Fellas I have to go to a wedding today. So I decided to go to a local lake and run the pro et for a while. While my wife was getting her hair and nails and all that wedding crap done. I really wanted to go try for topspeed but really didn't have time. So I went to a local lake thats bout 20 miles in legnth and only has 4 short straights and every one has a 90 deg curve goning into and coming out of. I have never been faster than 80/81 on this lake cause its nothing but curves.
Today I have experienced something totally weird to me. This PRO ET is weird and makes my boat feel like a totally different boat!! My best running prop has been my 29 hydro. But comparing it to this pro et would be worse than comparing apples to oranges.
This pro et has way tooooo much bow lift. But the stern lift is right on the money. Power delivery is smooth and consistant. Until the hull starts to naturally lift. I believe if you could filp a 2200 over backwards then you can do it with this prop. 21XDC (Mike Lohn) Likes to fly with excessive bow lift, SO He is going to love this prop.
At one certain spot right before the hull naturally lifts my boat porpused trimming up fixed this but soon as the bow starts up the prop wants to help out too and before you know it you hung up in the air a good bit. It was pretty hard to regulate.
After playing with engine height etc. I broke my speed record on this curvy lake. I managed to hit 85 on one stretch right before a curve. I was also able to run through curves at unbelievable speeds. I went into several curves at 81. Handling is un real normally I'd have to trim back down to the point that the tunnels were in the water to make these curves at 65 mph. Then its like the boat is on rails and the G force wants to throw you in the side of the boat. This prop gave me the stern height I needed to slide through these curves.
I don't have trim tabs and I don't think I could've ran this prop without them if my tuner wasn't cut. However take off is slower and doesn't require full throttle. Then engine spoools up quick and breaks loose under full throttle at about 3500. After playing with the take off I got it down pretty decent. Half throttle to about 3500 then I gradually increased the throttle to full throttle and start trimming up at the same time I inreased the throttle. Basically it takes me approx. 5 to 6 seconds. But the thing is when the bow comes down and I am on my way the stern is already up. So I keep adding trim and top speed comes quick. Much quicker than I have ever seen from a dead stop.
One stretch I hit 84 on I stopped and filled the livewells up. I filled them both up to the point they were overflowing. Got me a running go and made it up to 82. Not too shabby. considering I had just put 40 gallons of water in it which would calculate to about 320 lbs. Along with 4 70lb batteries.
Best of the day results ended up being.
2200 300PM 15 1/2 inches of setback
30 PRO ET 1.75 geared sportsmaster
1.25 below the pad at 85 mph at 6000 rpm a little under neutral on the trim.
Had my full fishing gear in the boat approx. 150lbs and bout 8 rods and me 260lbs.
This prop virtually has no steering torque at any time!!!!
More testing to come soon as I can get to the river and strech he legs. I really think I can bump the engine up after I reach top speed a get a little more. Cause this prop seems to really like to run high.
I think preston is right and that the lab version might be better on the gambler if they prove to hold up. And if the stern lifting part of the prop hasn't been removed making the lab version.