Low budget prop shootout

[flying tomato]

Alright, here is the situation:
Average Joe (Flying Tomato) buys a Donzi Hornet III 1984 model, restores the boat after it sinks in hurricane Ike. Upgrades the engine a tad and is looking for some speed without a sponsor. Boat has a 489 cid engine making about 500 hp at this point. TRS outdrive and BW tranny of course. In this process, I have accumulated 6 propellers and decided to do a "Propeller Shootout" to determine the fastest.

All propellers were tested on the same day. 55 degrees. Water was flat or almost.

This test was not scientific and I am not a professional boat driver, but do have many years as a boater and consider myself a decent boat driver. (That said, of the 7 boats that I have owned, this is the first "go fast".)

Here are the results:
1. Mirage Plus 14.5 x 25p 65.5mph @ 4800
2. Quicksilver 13.75 x 25p 66.1mph @ 4850
3. Bravo I 15.25 x 22 65mph @ 5300
4. Mirage Plus 14 x 25p 70.2mph @ 5000 (same prop as #1 cut down)
5. Power Tech 4 Blade 13.75 x 24 69mph @ 4900
6. Turbo 14.25 x 24 70.4mph @ 5400

Again, these results are not scientific. Prop #2 was bent a little. (Straitened with a hammer)
All props were bought off ebay and cheap. (only #5 was new, still cheap)
#4 was cut down and polished.

I am the author of the latest thread "what is best prop".

Maybe this will help someone?????????????????

Flying Tomato

[The Hedgehog]

Nice info.

I would not have thought that the cut down prop made that much difference. Nice work.

[Dr. David Fleming]

flyingtomato,

Eh, that just goes to show ya. Props are like women, you never know whats going to happen when you meet them - and then of course its too late! So if you don't mind me asking, "Which one of the fastest ones do you like?"

[flying tomato]

flyingtomato,

Eh, that just goes to show ya. Props are like women, you never know whats going to happen when you meet them - and then of course its too late! So if you don't mind me asking, "Which one of the fastest ones do you like?"

Of the 2 fastest (M+, and Turbo). I like the feel of the Turbo better. The boat accellerates much faster with the Turbo, even at high rpm. (It throws you back in the seat, even at 4000 and above)

[Trueser]

Bring the boat up to AOTH 2010 and try some props for free.

[mrfixxall]

Of the 2 fastest (M+, and Turbo). I like the feel of the Turbo better. The boat accellerates much faster with the Turbo, even at high rpm. (It throws you back in the seat, even at 4000 and above)


ok now you need to find a merc revolution 4 in a 22p and a turbo txp 23p:) Start hunting....

[The Hedgehog]

ok now you need to find a merc revolution 4 in a 22p and a turbo txp 23p:) Start hunting....

We will have your guy cut down my M+ for grins this spring. That ought to be fun

[DickB]

Nice work! Thanks for posting.

[Walt. H.]

My guess that Turbo is a three blade?

[Team Jefe]

Bring the boat up to AOTH 2010 and try some props for free.

Lee, I am NO HELP at all with this...I could maybe help if your CC Scorpion had an issue......BUT.......Mike has a good point.

LOTS of prop-testing and prop-brain power at AOTH...especially for 20-something foot Donzi Classic Style boats.

AND.....I know there is a SE Texas Contigent headed that way 19-May10:yes:

Still, I am willing to be an "uninformed" test subject for empercial data...call it a Seat-of-the-pants test. I may not know much, but I always have an opinion.

[MR MAGOO]

Great thread. I've also had great results with Power Tech props. I've found them to be the most efficient box stock prop out there. And they're cheap too!