black widow 24 prop?

[rainy24]

first off, I am new to this, so hello to all.
I recently purchased a 1990 black widow 24 with a 502ci chev with an 850 holley and full msd ignition with a soft touch rev limmiter.
My question is, what prop shoud I be running for best cruising, and for best top speed. I was told by the previos owner that it was rated at 500hp.
Any insight on this would be appreciated

thanks.

[BigGrizzly]

i would have to say WELCOME first. Now for your question. If you really have 500 hp on that boat a 25 pitch would work. Really the prop you have and the max rpms you are turning now would narrow it down.

[rainy24]

thanks for the baseline big grizzly. I have a 23 pitch 14and 3/4" which I know is not right, cause the previous owner just putted around through the channels on the lake he was on. right now the prop cavitates at full throttle, and won't put the power to the water. but the rev limiter I have in it is 5400rpm, and the engine builder that built the engine, said that it is safe for this speed all day long,

thanks.

[RedDog]

Big Griz is the expert on this but he won't really be able to give you a good answer until you give your current max RPM (not what the engine builder says the engine is good for but what will it spin with your current prop) and GPS speed is given - also what brand prop is it you are running

[rainy24]

the prop is a stilletto 3 blade, 23 pitch, top speed was not known because it would hit the rev limeter, and I would back out of it. before I opened it up it was running about 57mph on the gps.