[Lowtidelowlife]

Hey guys. Feel free to chime in your pervasive prop wisdom. Classic mako 17. Merc 115 pro xs with command thrust lower unit. Pushing a 4 blade trophy plus 19p WOT at 4700-4750 rpm.

just replaced with my old stainless 18p Gonna give it a shakedown run tomorrow.

my thinking is I should focus on top end because that’s fun, and I’m pretty sure any 115 is gonna pop that 17 out of the hole pretty good I’ve spent the past many seasons babying a 30 year old 115 2 stroke so I would kinda like to hot dog this one. Any suggestions for props?

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

If you aren’t going to call a prop shop I’d try a 3 blade 19 pitch

10-4. My mechanic is convinced he can prop it. I’m not gonna get too crazy. I’ll see how the 3 blade 18p shakes out today and I’ll let you know how those numbers shake out.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

Yeah never rule out a three blade, they can do a lot more than folks realize

My clamshell 115 ran great with that 3 blade so we’ll see how the new technology likes it. Although I do like those new merc prop hubs. I’ve been living in ancient technology for a while.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

What’s different about the hub?

They have removable hubs, no more spinning a prop and having to have a new hub pressed in. They’re trippy.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

3 blade 18p lost some hole shot for sure. Top end had me close to 6k with a little tab, conditions were a little shitty and reached 37mph. I’m gonna try some of my mechanics 3 blade 18p’s and see which one is in the sweet spot.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

Mechanic wasn’t super helpful. Called Ken at prop gods. Solid dude. Dialed in. Should have prop and new numbers this week.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

So the NRS3 15p is the ticket. Killer hole shot, mid range is insanely responsive, and top end touches 42 at around 6100 rpm without fussing too much over tabs and trim, didn’t have a lot of time today to play around but pretty sure I have the prop I’m looking for. I’m not gonna chase down the 150-200 rpm I still have left to spin.

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

Must be a different blade geometry, I thought that 3 blade 19 would get you the RPM you were looking for.
Were the other props 13 1/4” diameter as well?

the 18p 3 blade was giving me the rpm but the hole shot just suckkkkked

 

[Lowtidelowlife]

It’s crazy how just a little tweak of the prop changes the attitude so drastically.

I will never pretend to know more than just completely pedestrian and remedial information about props.