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tommyboy
06-16-2005, 03:50 PM
I just recently purchased 1994 18 classic, 350 alpha 1. The boat is a blast, i have been cruising in a 1957 chris craft what a difference. Unfortunately, I bottomed her out hard yesterday, and tore up the stilletto 14 x 21 prop. How much prop will the boat handle? Any propeller recemondations??

boldts
06-17-2005, 06:46 AM
Tommy - Welcome to the Registry and Donzi boating. Ouch....... Tuff way to start with a new boat! There have been many prop threads here on the Registry. Best advice, use the search option with key words like "Prop Help" or just the word "Prop"

As far as how much prop you can use with your set-up is all relative to what your baseline numbers are. You'll need a wide open throttle (wot) speed and engine RPMs along with the gear ratio of your Alpha 1. Then use a prop calculator program which you should also find in past threads to plug your numbers into. Then, you can increase or decrease the prop diameter and or pitch to find less slip or more speed. What ever your trying to accomplish.

You'll need to take a look at how your using the boat. Fast blasts across an inland lake? Sking or pulling water toys? Running on the Great Lakes where stability might be better than a boat running on that ragged edge all the time.

There are a number of really great prop shops around. Especially up there in MI which has one of the leading boat populations in the whole country. Take recomendations from other boaters if you've never dealt with a prop shop before. I've got one here in Columbus OH that helped my dad with his race boat when I was growing up. So, naturally, they were the first place I went for advise when I had my 18. Many here have found the Mirage Plus, Turbo1 and Hydromotive props to be very good props for their boats. You'll also read about some props that don't belong on a Classic. Props are a science. You need to talk to someone who knows their stuff much like you would talk to a heart specialist about your heart. Many here have had good results with the Throttle-Up prop shop down in Florida. You'll need all the before mentioned baseline numbers for them to give you a valid assesment of what to try on your Classic.

Do a little homework/research so you as a consumer can make a good decission. Good luck and let us know how it works out for you. Oh and after the prop, if you don't have a depth gauge installed, that would be my first purchase. Please, just funnin, don't take that sentence out of context. Everyone here is here to help in any way they can. Enjoy your Classic and have a safe summer!

Sam
06-17-2005, 09:49 AM
What were you RPM's before you trashed your prop. You should probably take a look at a Turbo. If your in S.E. Mich I have a 22" Turbo that you could try as long as you stay out of the rocks :D . What's your location in Mich?

Sam

gold-n-rod
06-17-2005, 12:59 PM
What were you RPM's before you trashed your prop. You should probably take a look at a Turbo. If your in S.E. Mich I have a 22" Turbo that you could try as long as you stay out of the rocks :D . What's your location in Mich?

Sam

Hey, Sam. You mentioned this prop to me earlier. I'd be real interested in demo'ing it and a purchase if satisfactory. Give me a shout at: <bellr@msu.edu> to make some arrangements.