2005 22v High Altitude (Colorado) Suggestions

[chpthril]

The 537 was the OEM prop (was for at least 10 years) and IS NOT going to be the best choice for your elevation if you plan to run ballast or want a hole shot to pull up an adult slalom skier. Will it be fine for general use with a crew no more 8? Sure. Will it perform good when loaded for surfing? Not really, regardless of elevation. Once listed over with some ballast, whether its water, lead or people, the 537 has poor speed holding and cavitation.

Blue v-drive tells us you have the 1.48:1 gear, making a 4 blade the right choice, not a 3 blade.

[Timmy!]

I would call Bill Bistline at WWS and ask him what prop he recommends. He has been the #2 Tige dealer for forever (was #1 for quite awhile) and sold lots and lots of 22V's over the years and knows what works and what doesn't up here and why.

As far as lakes go, I joined Standley Lake last year after years of Boyd, Carter, Horsetooth and even Empire Res (private lake out east) and was soooo happy that we did. It's $850 for the season and you can't take your boat anywhere else but I didn't need to. I loved it!

[Wagonhound]

Crazy you have to pay money to boat on lakes in Colorado. Being from Wyoming I'm pretty fortunate to have 4 huge reservoirs within an hour to an hour and a half drive. We are thinking of taking ours to North Sterling for a family reunion in August if the water is still up. It's not real big, but it's super calm, really warm, and not a lot of traffic during the week.

[Z3CO23]

I would call Bill Bistline at WWS and ask him what prop he recommends. He has been the #2 Tige dealer for forever (was #1 for quite awhile) and sold lots and lots of 22V's over the years and knows what works and what doesn't up here and why.

As far as lakes go, I joined Standley Lake last year after years of Boyd, Carter, Horsetooth and even Empire Res (private lake out east) and was soooo happy that we did. It's $850 for the season and you can't take your boat anywhere else but I didn't need to. I loved it!

We really thought about Standley this year but we didnt pull the trigger. Maybe next year.

[Z3CO23]

Crazy you have to pay money to boat on lakes in Colorado. Being from Wyoming I'm pretty fortunate to have 4 huge reservoirs within an hour to an hour and a half drive. We are thinking of taking ours to North Sterling for a family reunion in August if the water is still up. It's not real big, but it's super calm, really warm, and not a lot of traffic during the week.

The state parks pass isn't bad, it's like 70 bucks, as long as you use your boat during the summer it's ends up being a really cheap option. I agree that's it's ridiculous that some of the other lakes charge other fees as well.

[Timmy!]

The state parks pass isn't bad, it's like 70 bucks, as long as you use your boat during the summer it's ends up being a really cheap option. I agree that's it's ridiculous that some of the other lakes charge other fees as well.

It's not bad, you just have to tow the boat a minimum of 80 miles round trip to get to the lakes up North and at 10mpg towing, eats up some cash. The good thing about Standley or the private lakes is you can just leave the boat there.

[co99tj]

I was very close to buying the Standley membership...until I read all the fine print about their policies. I loved the fact you can store there as well - but two things killed it for me - (1) no swimming and (2) no alcohol. The 2nd one isn't a big deal - but the fact that my guests from out of town that I take out on the lake on the 4th of July weekend, etc. can't sit and have a beer is kind of ridiculous. Even if the policy was no alcohol onboard any watercraft - I would understand that - but it's not even allowed in the park campground and they have the police dept. enforcing. That's the whole reason boats have 10 cupholders! The no swimming didn't make any sense to me either - if we're hanging out on a 100 degree day, you're stuck in the boat or on the sand...period. Add that to what is now a 35 day quarantine and I just decided I'd rather spend the membership money on gas driving to other lakes around the state. Hopefully they'll loosen some of the restrictions *a bit* in the future...not looking to be boating with a bunch of drunk idiots...but would be nice to go have a beer at the campground with a burger after a day on the lake.

[co99tj]

The 537 was the OEM prop (was for at least 10 years) and IS NOT going to be the best choice for your elevation if you plan to run ballast or want a hole shot to pull up an adult slalom skier. Will it be fine for general use with a crew no more 8? Sure. Will it perform good when loaded for surfing? Not really, regardless of elevation. Once listed over with some ballast, whether its water, lead or people, the 537 has poor speed holding and cavitation.

Blue v-drive tells us you have the 1.48:1 gear, making a 4 blade the right choice, not a 3 blade.

Thank you! We are all bigger riders - most of the people riding behind this boat will be 200+ lbs. We'll mainly be wakeboarding but definitely want to try surfing (need to find a cheap board first to experiment with)...problem is I won't be able to really upgrade the ballast for some time - so we're stuck with about 1000 lbs. that the boat came with.

With that in mind - what would you recommend? I called WakeMakers and they recommended the 1433 or 1617 but definitely with preference to the 1617. Would that be overkill for my use? Most of the reviews I see say they're running 3000+ lbs. of ballast.

[Z3CO23]

Thank you! We are all bigger riders - most of the people riding behind this boat will be 200+ lbs. We'll mainly be wakeboarding but definitely want to try surfing (need to find a cheap board first to experiment with)...problem is I won't be able to really upgrade the ballast for some time - so we're stuck with about 1000 lbs. that the boat came with.

With that in mind - what would you recommend? I called WakeMakers and they recommended the 1433 or 1617 but definitely with preference to the 1617. Would that be overkill for my use? Most of the reviews I see say they're running 3000+ lbs. of ballast.

