Prop question for boat...

Years ago, I had a Yamaha 115 on a Xpress H51. Used 3 blade 21° prop for fishing, used 3 blade 19° prop for skiing/tubing. If you use too small of a prop, you’ll run up on the rev-limiter too easily and/or burn too much fuel. Hope that helps you…

quote:

---

4 blade was better for hole shot tho?

---

I think 4 blades are better for stability, and potentially quicker acceleration depending on pitch/slip. Too much pitch, more engine bog. Too little pitch, more slip. No doubt about it, 4 blade props are more stable in rough water, and with the right pitch can do everything that you want. Personally, I’m thinking 16-17° is a ‘lil short, but if you could find one to try before you buy, I’d suggest that.

13.25 or bigger in diameter?

Use ChatGPT and put all this in there. It will spit out what will work best.

Good deal...and thanks

You have to under prop the boat for when it’s light and it will run well loaded down like what you want to do pulling the tube. So reducing pitch should help. Are you touching the rec limit with current boat empty? If so every inch of pitch is roughly 200 rpm change.

The recommended operating RPM range for a Yamaha 115 SHO outboard motor is 5300-6300 RPM.
The engine's rev limiter is designed to prevent it from exceeding this range and typically activates at approximately 6200-6400 RPM.

From google

I've got a similar use case as OP and mine will hit the rev limiter light boat. Bigger boat but gets used for one man perch jerking, 5 man snapper trips and dragging big arse tubes with kids. If you dont want to be swapping props all the time you just have to accept that youre going to lose some speed to gain the weight handling.

The plus side is the hole shot with a fishing load is amazing. It'll throw everybody out the boat. It'll also stay on plane easier, burn less fuel, and overall be a better handling boat. It isnt going to be fast no matter what you do, so sacrificing a little top end speed and having a higher cruise RPM iz worth it IMO.