What pitch prop should i get? Piranha Plastic one...

shocker45

New Member
Feb 26, 2008
44
alright well i was recently told about this Piranha composite prop, and i really like the idea. it appears to be similar performance to that of a s\s but safer to run than an aluminum.
this is ideal for me being in shallow waters all the time.

anyways, im getting the 22 pitch 4 blade prop for day to day cruising, im normally with 5-6 people onboard.

im ordering an extra set of blades, should i get just a replacement 22 pitch, or should i get an 18 pitch for wakeboarding and tubing. i plan to do a fair about of wakeboarding and tubing this year, but is the 18 neccessary? the 22 would pull outa the water still pretty quick wouldnt it?


i have a 2005 Searay 185 with a 4.3 190 hp mercruiser.
 
Piranah props saved my running gear.. I hit a log in my 250 with a 4 blade prop.. one of the blades broke off, I hopped into the water, removed the hub, replaced the broken blade and off I went. I loved this prop. I went from a 3 blade to a 4 blade for an expirement on economy and lower planing speeds. The best part is you can change the pitch and continue to expirement. I had a 7.4l 454 which was on the uper limit of the HP range but the prop tech said it would be OK so I did it. Sold the boat mid-season last year and it is still on the boat..
 
did you notice any difference going from a 3 to a 4 blade?

and also still not sure about the pitch i should get, any recommendations? 22 forsure, but would that be good enough for everything im asking? pulling tubes with 2 200 lb guys and like 1000 lbs of people on board?


Piranah props saved my running gear.. I hit a log in my 250 with a 4 blade prop.. one of the blades broke off, I hopped into the water, removed the hub, replaced the broken blade and off I went. I loved this prop. I went from a 3 blade to a 4 blade for an expirement on economy and lower planing speeds. The best part is you can change the pitch and continue to expirement. I had a 7.4l 454 which was on the uper limit of the HP range but the prop tech said it would be OK so I did it. Sold the boat mid-season last year and it is still on the boat..
 
I dont know much about the prop you want.

But, I went from a 3 blade 21p to a 4 blade 18p (aluminum) and the pulling power is amazing. We have had 1500lbs in the boat and it pulled me out with ease and I'm 240lbs. I highly suggest if you going to do alot of wakeboarding to get a 18p or 17p prop. It will also let you hold speed better. Its worth its weight in gold..IMO..:thumbsup:
Just watch your RPM's at WOT...

This was also with the 3.0 merc so if you have the 4.3 it will be even better.
Good luck and enjoy the season.
 
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Call Piranah and talk to their prop tech... they'll quiz you about the boat, weight, HP, intended use and expected performance and then they'll make a recommendation on 3 -vs- 4, diameter and pitch. They were a solid company to deal with from my perspective
 
I think I may switch over to the piranha also. I liked the idea of it for the lake. Is the standard practice to order it directly or do I have to go through a retailer like West Marine?
 
I've had two different people tell me to use a three bladed 14x21p prop if I intend to use my boat more for watersports. One was a SeaRay dealer up by where I vacation that recommended the change; he said they change all of the boats that come in with a 23p to a 21p.

The other was my prop guy who fixes my 23p at the end of each season. I was talking to him about getting a High Five five bladed prop for watersports, when he asked me where WOT was with my 23p prop. I told him about 4400 RPM and he said I was overpropped and not getting the most out of my engine; he recommended I go to 21p and I would run better than any 4 or 5 blade prop out there.
 
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I emailed them any they do not make props for Bravo drives because of Mercury not giving them the info they need and having a patent of the drive.
 
There is very little aftermarket props available for Bravo drives, by design (Mercury's)
 
k done, just ordered.

Piranha composite, 4 blade, 22p, and 18p fins. so i will switch it out to the 18p for water sports, and run 22 for the river.

thanks for your help guys.
 
I emailed them any they do not make props for Bravo drives because of Mercury not giving them the info they need and having a patent of the drive.

My 250 had a bravo drive.. with a 4 blade piranah. They don't make them for Bravo III because of the flex with the duo-props I believe but Alpha and Bravo II are available.
 
k done, just ordered.

Piranha composite, 4 blade, 22p, and 18p fins. so i will switch it out to the 18p for water sports, and run 22 for the river.

Hope you're able to get your new boat out on the water soon -- know several of us are looking forward to your review. The Mrs. and I are just getting started in boating and the weather is starting to cooperate here, and these Piranha propers look like great spares/upgrades. My only concern about making the same purchase is what happens if only one fin fouls -- can it be replaced with the other size or would you replace all 3 at once?

Cheers to the fellow 185 owners -- I've learned lots from you already.
 
yea i hope the weather gets nice and i can hit the water.
i got my tower speakers mounted now, and im in the process of building sub boxes. but i have all the subs, amps i need.

im putting in a 2 battery system so i can run the stereo with the engine off as well.

as far as the spare prop thing, say im running my 22 pitch and i hit a log and wreck it. ill just switch to my 18 pitch so i can make it home or carry out my day or whatever the case may be.

then order a replacement fin afterwards. and just run my 18 p till i get it back.
 
I echo Lt Dan's comment about talking to the Piranha prop tech - they helped me select a larger dia 3 blade (15 x 19p) for my Bayliner for both water toys, and to reduce trolling speed when chasing salmon, and I kept my 14 x 21p for the day cruising. My plan was to get a different set of blades if/when I chunked the aluminum, but I bought a Sea Ray instead!

For me two different sizes offered greater options ( and I think you still have your Hi-Five as well?)
 
yea i still have my High 5 s\s prop. but if these Piranha props live up to there name i may very well sell it.
 
figured id give a little update. tried out the piranha prop, 22 pitch.

so far, very disapointed with the prop. im getting a vibration while getting to plane, and out of the hole is slow, very similar to aluminum. you can feel the flex in the blades, and sometimes it loses grip of the water.

the 22pitch i chose is to much prop for the boat, i can only run a max of 4300 rpm, where my target was 4700-4800 rpm. this was with 6 people in the boat.

next time i go out im going to try the 18 pitch blades for the piranha, see if it makes a difference, and then ill throw my stainless hi-5 back on, and see if i like it that much more.

ill write a full review after i go out next time, hopfully within 2 weeks. figured you guys might just want some type of an update. :smt001
 
The one that came with my 205 was a 19p s/s, 3 blade "vengeance". I was told this is the correct prop for watersports and the one recommended. SO far very good.

I really need to get a replacement to keep on board...lots of logs in the river this weekend! Your thread reminded me, thanks!
 
k so here is my final review of this prop.
i am VERY disapointed in the performance, the claims of it being better than an aluminum are true, but to even put this in a similar class as a s\s prop is way off base.
i ran the 21p s\s hi 5 today and it felt like a new boat. got right out of the water with 8 people on board. felt like the piranha prop with only 2 people in the boat.
the piranha and aluminum really flexes, i have tried the 22p and the 18p, the 18p is better but still can't even come close to the s\s.
for the most part im going to continue running hi-5 stainless prop, the only time im running my 18p piranha is when im on my friends extremly shallow rocky lake. just as a safety precaution.

in a rating system, out of 10,
Stainless 10\10
Piranha 5\10
aluminum 3\10
 
I am looking to get a new prop, I was also looking at the piranha prop but probably would not buy it after reading of your experience. Where can I get the Hi5 s/s? What is the size and pitch? What is your WOT speed and RPM?

I have the same boat a 185sport with the 4.3l merc
 

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