Stainless Steel Prop and Speed

[24-7Fishing]

Just curious how much speed (mph) adding a stainless steel prop will add?? I have a Crestliner Fishhawk 1850 with a 150 optimax.

[1860Angler]

Usually you don't gain a ton of speed, maybe a couple mph, but the Holeshot, midrange and handling improvements are worth every penny!! If setup correctly, no more blowouts when trimmed up, stainless props grab the water really well!!

[black white face]

Originally Posted by 1860Angler

Usually you don't gain a ton of speed, maybe a couple mph, but the Holeshot, midrange and handling improvements are worth every penny!! If setup correctly, no more blowouts when trimmed up, stainless props grab the water really well!!

what he said!

[REW]

A good share of the time, there is NO increase in speed with a stainless prop.
But as the other post suggested, a stainless can be a high rake prop which will give much better bow lift, less blow out and better overall handling.

But of course the biggest advantage of all is the simple toughness of the stainless props.

When I used to run aluminum props, I would generally have to have a prop worked on once or twice a year. But with the stainless, I have never had to have a prop worked on ever since I have used stainless.

Of course if you have a high speed bottom strike, you will destroy a stainless prop, just as much as an aluminum prop. But for the bottom strikes that happen when you are idling along generally result in no damage with a stainless prop.

Take care
REW

[Marc63280]

What kind of speed are you getting with the aluminum prop. I'm running a 19 pitch Enertia on my 150 opti pro xs and getting 50-51 with just me, gear and a full tank of gas in the the boat. 1850 FishHawk.

[24-7Fishing]

With two people in the boat and nearly a full tank of gas, I believe I maxed out around 46mph the other day. I see the Mercury test for this motor and boat with a stainless steel prop shows speed at 49.7. So would I get close to that 50mph range with a new prop?

[REW]

I am guessing that you are at or near the max speed of your boat and motor.

There are many many variables that determine the speed of a boat and motor.

Sometimes, just the position of a load or passenger in a boat can affect the speed by several miles per hour. The temperature, humidity and barometric pressure all affect the power that is generated by a motor and thus its speed.

The hull design, the actual hull being tested and the manufacturing variability of the boat - from optimum is also part of the equation.

The age of the fuel, the octane of the fuel, the exact prop, shape, design and condition of the prop all affect the speed of the boat.

All of the additional weight that is in the boat, has an effect on the speed of a boat.

To really compare, you need to have about 5 gallons of fuel in the boat, have a 120 lb driver, have the driver wearing a life jacket, and have 0 else in the boat.

i.e. no tackle, no more than one battery, no trolling motor, no kicker, no paddles, no anchors, no ropes, no emergency equipment - no extra weight of any kind.

If a person takes the typical boat - unloads everything including the bulk of the fuel from the boat, and then puts in a competent 120 lb driver with a gps for speed indication and take a 40 degree day on 40 degree water with very low humidity, and do speed runs, the results could very well be quite startling.

Then, take that same boat, put in 2-250 lb sturdy fishermen, put in 2-100 lb tackle boxes, put in 3 more 50 lb batteries, put in 1- 50 lb trolling motor battery, put on one 110 lb kicker, put in another 200 lbs of coolers, tools and accessory, and put the boat on a 100 degree day in July with 80 degree surface water temperature in air that contains 85% relative humidity, and you could very well be running 10 mph slower than the light load on the cold dry day.

So, be very careful about jumping to conclusion when comparing test results on any boat and motor combination.

If you have a great boat and motor, go through two or a dozen variations of testing props, motor height etc. and make a decision on the props that are what you need for your boat.

Basically, every boat should have at least three or 4 boats for overall use.

1. Prop for light load for making long runs in cool weather - this can be a pretty high pitched prop that will allow the boat to make maximum speed, at the expense of a long hole shot but will let the light operator get up on plane, throttle back and cruise for the long haul with excellent fuel economy.

2. Prop for average "tournament" load of several fishermen and typical loads for a day of gentle to angry water conditions. In this case you will want a lower pitched prop and or possibly a 4 or 5 blade prop to instant hole shot, ability to work big waves, reasonable top speed, but mainly overall excellent operation.

3. If you are into water sports, and or towing, you need to find as large a prop as you can put on the prop - diameter wise. With an appropriate pitch to give you better than instant hole shot to be able to jerk any load instantly out of the hole. You will likely compromise top speed by a few to many miles per hour. But in this case, you are not concerned with top speed, but only hole shot and the ability to tow large loads with the best hole shot possible

4. A backup prop of general purpose nature to take care of many of these uses if the primary prop breaks.

Be safe
REW

[Box]

24-7, I would bet if you try a Tempest 19" you will notice much better hole shot, much better handling, and also an increase in speed. I am sure there are other props that will do well, but the Tempest is good for that size and style boat and that motor. We run that prop on our 150efi with 17'10" alum boat. Even with a couple minor dings on prop, we can hit 51.x GPS speed with very light load, but more likely about 48-49 with two guys and decent fishing load (GPS speed, not speedo "happy" speed).

Good luck, but the answer is yes, you will notice a difference. As I was once told when I had alum prop on our motor, "Son, putting an alum prop on a motor like that is like puttin' bicycle tires under a Suburban..."

[AllenW]

Somebody wanna show me the specs on before and after with the same pitch/diameter/etc props, especially in the 150 and under class.

Not so sure you'll see that much difference.

Al

Add a 6 inch set back jack plate and it will be a different boat totally,,

most people don't put them on aluminum boats , but they should,

it adds to the holeshot, handling and top speed,,