Lake Powell prop and boat?

[cutlerdaddy]

Hey just curious what prop everyone uses at Lake Powell. I do 2-3 week long trips to Powell every summer. Last year was my first year with this boat, I have an X15 with the MCX, and we used the stock prop OJ 13.7x17 but I wasn't too impressed with it.

Obviously the boat and engine make a difference so put what boat and engine you have as well. I am debating the OJ 522 (14.75x15.5) vs the OJ 472 (14.25x14). We water ski, wake board, wake surf, tube the kids, and also like to do day cruises up the lake. We boat camp so the boat is usually pretty loaded during the week.

Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks much appreciated.

[bhasser]

I have a 06 Maristar 200 with MCX 350 and same stock prop. For what its worth, Eric/OJ recommended the 522. I haven't tried a different prop yet so I don't have experience to tell you the differences besides this was the recommendation he gave me.

[Thrall]

Altitude at Powell is just a bit high for the 17 pitch. 3000' alt does make a difference.
Prop it down, a little if you want to minimize your cruising rpms, but stil have more snort. Like a 15.5 pitch.
Prop it down to the 14-14.5 pitch props if you want the out of the hole power and don't mind higher rpms.
Or pony up for a 5 blade, they are supposed to do both. Mo' power and lower rpms.

[ttu]

Originally Posted by Thrall

Altitude at Powell is just a bit high for the 17 pitch. 3000' alt does make a difference.
Prop it down, a little if you want to minimize your cruising rpms, but stil have more snort. Like a 15.5 pitch.
Prop it down to the 14-14.5 pitch props if you want the out of the hole power and don't mind higher rpms.
Or pony up for a 5 blade, they are supposed to do both. Mo' power and lower rpms.

do you happen to know what the price of the new 5 blade is?

[AZX9]

Originally Posted by cutlerdaddy

Hey just curious what prop everyone uses at Lake Powell. I do 2-3 week long trips to Powell every summer. Last year was my first year with this boat, I have an X15 with the MCX, and we used the stock prop OJ 13.7x17 but I wasn't too impressed with it.

Obviously the boat and engine make a difference so put what boat and engine you have as well. I am debating the OJ 522 (14.75x15.5) vs the OJ 472 (14.25x14). We water ski, wake board, wake surf, tube the kids, and also like to do day cruises up the lake. We boat camp so the boat is usually pretty loaded during the week.

Any thoughts or opinions? Thanks much appreciated.

Props are expensive. I would see if you can get a shop to let you try both, just a shot but most likely not going to happen. I would say a good rule of thumb would be for every 1000 ft of elevation you are going to loose 200 rmp of top end off of your WOT rpm which will translate to under powdered boat. You will want a good educated guess because day cruises at Powell are long and cruising at high rpm doin 25 is not my idea of how to treat my engine. Choose a prop too low you'll be killing your cruise speed, too high and you'll run bogged down for watersports. One inch of pitch should get you about about 200-300 rpm. Do you know what your WOT rpm is at Powell?

[Thrall]

I'd say more like 100rpms per 1000' elev gain.
At 6000', my X2 with the 13.7x17 would get about 4500rpms. At 9kft it was still over 4000rpms, but it struggled to get a big guy out of the water on a board with the ballast full.
I switched to an Acme 1285 14.5x14.25 and it was night and day difference. Don't know what I lost top end because it never ran out with the original prop on it. Only got 35-36 mph at 6-7k ft.
With the 1285 it runs 40-41mph consistently at any alt. Guess I lost 2-3mph at the most.

Using my buddy's X15 MCX with teh 17 pitch as a comparison, low altitiude, I don't think the 1285 runs much higher rpms. I've run mine at Powell and bottom line, most of the time it's not smooth enough to run flat out, so running 20-30mph isn't close to full rpms anyway.

[davidstan]

Originally Posted by bhasser

I have a 06 Maristar 200 with MCX 350 and same stock prop. For what its worth, Eric/OJ recommended the 522. I haven't tried a different prop yet so I don't have experience to tell you the differences besides this was the recommendation he gave me.

Oj also recommended the 522 and I installed it last wknd. Much better for slalom and could not tell much hole shot difference. The x2/MS 200 and the x15 are similar hulls so may be just what you need for more all purpose stuff.

[CottagerGreg]

Talk to Acme. I had a good conversation with them. Ended up with a new 4 blade 15" prop and not the 5 blade based on my application. Pricing was awesome too.

http://www.nettleprops.com/store/p/6...e-105-Cup.aspx

[ttu]

again sorry to thread jack but any idea of the price of the oj 5 blade. thanks.

[cutlerdaddy]

Originally Posted by AZX9

You will want a good educated guess because day cruises at Powell are long and cruising at high rpm doin 25 is not my idea of how to treat my engine. Choose a prop too low you'll be killing your cruise speed, too high and you'll run bogged down for watersports. One inch of pitch should get you about about 200-300 rpm. Do you know what your WOT rpm is at Powell?

Thanks everybody for your opinion. So AZX9 do you think based on your thoughts that I should go with the 522? I agree cruising at high rpm's isnt my cup of tea either. I really just want an all around prop that will be good not great in most things.