Which Prop to keep?

[dholley86]

I have an Action Craft 1890 flats boat. Recently repowered with a Yamaha VMAX 200 SHO. Previously had a 200 VMAX HPDI.

I have run three different props (Mercury Tempest 23, Yamaha T-1 23, and a Turbo TXP OT4 23) on it during the last month.
I'm getting considerably more prop slip than when I had the HPDI. The HPDI was 9-12% prop slip. The SHO is between 12-16%.

Trying to decide which ones to keep and have reworked to pair with the SHO. I'm also open to other options.
I created a spreadsheet with all of my performance data with each prop. Typical fishing loads with 2 people and half a tank of fuel.
Please let me know which direction you think I should go.

Action Craft 1890
VMAX SHO 200
Gear Ratio	1.75
Mercury Tempest
Diameter	14.625
Pitch	23
RPM	Actual Speed	Theoretical Speed	Slip
3000	29	37.3	22.3%
3500	35	43.6	19.7%
4000	41.5	49.8	16.6%
4500	47	56.0	16.1%
5000	52	62.2	16.4%
5500	58	68.5	15.3%
5900	62.5	73.4	14.9%
Yamaha T-1
Diamter	14.5
Pitch	23
RPM	Actual Speed	Theoretical Speed	Slip
3000	30.8	37.3	17.5%
3500	36.5	43.6	16.2%
3800	40	47.3	15.4%
4000	42	49.8	15.6%
4500	48	56.0	14.3%
5000	54	62.2	13.2%
5600	61	69.7	12.5%
Turbo TXP OT4
Diamter	14.375
Pitch	23
RPM	Actual Speed	Theoretical Speed	Slip
3000	30	37.3	19.7%
3500	37	43.6	15.1%
4000	42.5	49.8	14.6%
3800	40	47.3	15.4%
4000	42.5	49.8	14.6%
5000	53	62.2	14.8%
5200	55.5	64.7	14.2%
5650	60	70.3	14.7%

[John Jackson]

If you are fishing flats, I would keep the one with the best holeshot, regardless of slip.

[21XDC]

I agree with John

[dholley86]

No need to get up in real skinny water. Most of our fishing is in the intracoastal and St Johns River. Usually have plenty of water.
I'm looking for the one with the best performance in terms of mid-range cruise (4000 rpms) and top end for tournaments. All of the props have excellent holeshot.

I should also mention that the boat has a hydraulic jackplate and these numbers are with it adjusted for each prop.

[John Jackson]

Then go with the prop that gives you the top speed at close to the max RPM's. Better all around performance and less load on the motor. That appears to be the tempest. (Slip is a theoretical calculated number, not an absolute)

[dholley86]

Then go with the prop that gives you the top speed at close to the max RPM's. Better all around performance and less load on the motor. That appears to be the tempest. (Slip is a theoretical calculated number, not an absolute)

Thanks John. I understand its theoretical, but I the same prop on the same hull had 10% slip when strapped to the HPDI. In fact all of them had considerably better slip numbers when on the HPDI.
The SHO has more torque and is faster on the top end by 2-3 mph. But based on the slip numbers I think I'm leaving something on the table. Any other props that might be worth a try?

[dholley86]

Resurrecting this thread. I sent the t1 and txp ot4 down the road. I picked up an A40 23 tempest which does great in the winter time 64 mph @ 6000 RPMs. With summer here, I usually have heavier loads (livewell full, heavy cooler on the bow, etc) and with the 23 tempest just can't get the SHO into the power band. I need a prop that can carry a load and get my RPMs up from 55-5600 to 6000. I was thinking another 21 tempest, 23 bravo fs, 22 turbo fxp. Any other suggestions?

[John Jackson]

For holeshot and carrying a load, nothing beats a properly set u Bravo. Just go up in inch in pitch with a Bravo.

[dholley86]

For holeshot and carrying a load, nothing beats a properly set u Bravo. Just go up in inch in pitch with a Bravo.

John, would you suggest a 23 or 24 bravo?
I have an A48 23 tempest will turn 55-5700 during the summer. The A40 is about 100-150 more rpms.

[Savage]

Id run a Bravo1, but its going to be slower than the Tempest, if the Tempest is in good condition and set-up correctly.

[John Jackson]

John, would you suggest a 23 or 24 bravo?
I have an A48 23 tempest will turn 55-5700 during the summer. The A40 is about 100-150 more rpms.

I would run a 24" Bravo. It will turn about the same RPM's as a 23" tempest.

[dholley86]

Got the chance to run a 21 tempest this weekend. RPMs were in the correct range 6000-6100 at WOT (61+ mph).
What was interesting was the slip numbers from 5000-6000 RPMs were quite a bit lower than the 23 tempest I have.
The 21 was showing 8-9% slip which was much lower than the 23 (about 14-15%).
I would expect they would have similar numbers. Any thoughts?

[Savage]

Performance is a better indicator than prop slip. Did you run a Bravo1 prop yet?

[dholley86]

Performance is a better indicator than prop slip. Did you run a Bravo1 prop yet?

Still trying to find a bravo to try. I used prop gods for the 21 tempest, but he doesn't have any of the bravo xs/fs available for testing.

[dholley86]

Just picked up a 21 TXP for testing, should be here next week. Anyone know what size the vent holes are on these props. I know they are smaller than the merc vent holes.