made me sick after I got to the lake, with no tarp on it the dust from the gravel road was about 1/4 thick over the entire boat! But a few cold ones and bucket of water and all was good again.

All in all it's a good machine! If you find you're self in the sakakawea area feel free to get a hold of me for a cold one or maybe a day on the water.

By the way are you still running your 07' TFX or di you get and 08'?

Steve

Glad your enjoying the boat. I sure did while I had it, and yes, I'm still running my 07.

Take care.

Just another input on sum of my trials. I am running a 1999 1895 yarcraft storm. mostly on SAK. i have a 1999 Yamaha V-Max on mine a 9.9 yamaha four stroke on passenger side. a motor guide PinPoint ont front with the matching pinpoint graph. That is 36 volt trolling motor so I have Three optima deep cycles on board also. my motor is one hole from the top as that is wear it was when i got the boat. the only time I have had any aver heating issues was when i very first got the boat from the dealer. and they fixed that right away. it endeed up being a kinked hose up under the hood.

it had a 23pitch Pro on it when i got it and I could get about 56-57 with a full load out of that prop. but i also was not completely happy with that so i tried a 21 pitch high five and that prop was just way under pitched as it would snap your head off coming out of the hole but would hit the rev limiter real quick after that. Now i have a 21 pitch tempest plus and this prop is alot closer to what i was looking for but I still over rev. Unless i am 100% loaded gas, live wells, gear, and 3-4 guys it will turn 5850-5900. local dealer said i sould be running around 5650-5700 for max performance. I have seen 61.2 on the max speed spot on gps. that was on fort peck. i resently dinged my prop up pretty bad on sum rocks so i am not sure if it is able to be worked over and pitched up.

Even if it is able to be worked over could it be bumped up to a 23 pitch?

I am looking for a decent hole shot but am more in the marcket for speed as i would rather make up the hole shot buy passing sumone then rather then jumping them right out of the hole and then be passed.

The loggin name is KidWalleye I am just having sum issues getting logged in as of right now.

Thank for the info above and any other you can offer, Hope sum of mine helps.

Gary

From what I understood they should have no probelm getting it repitched. If I was in your situtation I would send it in and have them fix it, balance and blue print it (which will come with them fixing it), have them add cup to the blades to gain bow lift, and pitch it to a 22 or maybe a hair more. This is basically what I'm gonna have done. The whole thing will cost you around $350-$400 + shipping but you'll have a prop that is actually better than when it was new! The other thing I notice is with these boats I've yet to here anybody say they had to mcuh bow lift with ANY prop! Their big and heavy so the more cup they can add the better. Good luck

Different boat, Warrior V193. But after 10 different props the hi5 has by far the best bow lift for me.

You might want to consider looking into an "Enertia" prop Steve. The Enertia is supposed to have all the abilities of the Tempest, but is thinner, lighter, and according to Mercury, the faster of the two props. Check into them.

Jack

Jack, Thats exactly the first prop I would try if I did indeed try a different style prop. One nice thing about those is they come in 1P increments so you can realy get the optimum setup for your boat. I would like to get the engine raised to the proper hieght before I play around with to many props since it could have a significant impact on the pitch and cupping that may be needed. And of course I don't dare start playing with the enigine height untill I have the smartcraft monitor installed so I know what my water pressure and engine temps are. startin to sound like the domino effect!

On the brighter side, It looks like I'll have a break in my work schedule so the ol 1895 should hit the water again this weekend. The tough question is: Indian Hills, Parshall Bay, or Van Hook?? With all the new found water in SAK it's hard to decide where to go but it's a problem I like having!

Van Hook!! Here piggy piggy piggy!!

Went to Indian Hills. Didn't find ANY piggys, lol. Lots of little guys though. I guess they all fry up the same.

