Thread subject: Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos :: Montauk 150 4 bladed to 3 bladed prop comparison

Posted by EJO on 06/09/16 - 1:19 PM
#1

OK I finally used my x-mas gift card from the sons to get a 4-bladed prop and did some un-scientific comparison.

I used stopwatch and GPS. 13 gallons of gas, my standard equipped boat with motor weighing in at about 1,275 lbs plus 270 lbs of crew for an approx. total of 1,625 lbs.

The original set up on my 2008 Montauk 150 is the Mercury 60HP Bigfoot with a Vengeance 3-bladed Stainless prop. (Merc 48-17314 (13-3/8"x 14) a great standard setup except no whole shot.

(WOT] of 34.7 mph and 9.1 sec to plane.

Picked up a Mercalloy Spitfire 4-bladed aluminum 13x15 prop and tried it (actual 12.8 x 15 P/N 48-8M8026580) . Had hole shot that was better but couldn't get it over 5,200 rpm no matter how I trimmed. Hence not the right prop.

I exchanged it for a the same kind 13.8" x 13" pitch and that is the right prop (48-8M8026570) . I have to make sure the trim is 0 (all the way in) and she gets on plane in around 6.7 sec. I can trim her out to get my 5,900-6,000 rpm (takes slightly longer than with the Vengeance) and top out at about 31 mph. Also she is more prone to porpoise at the top end but 25 is fast enough I'm not racing anybody just putting around inland lakes.
Bottom line I did get a better whole shot even with another 165 lbs weight, which is what I was after.

We'll find out if she also pulls the towable better when we get some better weekend weather here in West Michigan (you know how it goes nice during the week and rain on the weekends)

Happy boating

Edited by Phil T on 06/10/16 - 7:32 AM