New outboard needed - input appreciated

We have decided to go with the ETEC 150. We believe it has all the power we need and comes with new controls (which were badly needed). It has 3 years comprehensive, an additional 3 years limited warranty, and came in about $1000 under the Optimax 150 and $4500 under the 175 Pro XS. We did treat ourselves to the Sea Star hydraulic & tilt steering as installed dealer price wasn't that much more than what I'd found online once we factored in the shipping, duty, & taxes.

While we could have saved money by heading across the border, we ultimately decided that we wanted the service close by and believe that a dealer who sells to us has more invested in keeping us satisfied.

We are very excited and looking forward to years of lake time. Thanks again for the feedback; your posts were invaluable to our decision.

Next up... the trailer!

Kim

 

Good choice, and I think the low end punch will surprise you provided you go with with their low end 17 pitch prop. (Something with minimum cup and rake.) The dealer will most likely try to get you to go higher pitch if he is not experienced with outboard ski boats.

I have run the same aluminum prop for 16 years and it has never been repaired. I am very careful.

Read the thread I referenced earlier. It discusses props also.

jim

 

Great choice! And you are correct, it is good to have a happy local dealer.

I have the 150 HO Etec on my 18', and it works quite well. I agree with Jim, go for something around 17 pitch +/- 1 shouldn't make too much of a difference. Lower will get you more out of the hole power and better speed holding control, but less top end speed. A 17 pitch should get you pretty easily into the mid 40's (in mph).

I have not used aluminum yet, but trust Jim's advice. If you choose to go stainless, I think I heard they start making the SST series again (not SST2!!!!). That has always been a solid prop used by many ski teams on hydrodynes.

 

I have a stainless 19 pitch & will look into a 17 - an aluminum prop is included with the motor, but I'm tempted to upgrade to stainless. I've read the forum Jim put up a link to, and I understand the pitch and cup, but am unsure what diameter to buy and don't really understand rake at all.

 

I will have single axle trailer for sale in about two weeks. Upgrading to a tandem axle.

Don't even know what price I will ask yet.

Dwight

 

14.5 +-diameter is good. Rake is how much the blades are swept back swept back blades cause bow lift as does cup.

Good water-ski props are hard to find. All of the Evinrude stainless props that I see on their site are meant for speed and bow lift which is bad for skiing. They will minimize the motor's ski performance by causing the stern to sink down when pulling a skier up. A 19 will bog down a 150.

The best looking ski prop they show is the aluminum three blade at 14.8 diameter with very little rake and cup. I would go with that prop and if you like it, take it to the best prop shop in your area and ask for a steel prop that closely duplicates it if you must have steel. You could trade your 19.

When they mount the motor ask them to add a wedge for more down trim "tuck". They will probably tell you that you don't need it. It will help the boat run flat at low speeds.

If your 19 is a merc prop, the hub is different, but it can be modified. The prop can be modified by reducing the pitch and removing the cup if it a descent design to start with. I do not recommend that however.

just my opinion,

jim

 

Here is a reference for propeller terminology.

jim


http://www.propline.com/Propeller-General-Information/Propeller_Terminology.htm

Don't forget to check on the 2.4 cu in helm and the concealed mount shifter.

 

The Cyclone 4 blade is a transom lifting prop. It is the best prop for single small block boats right now aside from the relatively flat SSP series 3 blade which is only available in 15 pitch I believe.

If you can find one, the 389925 16 pitch stainless is the best all around prop for small block Evinrudes. The small block E-Tecs like to run the lower pitch props and you will still do about 46 mph with this prop.

The danger in running an "old style" prop is that the exhaust gases in the new DI engines are so hot that they can melt the old rubber propeller hubs depending on your application and running style. For this reason I would not recommend re hubbing an existing prop to fit a different motor.

 

I was hoping that you would post that number

Here is that prop on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Johnson-Evi..._Accessories_Gear&hash=item4ab43af45a&vxp=mtr

jim

 

Wow - you guys are incredible!

footndale - thank you for the info, but we're just fixing up the existing trailer as there's nothing wrong with it

Must-ski - exactly the kind of info people like me need, thanks!

Jim - that ebay company won't ship to Canada, in fact, ebay won't even put a message from me through to him. Not sure if no one can send a message or if it's just ISPs outside of USA, but thanks for trying

However, how about one of these? The first link will definitely ship to me, I've sent an inquiry asking about the 2nd link.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/OMC-Johnson-Evi ... 1988wt_754

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280724783652?it ... m=&vxp=mtr

Does rotation matter?



Kim