Upgrading prop to a high five

[Wakebert]

I want to upgrade my propeller from a 3-blade (Laser II 15 3/4"diameter, 21pitch) to a five blade prop as the boat is taking a while to get on the plane.

The diameter of the high five props seem to be much smaller (around 13 1/2") so I'm not sure whether I should look to increase the pitch of the prop and go for a 23P to compensate for the smaller diameter and for the fact that I will hopefully get more acceleration from the five blades or whether I should stick to 21P (or go even lower since my boat was struggling to accelerate)

I've got a 20ft Bayliner Capri (propbably weighing 1,600 kg) with a 5.0L Mercruiser producing around 200hp and an Alpha Leg drive.

I've tried some of the online prop selector tools but found them a bit confusing so I would be grateful to hear what props other people are running if they are using five blades with similar boats/engines.

cheers

[Tower_boy]

going to a higher pitch prop will offset your requirement of better hole shot.

The prop is smaller because of the 5 blades - they create more drag, therefore a smaller diameter is required.

IF you're running a 21 pitch right now and want a better hole shot I'd buy a 21" high five.. give it a whirl... and if you still want more (which you may) have it adjusted to 20" - all high fives will go up or down 1" in pitch so you're covered

I currently run a custom pitched (20") High 5 on my 1800SR3 Maxum with the 4.3MPI engine. IT can over rev with this setup but allows us to carry a little extra weight and as we are mostly wakeboarding gives us the best setup in my opinion

[Wakebert]

thanks, I should definitely go no higher than 21" then. Good to know that they can be customised down one size.

[Tower_boy]

Oh god yes... do not go above 21"... below is fine but once you go below 21" you may have to begin keeping an eye on your rev's as Full Wide open throttle would redline it given the opportunity.

Props can be fun but a pain in the bum... I'm constantly changing mine! Always trying to replicate how my ski boat used to shoot onto the plane... something tells me that I'm over 100 horse power short and trying to achieve the impossible... I choose to ignore this common sense though! hahah

[Wakebert]

I'm surprised though...your boat must be at least 500kg lighter than mine.

Come to think about it, I should maybe go straight for a 20pitch since I've not even used my fatsack yet or gone out with more than three people since I've sorted the carburation on the engine.

Anyway, better now wait and pray for the gods of ebay to come up with a nice cheap prop that no one else will bid on (aswell as a new alternator, new bearings for the trailer...) Am I the only wakeboarder who wonders this time every year whether he can really afford to be running a boat for the upcoming season?

[lord.jim]

dont worry your not alone i can just afford my boat too.......but all money issues are forgotten when its glass flat water.....