I don't think you will have any water pressure problems at that height. I have been up to 3 1/2 on my jack plate and still had plenty of water pressure. I think the tunnel has something to do with that that many straight back transoms can't offer. Again, I think you could add at least 1 pitch, .....maybe 2, but the added cup to your tempest will let you run it higher, and still get good bow lift. Also something I did not note in you origianl post was that you have an SC...mine is a full windshield, and costs me 1 -2 mph vs yours. You should be at or above 60 easily. Regarding your best day....I would be willing to bet that you were on a river, and that you were going with the wind, and perhaps with the flow......I don't see any other reason why that load would have been faster, cause weight definitly negatively affects my boat. Also, if it is a true SC and not the TSC... I think you have the finest pure walleye fishing boat made., and soon with your changes, perhaps one of the fastest on Sak. Have fun
Ryno


Talked to mark the other day. I now have a plan of attack (grin)!!!! I'm gonna get my smartcraft monitor installed so I can watch my water pressure. I'll raise the motor so the prop shaft is 4.5-5" below the keel of the boat. I'll run what I have to find my baseline assuming I keep enough water pressure. If I don't, I'll have to dial in the motor height first. Mark figured that just his balence and blue print of the prop alone would gain me RPMs as will raising the engine. So since I'm already running near the peak of the RPM range we are guessing at this point that he'll have to add 2 degrees of pitch to get my Rs back where they should be (5600-5700), he''l balance and blue print the prop and add cup to keep my bow lift as I will likely loose some bow lift when I raise the engine. In the end I'm hoping to pickup between 3-5mph between the prop work and raising the engine (It's really low right now). This should put me right in the low 60s for speed (BIG GRIN, lol). He thought it was pretty realistic and figured the prop work alone would net me 2 mph and maybe 3 mph.

It upsets me that the Bass Boat guys can do this same stuff and pick up 5-9mph depending on how poorly their stock setup is! I guess I need to remember that those same guys would be sitting on shore or really wet 60% of the days I spend on the water here in ND.

Well I raised the engine last friday before leaving and it was actually set pretty close. I raised it one hole (about 1/2") which puts the center of the prop shaft 4.5" lower then the keel of the boat. Looks are decieving with the tunnel, makes the motor look lower than it actually is. Overall performace was much of the same I pickup maybe .5mph as I ran 58mph with just me and the wife and the rear wet well and cooler being full. I never heard the over rev beeper expect on a lone swell out in the middle that cause the whole rig to come out of the water. At nearly 60 mph it was a feeling that I care not to experience again!

The boat is a true SC boat with lots of room to the aft of the ****pit. It is NOT a TSC. I'm slightly torn on what to do about props. The question is do I send in my tempest and have it worked like I was planning to do OR do I try a 22P Enertia?? The cost is a wash and thats why I'm contemplating what to do. I do believe that I have a slow/untrue tempest prop between listening to other people and what the previous owner (jack) had experienced with the boat and a different 21P tempest prop.

The day I ran 58.5 and was loaded so heavy I was coming out of douglas bay and running INTO the wind which is why it caught me off gaurd. There is no reason that I can come up with the extra speed other than all that weight in the back of the boat actually caused the front to ride out of the water a little higher and in turn pickup a couple mph. This brings me back to my prop. I think if I have the prop worked and have mark add more cupping for bow lift, this alone may be a big help in getting more speed out of it. I'm not sure what I'll do. In the end a couple mph doesn't bother me much since I rarely run Wide Open. I just like to know that my rig is setup to run the best that it can!

Well, just thought I'd give an update since it's been a while. I purchaced a 22P Enertia that should be here before the weekend. The price was right so if all else fails I can alway sell it if the performance isn't what I'm looking for. It may be labor day before she sees the water again so although I'm working on the best setup it's taking me a bit of time between posts to actually make it out on the water.

