What props work best on the Xpress hulls (newer H18 especially)?

[bayouXpress]

whats your rpms look like.

i have a 20ft xpress bay boat with a 115hp sho. Came with a 17p PTR3 and as you would expect way too many rpms. I added a 10" manual jackplate and tried a 19p trophy plus 4 blade and in my opinion this motor/boat should not turn this many rpms (6800+). Starting to wonder about my rpm gauge. Was at 3.5 P2P with too much blow out so I dropped to get to 4" but have not ran it again. Looking for some 21p props to try.

[alanhore]

whats your rpms look like.

i have a 20ft xpress bay boat with a 115hp sho. Came with a 17p PTR3 and as you would expect way too many rpms. I added a 10" manual jackplate and tried a 19p trophy plus 4 blade and in my opinion this motor/boat should not turn this many rpms (6800+). Starting to wonder about my rpm gauge. Was at 3.5 P2P with too much blow out so I dropped to get to 4" but have not ran it again. Looking for some 21p props to try.

Something doesn’t sound right there. Check your tach. You should be getting a rev cut before 6800 rpms.

[Highcentered]

I'm getting maybe 100 less rpm's with the nrs4 21p than I was with the ptr 21p. Around 6000 in these warmer temps. After my experience with the ptr3 on my hull I wouldn't pull one off the dealer lot unless the ptr3 is preplaced with anything but that prop. My prop might have been a dud out of the box but it was terrible.

[bayouXpress]

So I installed the equipment to get engine data on graph and after 3k rpms my gauge is off pretty bad. At wot is almost 900 rpms off. With the 19p 4 blade trophy i'm only turning 6k. Seems like its a little too much prop for me. Going to put back the original 3blade powertech 17p and see what it is turning.

[Highcentered]

So I installed the equipment to get engine data on graph and after 3k rpms my gauge is off pretty bad. At wot is almost 900 rpms off. With the 19p 4 blade trophy i'm only turning 6k. Seems like its a little too much prop for me. Going to put back the original 3blade powertech 17p and see what it is turning.

6300 is redline for the 115 SHO and 6k is close enough. I'd run the prop the boat handles best with and call it good.

[bayouXpress]

still trying stuff out. Having issues with blowout and been dropping motor but not seeming to help. I thought trophy was going to be the end of it but the holeshot is just terrible. The holeshot with the 17P powertech is great, but with a load the prop struggles with power. I know you can't have best of both worlds but i prefer hole shot than speed. Might end up need to carry 2 props with me. Right now i'm at 4.5" p2p and trying these 3 props (trophy 4 blade 19p, yamaha 19-k, and the powertech 17p). Once I find that prop i'm satisfied with I will get my prop guy to add a little cup.

[Highcentered]

So you're having blowout problems with the PTR3 also? Why do so many Xpress boats come with the PTR3 if it causes the hull to be less than it could be? Maybe they think people just want to go fast in a straight line and to hell with turning or good midrange handling? On the Trophy, have you played with the pvs holes any? Holeshot should be able to be dialed in.

[bassfisher444]

So you're having blowout problems with the PTR3 also? Why do so many Xpress boats come with the PTR3 if it causes the hull to be less than it could be? Maybe they think people just want to go fast in a straight line and to hell with turning or good midrange handling? On the Trophy, have you played with the pvs holes any? Holeshot should be able to be dialed in.

The PTR3 was a great prop on my Tracker, fastest one I used, handled great, and had an excellent hole shot. How high do you have the prop? That may be your issue if it is too high.

[bayouXpress]

it worked well on the boat before i installed the jackplate. great holeshot and only 3mph slower than the best speed prop i have tried and no blow out. Unfortunately since I put the jackplate on I have not yet dialed in the height yet.

[Highcentered]

The PTR3 was a great prop on my Tracker, fastest one I used, handled great, and had an excellent hole shot. How high do you have the prop? That may be your issue if it is too high.

Even all the way down on the jackplate it would blow out in turns with no usable throttle in the midrange. It was WAY WORSE with no jackplate and my dealer told me I didn't need a jackplate. I would have to trim down where the nose was plowing like crazy to get the boat to turn. It was an all or nothing prop. I just don't think the prop liked the setup even with 8" of setback. My H18 was probably also designed and set up from the factory to have lead batteries in the back and a Maxxum up front for trolling motor. Instead, I have an Ultrex up front with two big screens and lithium batteries in the back. Lots of people had performance issues when putting more weight up front and less weight in back. I'd love to drive my boat in stock form with 3 lead batteries in back and maxxum up front and no jackplate just to see how much my fancy rigging threw it off.