Propping a 200 BR

[mtbulls]

I recently purchased an 02 200 BR. It came with a 19p Vengeance prop. I am looking to purchase a 5 bladed prop and keep the Vengeance as a backup.

Now the question is, what pitch to get? I have an Alpha 1 drive and a 5.0 MPI engine.

I am in Montana and boat at elevations of around 3,500 feet. We will have 2 adults and 2 small kids and don't really like high end speeds. When we tube we usually try to keep the speed just fast enough to stay on plane with the little ones on the tube. We usually cruise around enjoying the scenery at mid-speeds when we aren't pulling the tube.

If I just want to cruise around (25-35 mph) what is a good prop for this and keep the RPMs in a good, comfortable range doing no harm to the engine? What is the DO NOT EXCEED RPM? What is the suggested WOT if properly propped?

Suggestions? Trying different props would be great if they didn't run $500+ a pop.

Is the 5-bladed prop the way to go?

 

[adamgll]

put the boat in the water and see what does with the 19p first.

 

[mtbulls]

I got our 200 BR out this weekend. Loved how the boat handled and how the hull responds to chop, wakes etc.

I have a 19p on the thing but am thinking a 17 would be better for my purposes.

When I open up the throttle, it revs to about 32-3400 and gets up on plane around 14 or 15 mph. After that the engine will continue to wind out and go.

My problem is I like to pull the kids around 18 - 20 mph on the tube and it is a real challenge to do that and stay on plane. The 19 doesn't quite seem to be cutting it.

Should I go to a High 5 19p or a High 5 17p? Or would it wourk to get a Vengeance 17p?

Top speed now, I don't know. My wife doesn't like high speed as we have little kids.

 

[blaster]

What is the max rpm you get at wot trimmed out? That info will give everybody a baseline to work with. I think wot for the 5.0mpi should be 4600 to 5000 rpm

 

[Lazy Daze]

Sounds like you're it itching to spend some boat dollars, but maybe you can save it and put it towards something else...

First, make sure you keep the trim all the way down (or just barely up so the boat doesn't list).

If that still isn't doing what you want, you would be a great candidate for a set of Smart Tabs. They're about $150 and will do more for you than the prop (plus it will allow you to keep your stock pitch so you don't need to worry about over revving the engine).

 

[blaster]

I agree about the smart tabs but in the past mentioning it when the thread asks which prop has brought about unfriendly responses. I think smart tabs will definately help get you where you want to be at low planing speed. If you still want a prop too that's even better but I would consider a 4 blade aluminum or stainless before shelling out the cash for a high five. Also consider you will be switching out props depending on your load and weather you are doing watersports. I would try the tabs and go from there. Also when your towing if everybody gets to the front of the boat it will help lift the stern.

 

[Lazy Daze]

That's alright. I can take the heat. Besides, as far as I'm concerned, I'm doing the "friendly" thing and informing the poster about an option he may not knew existed (plus saving him some $$). If someone wants to bash me for trying to be helpful, well, so be it.

 

[mtbulls]

Thanks for the info. If I remember correctly, the boat rpm's at WOT is low 4000's. This is another reason I am thinking that at my elevation, I might need to step back to a 17p.

What other styles or brands of props might I consider if I were to step back to a 17p?

Also, when we are tubing, there is only 1 other person in the boat, my spotter back by the transom. It just seems that my prop doesn't have the power to keep us up on plane as slow as I would like to go, especially in turns.

 

[Lazy Daze]

Is that low 4,000ish with the drive trimmed up nice and far?

What about the trimming down question?

 

[mtbulls]

Trim is always all the way down starting out. Once I get to a speed that I like and am on the straight-away, I will trim up somewhat.

 

[Lazy Daze]

OK, well to get a solid baseline like Blaster said, knowing your true WOT MAX RPM is a key piece of the puzzle. This is found with one person in the boat (minimal gear, half tank of gas). But, you need to trim up higher and higher until the prop starts to ventilate. Then back it down a few notches and get it back up to where it is just before it starts to ventilate.

For tubing, keep the drive as low as possible. If it can stay all the way down (and doesn't cause excessive listing) then that's good.

Note: a strong case can be made for testing WOT MAX RPM (with the intention to reprop) with your "normal" load, as opposed to a "light" load. But, before you get to that, test it exactly as I wrote above as this will give us your overall engine health.

Is the bottom clean and the current prop in great condition?

 

[bighorse]

I have a 4-blade 19p stainless prop and Smart Tabs on my 2003 200BR and it's nearly impossible to stay planed at 20 mph while pulling. 22 mph seems to be where it likes to be on plane.

 

[blaster]

Is that on the speedo or gps?

I have a 4-blade 19p stainless prop and Smart Tabs on my 2003 200BR and it's nearly impossible to stay planed at 20 mph while pulling. 22 mph seems to be where it likes to be on plane.

 

[Lazy Daze]

I have a 4-blade 19p stainless prop and Smart Tabs on my 2003 200BR and it's nearly impossible to stay planed at 20 mph while pulling. 22 mph seems to be where it likes to be on plane.

In addition to Blaster's question... Where do you have your trim set at?

 

[mtbulls]

Alright, I got the boat out by myself this past weekend. Probably half to half+ gas, otherwise, fairly empty.

With the 19P vengeance, the rpms at WOT trimmed up, was probably 46 - 4800.

So I know a 17P will over prop me, but am I doing any damage using it as long as I don't over-rev?

What does this rpm say? Engine strong and in good shape?

Again, I know I will be over-propped, but for our purposes and how we use this boat, pulling little kids on a tube and wanting to stay on plane at low speeds, will it be ok to use a 17P High Five?

 

[Lazy Daze]

Can you be more specific? What does "probably" 4600 - 4800 mean?

But, if we go by 4700 RPM's as max, you'll be fine. Especially taking into account you'll have more weight in the boat.

Engine seems healthy (again, a little vague on the rpm thing, but you're in the ballpark).

Not to beat dead horse, but my "professional" (for whatever that's worth) recommendation would be to put the tabs on it. But, it's your money. Also, FWIW, Bighorse's results are not the norm - something else is going on there. Tabs work because physics work. With the right tab setup (appropriately sized plates and shocks) they will do wonders.

 

[blaster]

I know some tachometers are difficult to read a specific number but if you saw the needle between those numbers you are at the lower end of your max rpm's but within range. If you are willing to drop some cash I think you will be ok with your rpm's going to the 17 especially with the extra blades which will offset some of the increase in rpm's. You won't hurt the motor. With the engine guardian system it won't let you rev too high. You may not hit the rev limiter even with a 2" drop in pitch.