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High five prop replacement
Gerry
Member Posts: 2 ✭
I have a 2012 MTX200 with a Volvo Penta 4.3 GL/SX. The Mercury High Five prop on it is great out of the hole but it does not function well in reverse. What prop would you recommend that would give better control in reverse?
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The SX isnt a dual-prop, so its going to have some prop-walk in reverse.
The high five has very little bite in reverse. Maneuverability is very poor when backing. I was looking to find what other props would be a good choice.
to be more simplistic, the three blade at plane allows the hull to cut the water right under the helm on my little 212... with the four blade, as closely matched in pitch and dynamic geometry+diameter, it cuts just under the bow seats/in front of the console. it rides flatter with the four blade, which makes entry into the water flatter, but with more waterline.
I like them both, for different reasons... I wish I could have the best of both in one, and give the other all the bad traits.. that would make this a much easier conversation though, huh? :-)
the two props for my direct comparison were a 22p vented three blade and a 21p vented four blade, one 14.25" diameter (3blade), the other 14"(four blade).. the blade geometry was close enough that an individual blade was almost a perfect sweep compared to a single blade on the other (rate of rise considered).. the differences in overall rated pitch, and diameter were considered by me and me alone to allow a more direct comparison between the two props due to weight, balance, and inference. I don't think it would be a fair comparison to just get a duplicate everything except blade count. both were aluminum, too, by the way, as I was experimenting with cheap material before crunching pseudo data and dropping coin on stainless. the aluminum will flex, and will take the form of almost a full pitch lower than stainless.
I would recommend you consider slightly lowering your overall diameter while moving up a blade, and dropping a pitch as well (you were told by someone who subscribes to my notions, too). your low speed handling will be superior and you'll hold plane at a slightly lower speed.. the most apparent alteration will be the boats attitude on plane, where it will ride much flatter.