Help with stainless steel prop selection

[walleye_addiction]

I have a 99 1775 lund pro v tiller with a 1999 75hp honda motor looking to install a stainless steel prop. Any ideas on size! Thanks

[PerchJerker]

What are you hoping to gain or change by changing props?

Changing props is usually a trade-off, you get something but you give up something else - holeshot, top speed, power, acceleration, handling, etc. The exception is if you're not propped correctly right now.

This is just a rule of thumb, but there's minimal if any benefit by going stainless on motors under 115 hp. There's just not enough power and performance there to justify the cost of the prop. Put them on bigger motors though, and then you can really start to tweak performance.

The best "performance gain" I think you could get with stainless on your motor is slower trolling speed (if that's what you're looking for).

[JDM]

I am very curious on your slower trolling speed comment for SS. I have a 17P aluminum on a 115 Optimax. You seem to know your stuff, so I ask, what would you recommend in a SS for that motor? I don't care about top end speed. I am more concerned with slower trolling speeds, hole shot, and handling. Thanks.

[PerchJerker]

A boat dealer or prop shop would probably be able to give you better info or recommendations than I can. I've never used a stainless prop on a motor that I troll with, I went from a 60 tiller to a 175 side console with a kicker motor. But I've heard they'll slow you down (I think because they are heavier and will spin a little slower at idle speeds).

I still remember the first time I heard this, it was years ago and my buddies and I all had tiller boats with 40-60 hp motors. I was at a sportshow and was talking to Pete Harsh aka Mr. Tiller about the big tiller rig he had and how he could fish slow enough with that big motor. He said the right stainless prop will slow down your trolling speed. Since then I've heard it from other sources too.

A lower pitch prop will slow your speed but will increase your rpms on the top end. I'd be surprised if you could go lower than a 17 pitch prop without over-revving your motor, unless you watched your rpms and just didn't drive wide-open. Also, I think a 4 blade or 5 blade prop would troll slower than a 3 blade. But again, if you're looking for a recommendation on a specific prop, a dealer or prop shop would be able to give you a better recommendation than I can.

There was a thread within the last month about slowing your trolling speed, you could search for that and maybe pick up a few ideas too. Good luck.

[FWA]

Last month, I bought a new prop from propmd. The owner was very helpful in helping me choose a slightly different prop from what came on my Honda 135 (a non-OEM prop). He said that the slight change in diameter and pitch would make the boat feel like a totally different. After taking it out for the first time last weekend, I totally agree, too!

Great customer service and great price, too! He even charged less shipping because I was in the cities (they are located in Cannon Falls).

Hopefully I won't have to call him anytime soon, if you know what I mean.