On the brighter side I was a participant in a local tourny recently and although the fishing wasn't worth a darn the 225 opti did well on fuel with over 75 miles put on by water, was the first on plane and out of the bay and only one other boat could outrun us, which rightfully so since it had a 300 yami! This of course was out of our 14 boat flight which did have two others running 250 yami's. Now if only I could of found a few more fish to weigh because obvioulsy wining the race out didn't get us any closer to the money! Once out of the bay and out front I backed the throttle down and ran between 35-50mph throught the rest of the day. The end result cost me 20 gals of fuel to top off the tank. Although that's not quite 4 mpg I do beleive that had I ran it a little easier I could easily see somewhere in the neighborhood of 4.5 on my average day out fishing! Getting somewhere near 4mpg on a tournament day and running a good portion of the day with the nose burried in the waves I feel is pretty good!

jack, if you read this, the run we made to find bigger fish was up to van-hook arm and we again found very tough fishing, hind sights twenty twenty but it sound like I should have ran another 10 miles and fished the river channel! oh well, I guess that's why they call it fishing and not catching, lol!

Well, it's pretty sad when I've had a new prop for a month and only made it out twice, the first it was to rough to make a high speed run (and I had my wife and 2 year old daughter with) and then I finally made it out yesterday. I'll tell you what, it amazed me that I had to go fishing by myself!!!! I couldn't even beg someone to come with on a free fishing trip, granted it was only 34 degrees F at daybreak but that's what a coat and gloves are for!

Anyhow I did get a good test on the 22P Enertia. I had the boat loaded as usual with a full tank of gas and the front bait well full. All my other tests have always been with one passenger and myself and yesterday I was by myself (maybe a 200lbs difference). weather warmed to 60 degrees with just a slight wind and 60.7 degree water temp. Out of the hole it seemed just a tick better then the 21P Tempest. Lowend vibration seemed reduced just slightly (I'm guessing due to the weight of the prop), top end was also just a tick better. I could hit 57.5-58mph regularly where the tempst it took a good day to break 58 and is normally around 55.5-57. so maybe a 1mph gain.

As far as handling: The bow lift is pretty incredible, the boat really felt light coming out of the hole, once at speed I couldn't tell much difference. I noticed Immediately that I had to trim in (down) more to keep the bow down at slower speeds. This also resulted in not being able to trim out as far when making high speed runs. With the larger diameter tempest I could trim all the way out to the trim stop and I would be throwing a 6ft rooster with just a slight bit of prop slip but absolutley no blowouts! The Enertia is deffinatly not a prop for high engine mounted rigs! The first high speed run I was just bumping the trim button up one click at a time while watching the speed and rpms and at 5700 rpms and 57.5 mph I was still picking up speed when out of nowhere the darn thing blew out of the water!!!! talk about a supprise! There was NO warning, no waves to cause this, it just flat out lost grip. This incident resulted in me filling my pants when the engine bounced of the rev limiter and the warning buzzer came on! The engine ran fine the rest of the day but it's not what I perfer to due to a **** expensive engine! After this happened I just made sure I didn't trim out to far and never had a problem the rest of the day.

Overall it did everything as advertised so the pros of the this prop are just that: reduced weight, better hole shot, better top end, same rpms as the tempest with a one degree pitch increase. The cons are probably towards handling even though the bow lift was good. The Eneritas diameter decrease as the P increase so with the 22P its over an inch smaller diameter then the tempest which results in not being able to trim out as far. It isn't the prop to put on when you have high engine mounts or a jack plate.

At this point it didn't perform as good as I had hoped (but maybe my expectations were a little high). It was an improvement over the tempest but it was only a minimal improvement. I think at this point I'm probably gonna sell the Enertia and send the tempest in to be balanced & blue printed, have little cupping added, and increase from 21P to either a 22P or 23P (see what their reccomendations are) and call it good. This should at least equal the Enertia in performance and I won't have to worry about blowouts.

I apprieciate all of the feedback and advice and would reccomend everyone post all of your prop trials on the sticky in the boats forum so we can hopefully save somebody else the expence and time to try all the different combinations!

Thanks agian

Steve