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Thread: Help choosing a prop

  1. #1
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    Default Help choosing a prop

    I have a High Tide 1503 with an 02 Mercury 40hp 2 stroke ELPTO.. what pitch do I need ? I have tried looking up sizes and specs but I have no idea what I am looking at to begin with. I haven't decided if im going to stay aluminum or go stainless but I would like to understand what size and pitch I need so I can shop. I will probably be doing more long runs so something that would help with fuel economy is better for me. I don't care about trying to squeeze an extra 2mph out of the prop.
    Any High Tide guys have an opinion ?

  2. #2
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    What are your RPMs now? Get a tach if you don’t already have one as it’s all a guessing game until then.
    Go stainless. I had a stiletto/turbo on mine and it was fine with a 50elpto for a cheap stainless. Can’t remember the pitch though.

  3. #3
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    probably a 13-14p stainless
    "Hunt today to kill tomorrow." - Ron Jolly

  4. #4
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    I have no clue what the RPMs are yet. I havent mounted up the motor.. still trying to find someone local to do it. I’ve done it before but that’s one thing I won’t try and do.
    Last edited by duckz; 03-02-2019 at 01:04 PM.

  5. #5
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    I ran a 15 on the one I used to have. Ran 40-41. Had more in it but I didn't have trim on mine. That was bolted straight to the transom
    "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters" Norman Maclean.

  6. #6
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  7. #7
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    13 sounds a little small. A 14 would be all around good or 15 if you aren’t loaded to the gills. Vengeance/quicksilver or Yamaha painted stainless props work well. Or a powertec. If you adjust for the extra 2 mph you will also get increased efficiency that you are looking for

  8. #8
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    Deleted
    Last edited by duckz; 05-17-2019 at 06:37 PM.

  9. #9
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    So a 12pitch is too low?

  10. #10
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    Pissing on the wind without a tach
    Hook a tach up, see what the max RPMs the manual says the motor should be turning and then see what you actually are turning WOT
    and then you can nail it dead on the money....smaller raises RPM, larger pitch reduces RPM

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Pissing on the wind without a tach
    Hook a tach up, see what the max RPMs the manual says the motor should be turning and then see what you actually are turning WOT
    and then you can nail it dead on the money....smaller raises RPM, larger pitch reduces RPM
    It really amazes me how guys dont take the simple step to get a tach. Makes all the difference in the world.
    "Think A Guy Like Me Worries About Percentages?" Tin Cup

    "Some get spiritual cause they see the light, and some cause they feel the heat" Ray Wylie Hubbard

    "P.S. I love turkeys. Mostly just hate those who hunt em." Glenn

  12. #12
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    Less than $20 and takes 5 minutes to hook up
    https://www.amazon.com/RacingPowerSp...33188418&psc=1
    Last edited by ecu1984; 05-18-2019 at 10:49 AM.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Less than $20 and takes 5 minutes to hook up
    https://www.amazon.com/RacingPowerSp...33188418&psc=1
    I have no problem hooking up a tach. But I have no prop on there now.
    If I hook up the motor to muffs, will I get an accurate reading the same as if I would if I was actually accelerating in the water, with resistance? If so then I’ll get the tech now before I buy the prop.

  14. #14
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    Found the old prop order sheet, I had a stiletto 10.5 x 14 on a 1503 with a 50elpto. Ordered from dans discount propeller.
    I would get a 14 if it’s usually just you or a 13 if you usually have more people/weight in the boat.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by duckz View Post
    I have no problem hooking up a tach. But I have no prop on there now.
    If I hook up the motor to muffs, will I get an accurate reading the same as if I would if I was actually accelerating in the water, with resistance? If so then I’ll get the tech now before I buy the prop.
    no, you would borrow a prop and run it wot and that would be your starting point. I usually see 200 or so rpm with a pitch change
    for example going from a 19 to 17 would gain about 400rpm
    Last edited by ecu1984; 05-18-2019 at 01:09 PM.

  16. #16
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    You have an extra ??
    Last edited by duckz; 05-18-2019 at 03:20 PM.

  17. #17
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    Ok so I just bought a 14p.. I got the tach too.
    Now, say my max rpm is X.. am I trying to hit X right on, or is there some range that is acceptable?

    My max rpm WOT is 4500-5500, per the interweb
    Last edited by duckz; 05-18-2019 at 09:24 PM.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by duckz View Post
    Ok so I just bought a 14p.. I got the tach too.
    Now, say my max rpm is X.. am I trying to hit X right on, or is there some range that is acceptable?

    My max rpm WOT is 4500-5500, per the interweb
    As long as you are in that range WOT you are good.

  19. #19
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    1000 rpm range is good? That’s 20% on 5000? There is a huge difference in any boat I’ve ever owned in 1000 rpm, especially say 4500-5500. Am I missing something? I’d think the correct prop for a set up you wanted would get you within a few hundred rpm of your goal WOT.
    \"We say grace and we say maam, if you ain\'t into that, we don\'t give a damn.\" HW Jr.

  20. #20
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    you will want to be bumping the 5500ish rpm with an unloaded boat (just you and a half tank of gas). you would want to see atleast 5000ish with you average load (two people-gear-cooler-etc).

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