1617 is great. Ran it on my RZR.... pulled like a tractor.

[Timmy!]

I was very close to buying the Standley membership...until I read all the fine print about their policies. I loved the fact you can store there as well - but two things killed it for me - (1) no swimming and (2) no alcohol. The 2nd one isn't a big deal - but the fact that my guests from out of town that I take out on the lake on the 4th of July weekend, etc. can't sit and have a beer is kind of ridiculous. Even if the policy was no alcohol onboard any watercraft - I would understand that - but it's not even allowed in the park campground and they have the police dept. enforcing. That's the whole reason boats have 10 cupholders! The no swimming didn't make any sense to me either - if we're hanging out on a 100 degree day, you're stuck in the boat or on the sand...period. Add that to what is now a 35 day quarantine and I just decided I'd rather spend the membership money on gas driving to other lakes around the state. Hopefully they'll loosen some of the restrictions *a bit* in the future...not looking to be boating with a bunch of drunk idiots...but would be nice to go have a beer at the campground with a burger after a day on the lake.

The no alcohol thing is a gray area. I had beer on my boat almost every single time I was out. Just make sure it's in a coozy and don't get drunk and drive around acting like an idiot and it's not a big deal and they won't bother you. The no swimming thing, there's a no wake zone on the SW side that you anchor off and the kids can go swimming. I don't have any experience at the campground, we live close enough that we didn't camp there. The quarantine can definitely be a deal breaker.

[UNSTUCK]

Duffy, what do you think about this conversation I had with wakemakers? I'm pretty interested in that 5 blade you like.

Customer Service
Do you have any questions a product expert can help answer?
You — Please update your info
Hi, I"m looking for an Acme 2133 prop. Do you have one?
Spencer joined the chat
Spencer
Let me look
I don't have it.
What boat are you putting this prop on?
You — Please update your info
2000 tige 21v. Was going to get a 1617, but I hear this is better.
Spencer
Yikes. No the 2133 is not better in my opinion unless you have the 8.1 liter engine.
Are you above 3500 ft.?
You — Please update your info
6000
Spencer
What engine?
You — Please update your info
black scorpion 330hp
Spencer
OK. With the 5.7 you do not want a five blade prop.
The 1617 is the winner for me.
You — Please update your info
Why does the engine matter?
Does it matter that I have the blue v-drive?
Spencer
If you have a ton of HP you can turn a five blade prop at that elevation.
Since you are running the standard engine you will have quite a bit of HP reduction due to elevation.
Early model Tige' wakeboard boats were shipped with a variety of transmission / V-Drive combinations. Luckily they are easy to distinguish based on their color and the fact that the gear ratio is stamped right on the side. The Walter Gear Drive RV-26D has a 1.46:1 gear ratio and is painted BLUE. The factory prop for this gear reduction is a 14" x 18" 4 blade. The PCM V-drive has a 1:1 gear ratio and is painted BLACK. The factory prop for this gear ratio is a 13" x 13" 4 blade. We now suggest running a 3 blade prop on these boats for better efficiency. (Tige' has also used a PCM 1.48:1 gear ratio V-Drive in some newer boats which is also painted black).
You — Please update your info
I thought my elevation was the reason I would want to consider this prop.
Spencer
Yes. A four blade with less pitch.
Adding another blade will create drag
You are better off with the blue transmission. That is a good thing.
The 1433 or 1617 are going to be great for your boat at that elevation.
You — Please update your info
Does it matter that we just surf with the boat? I have never even had it up to 30mph.
Spencer
How much ballast do you run?
You — Please update your info
New bags this summer will bring it up to about 2500. Usually have a full boat too.
Do you guys do trials on props? If I don't like it can I return it?
Spencer
In that case go with the 1617.
You — Please update your info
Do you have one in stock?
Spencer
I can charge you retail and you can return it if it doesnt work but no returns with the sale price.
That is what Acme does if you order from them.
You — Please update your info
Ok. Whats retail and the sale price?
Spencer
https://www.wakemakers.com/acme-1617-propeller.html
$469.99 Sale and $509.99 Retail
We do not charge shipping or sales tax.
You — Please update your info
Ok. How about a deal on the prop storage bag and the tool kit?
Spencer
Sorry there are no deals to be had on props and prop accessories right now.
We will have a sale over the 4th of July holiday and a big sale during Black Friday in November.
You — Please update your info
Ok. Thanks for your help.
Spencer
Not a problem. Have a great day.

I want the right prop on the first try. What do you think?

[hcooperrn]

Another vote for the 1617 here. Had it out for the first time yesterday at Jackson -- pulled even the heaviest guy right out of the water with 1800# in the back and 400# up front, with three other adults and four kids. When pulling the wives up, I had to be careful because I kept overshooting the 10.5 for the PerfectPass. Which, by the way, is almost out of a job. This prop pulls so well that the boat had no problem maintaining a nice even speed. When we got the tube out, I shut the PP off and kept the tube at a nice even speed even through moderate turns without slowing down. All that, and the gas needle barely moved in the 5 hours we were on the water.

[duffymahoney]

Call and talk to Acme directly, have them send both props to you, try both and see which you like. The 5 blade is literally the greatest prop I have ever tried. It's so hard to explain, honestly acme isn't super into the idea of a 5 blade. But I burn less fuel, turn lower rpms while surfing, it's a tractor and I can go 25 mph with 3k-4k in ballast. And the boat sounds better, the prop sounds smoother. Also I believe the wave is cleaner because of the lower rpms.