prop information

Can someone fill me in on props?

Are they universal as long as you have a hub kit that fits your prop shaft?

Or do you buy a prop that mates to your motor?

any expanded information will be hugely appreciated!

There are hundreds of choices to fit dozens of motors on hundreds of hulls.

Now, with the amount of experience that's available here, don't be intimidated, if you list your boat/motor/current load and what it's doing vs. what you want it to do, that confusion becomes really clear.

boat: 1994 Javelin 389T
motor: 1994 Johnson Fast Strike 150hp
prop: Raker 14 1/2 x 24

I know the Raker is supposed to be the best for this engine, and it works well.

I just wanted to find one of the better 4 blade props to run on the boat to have a backup and another type of option.

Ok, let's drill down and determine exactly what you're wanting to get out of what you've got.

This discussion is for fiberglass, V6 powered high performance bass boat hulls, if you have something different, then we can have a different discussion, because it'll be different.

Your raker is a high rake, large diameter 3 blade prop. duh, ok follow along.
it's design is to provide maximum bow lift, at an elevated motor height. It's designed for the blades to surface. It's pros: provide the fastest speed for the weight carried. Cons: mediocre slow and midrange handling, can be a bit dicey in big waves, sometimes a little slower holeshot.

A *typical* four blade you'd be considering for YOUR boat: smaller diameter, less aggressive rake angle. Pros: usually quicker holeshot with the same pitch number, better mid/slow handling, and superior rough water performance, it won't cavitate and blow out as easy. Usually a little easier handling at higher speeds. Cons: Designed for transom lift instead of bow lift, so you won't get the hull out of the water as high, which usually will cost you some mph.

So, the next question is, what are you looking for? Everything will be a compromise. Some guys don't want to compromise any top end speed, so they tend to suffer at lower speeds/rough water. Most will compromise a bit of speed for better all around performance, what's important is what YOU want, and there's people that can rig you up to get it.

Right now this boat runs fast. I had it up to 56mph last time out...I was right at 5000 rpms, but I didnt have it pegged because I am a rookie when it comes to bigger, faster boats. Working my way into driving that fast...it just feels weird to me.

I would love to have a boat that kept the bow down on takeoff and slow down. This one puts the bow way up there...on take off it doesnt bother me too much, but on slow down itll put that bow up and itll want to tilt to the right just a little bit.

Id sacrifice 3-4 mph to have better handling, grip, and control.

58-60mph is fast enough for me. If I could stay somewhere in the 56-60mph range, but have the best control my boat can have with a prop...thats what I want.

TRim all down on take off. Settling down in the stern is normal. Many bass boats it is necessary to come back in with part throttle or trimming down while coming off of plane to prevent backwashing.

this is what I do and I figured it was normal...I prob seem like a complete idiot asking a ton of questions. I have always been this way. Just very analytical and love to hear everyones input and angle on how they do things.

Do yall trim down as your on pad slowing down? like trim down to where you can hear the rpms slow, and then start throttling down?

Yes, if I'm going into a no wake zone like a bridge where I'm going to accelerate back up to speed soon...also to lower the bow so I can see at lower speed.

If we had accurate info for top speed and RPM, we could make a better assessment on whether a smaller prop pitch would work for you. This would most likely give you a faster and better holeshot, at the possible loss of top speed.

Its also very possible that your prop can be worked for your boat, motor, and load and get you a better holeshot.

Got some updated info...went out and ran it for a while today.

Its when I am trimmed down at low speeds, the boat tilts slightly to the right. It doesnt stay like this, it just caught me off guard at first.

I opened it up for short periods of time (on lake Aquilla, so mainlake deep open water is limited)

I could reach 5100-5200 rpms and 57-59mph.

I roughly measured my prop to pad and i'm almost 5" below...about 4.75"

I want to get over to whitney, I could prob get up maybe 100-200 more rpms with some more room possibly.

My prop is deep in the water...if I had a hydraulic or manual jackplate and found the sweet spot before I started loosing water pressure, what would that do? Add speed?

thanks

That's way too deep for a raker, a jackplate would help to adjust it upwards. Check your motor mount bolts, you may be able to raise the motor so the bolts line up in a different set of holes(lower on the mount) raising the motor....

Would this cause right hand torque at certain low speeds and causing the boat to tilt to the right a little at these speeds?

Its listing to the right at lower speeds trimmed down because theres too much hull in the water and boats load isnt balanced. Also your motor would probably perform better if you raised it about an inch and a half.

No jack plate?
4 1/2 would be about right.
Listing is not uncommon, prop torque it pulling it around, just steer against it a bit.
Go run it a couple of months, once you're bored with what it's doing, you can get it to potential.

6 inch jack plate at 3.5 below pad will wake that boat up big time.

From his comments, don't think he's quote ready for that wake up call yet.

That's funny...

Everyone wants to go fast until they see what fast really is.
My last champ was a good running 80ish mph rig.
A interested buyer asked if it was fast “adequate” was my answer so he wanted to see if it would go.
Ok pards let’s see if you like it. Nope not even.
You’re insane to go that fast. Heh maybe. There’s a lot faster.

I like the option but rarely do I go wide open unless I am running long distances. I wear glasses and that makes it even worse . Nothing like eyes watering and glasses jumping up and down but really fun at the same time.

I feel the need for speed. Nothing like it. But not for the faint of heart.

Speeds good when you're the driver, anything over 60mph sucks to be the passenger!

Goggles take of that. I have some DeWalts that slip right over my glasses.

As Steve said before, raising that motor will really wake up that boat, and should make handling better too.

I have a manual plate on the way (6" setback, going to have default setup at 3.5" below pad). I feel alot more comfortable with every trip. I look forward when I upgrade to hydraulic steering.