Prop advice please

[Prior Laker]

I have a Crestliner 1750 Sportfish with a Yamaha F115. It came with a 13X19 prop. I fish Rainy Lake a lot so I've gone through several props from the rocks. Over the winter I had a Yamaha T8 kicker installed and I put on a new Quicksilver 13X19 prop figuring that I'd save money because the Quicksilvers have a separate hub that alows you to replace just the prop for around $105 instead of $150 everytime for an OEM prop.

Now its tough to get on plane and WOT I'm only getting 4800 RPM. I used to plane easily and could get 5200 RPM.

I decided to try a 17 pitch prop and went all over town and could only find a 13.25X17 Michigan Wheel prop that is compatable with my Quicksilver hub. So I have two questions.

Do you think it is the kicker or the different brand prop that has caused this?

Do you think the 13.25X17 prop will perform much worse than a 13X17?

I have not installed it yet so I can take it back but I really want to go to not replacing the hub everytime. My wife will kill me if I buy another prop that does not work this year. I'm taking my kids to Rainy for a week soon and need to decide so I'd appreciate any help. Thanks.

[Joe Harty]

Formula Propeller in Crystal should be able to give you the advice you are seeking.

lakeman

[Surface Tension]

Adding weight to the transom is going to effect how fast you get on plane but once you plane it should get up to its RPMs. You have a drop of 400 RPMs, I don't think you can attribute all that loss to the T8 but the different style prop may be making up the difference. I'd take the kicker off to see the results. If your still at around 4800 RPMs I wouldn't go with either 13x17 or 13.25x17. I'd get the 13x19 OEM and use the Quicksilver as a spare.

[Kab Dreamin]

I just bought a spare 13X19 Michigan Wheel prop for my 115hp Mercury. My main prop is a 13X19 quicksilver. With that prop on, I scream out of the hole and it pushes my Alumacraft Trophy 190 to 39 mph at a max rpm of 4900. The 13X19 Michigan Wheel prop is slow out of the hole and the best I can do is 31 mph at 5200 rpm. If you look at the blade shapes, the quicksilver prop blades are shaped differently and have more blade surface. I would be careful with the Michigan Wheel prop. I don't think you can compare apples to apples in this situation. I see a huge difference in the brands and if I buy another one, it will be OEM.

I agree with Surface Tension, go OEM, but first take off the kicker and test things out.

[Starman]

P.L.

I run a Sportfish 1850 w/ the same motor. I'm currently running the 13.25 x 17 from Turning Point Props. I've also got the 13.25 x 19" as a back up or main if needed. Turning Point has the center hub design that allows you to replace just the outer prop. if you happen to be trolling at night and run up on an old road bed before you can stop, or turn, or... Well you get the drift. The 17" prop will run at 6 grand trimmed up if I'd let her. Hole shots are good. Not for sure but I think the price was $70 or $80 plus shipping for just the outer prop. Not sure if any of this info helps.

Starman

[HaywardBound]

Starman... How fast does your Sportfish go with your prop set-up?

Jon

(1850 Sportfish, 115 Johnson)

[rtwills]

I have a 1750 sportfish with a 125 merc on it , I use a turning point stainless 13 1/4 x 19. I am getting 46 on a gps with only me in the boat , and I am getting about 5300 rpm's

[Starman]

Haywardbound,

With the 13.25 x 17", I can get 37 mph out of it w/ two guys, gas, and gear. That's if the lake's fairly calm though. The props are alum. "Hustler" props from Turning Point. Ordered them from a company I think that was out of Madison Wi. They treated me great and I got their info. from some old posts on this site. Good Luck!

Starman