i have heard,a stainless prop will increase fuel efficiency. have any of you found this to be true?is it worth switching?
It all depends on your boat, motor, load and how and where you run your boat. Each situation is different, and that is why it is often suggested to try several props to decide which one works best for your situation.
FWIW, a guy who worked for my company had a 24’ walkaround and found that a larger diameter aluminum prop gave him better performance than the SS one that came on his boat.
Loosewire is right on the money. Don’t go out and buy any old SS prop and think its going to be better. For most fishing boats (except high performance types), you want to have the largest diameter prop you can while still being able to achieve an the acceptable WOT rpm range. A larger prop diameter has more blade area which increases thrust, degreases blade loading, and improves all aroung efficiency.
Iain Pelto
Edgewater 185CC “Jumpin’ Bean II”
Native Manta Ray 14
if you compare apples to apples, yes, 2 props the same diameter and with the same pitch, the stainless will typically preform better. why?
it is a lot stronger and can be shaped in thinner and more complex curves than the aluminum… the blade of an aluminum prop will typically be all one thickness.
as far as fuel mileage goes… maybe a bit better, but likely negligible.
Last fall I went through an extensive on-line search for a new prop. It was explained to me by the experts that the mfg process of stainless props is much more exact for the pitch, cup and blade design. Whether this matters for recreational use is up for debate. I use stainless because I occasionally bump an oyster bar. This tends to nick the aluminum props which will cause performance issues. One thing I learned is that a 13 1/2 x 17 comes in a lot of different blade designs, with/without cup, blade shape full, cleaver…ect.
84’ 18 Privateer
08’ Yamaha 90
There are always greater fish than you have caught, always the lure of greater task and achievement, always the inspiration to seek, to endure, to find.
thanks for the input. i guess i’ll have to break out the wallet.