185 sport prop suggestions

[10sport185]

I have a 2010 185 sport with the 190HP 4.3. We are always on lakes and mostly cruise at around 3000-3500 rpm, pull wakeboard, kneeboarding, tube. When we our loaded up with people it tends to take forever to get on plane, also it would be better to get boarders up quicker. Does anyone have suggestions on props that would help without sacrificing too much top end and fuel economy?

 

[Sangster]

Smart Tabs should help with that.

 

[NorCalGlenn]

My 190 has the same hull as your 185, I believe. I installed Nauticus Smart Tabs and a Mercury High Five (19P) prop, and the difference in hole shot is amazing. I did the tabs last Summer, and the prop this Winter. If I could do it over again, I would reverse the order. The prop might have been enough...

 

[10sport185]

My 190 has the same hull as your 185, I believe. I installed Nauticus Smart Tabs and a Mercury High Five (19P) prop, and the difference in hole shot is amazing. I did the tabs last Summer, and the prop this Winter. If I could do it over again, I would reverse the order. The prop might have been enough...

Great info. I would think the prop would be enough. I was looking at the High Five prop, would 19 be a good pitch? What will that do to top end and cruising fuel economy?

 

[NorCalGlenn]

I chose the 19P based on Mercury's website as well as advice from my Mercruiser Shop. Top speed is diminished a bit, but not much. Also, I'm not much of a 'top speed' guy. I never run my boat for extended periods at top speed. Other than slalom ski runs at about 32 mph, I'm cruising between 2800-3000 rpm. My friends and family are really into wakeboarding and wake skating, which is where the prop and taps really help. Not only is hole shot improved, but I hold consistent speed more easily between 10 and 18mph with the High Five. If gas consumption is up, it's negligible.

 

[10sport185]

I chose the 19P based on Mercury's website as well as advice from my Mercruiser Shop. Top speed is diminished a bit, but not much. Also, I'm not much of a 'top speed' guy. I never run my boat for extended periods at top speed. Other than slalom ski runs at about 32 mph, I'm cruising between 2800-3000 rpm. My friends and family are really into wakeboarding and wake skating, which is where the prop and taps really help. Not only is hole shot improved, but I hold consistent speed more easily between 10 and 18mph with the High Five. If gas consumption is up, it's negligible. View attachment 30998

Thats great info NorCalGlenn! Thanks a lot!

 

[hblock72]

I have a 2007 185 sport with the same engine. My boat came with the 3 blade aluminum 23p prop. I was in you same situation and needed a better holeshot for watersports. My dealer recommended the High-5 in a 21p. I put that on and now have power to spare pulling people up. The High-5 is pricey, but it's some of the best money I've spent in boating. As Glenn mentioned, it also makes holding lower wakeboarding speeds much easier. I lost 3 mph (gps verified) of top speed, but like others, I never really run around wide open anyway.

 

[10sport185]

I have a 2007 185 sport with the same engine. My boat came with the 3 blade aluminum 23p prop. I was in you same situation and needed a better holeshot for watersports. My dealer recommended the High-5 in a 21p. I put that on and now have power to spare pulling people up. The High-5 is pricey, but it's some of the best money I've spent in boating. As Glenn mentioned, it also makes holding lower wakeboarding speeds much easier. I lost 3 mph (gps verified) of top speed, but like others, I never really run around wide open anyway.

How do I know which prop I currently have? I don't see anywhere that tells me.

 

[hblock72]

You should be able to find a part number on the prop somewhere that you could look up. I'd have to look, but I think my prop actually had 23P cast into it, to let you know what pitch it was. The other sure way to know if you need to go up/down in prop pitch is to find out what your max rpm is at wide open throttle and compare that to the max operating range of our engines, which is 4400-4800 rpm. There's a lot of reading you can do on this, but the cliff notes version is if your current prop only gets to say 4200 rpm, you could easily stand to go down in pitch from where you are to get you max rpm closer to the 4400-4800 rpm range. (going down in pitch increases your rpm and vise versa)

 

[10sport185]

I'll look at it this weekend when I see my boat again. My boat is pretty much the same as yours, the 21 will probably be the way to go. Thanks.