Prop recommendation ?

SweetH20

I just got my new Sweetwater Premium 220 SL with TOTAL tri toon package and have been on the water 4 days and love it !  Since I am unfamiliar with the waters in my area, I was considering swapping out my SS prop that came with the boat for an Aluminum prop just in case I were to hit something.  My SS prop. that came with the boat is  a 3 blade,  Mercury Marine Vengeance 48 16312 15P.  First of all, is this the recommended prop for this boat ?  Can you make a suggestion for a variation of this one in an Alum.  and what the results might be with a variation of a 4 blade or a different size 3 blade ?  A fair amount of the time, we will be pulling tubes and  wakeboard with 6 people aboard. 

The top speed with my current SS prop is about 38 mph max with 1 person on board at 5800 RPM but at 3800 RPM,  I am only doing 20 or so.

 

fuggetaboutit

friend...you can go to Mercury website and se if they have a performance bulletin, I have a 2012 sampan and it came with Yamaha 13.5 x 15 prop, aluminum and I thought of changing to a s/steel prop, everyone tells me save my money, and remember the engine manufacturer has sized your engine/boat for a general prop, you may have to experiment as I have to get it "tweaked" to your liking as long as you stay within the engine recommended rpm range you should be ok, never exceed that recommendation, you can blow up the motor and your warranty all in one if you do so! Now reference to your prop, 4 blade will give you a little better handling, but may reduce your top end speed, it may also give you a better "hole shot" if you are skiing, that will get the skier up quicker, these guys make great boats, and have great CSR, ask them if they have any bulletins on the performance of the Mercury, remember if you go up in pitch, you are decreasing your rpms, and adding more push to the boat which in theory should give you more speed, lower pitch, bigger whole shots, less top end speed, that's the theory they say? Good luck, enjoy the boat!

SweetH20

Thanks for the feedback. I found a great prop shop in Muncie Indiana called Delaware Prop. He was very helpful and recommended a 4 blade ss so I worked out a trade. Now I can't wait to get it installed and back in the water

SweetH20

Have been using the 4 blade SS prop and I suppose it did handle a little better but speed reduced by about 6 MPH and reduced by about 400 RPM as well.  Going to try a Mercury Enertia Prop next.  Delaware Prop has been great about sending me props to try and return until I get just the right one.  I assume I am taxing his patience by now though !  Will go back on the hunt next spring.