Prop help needed!

[dfleet]

I have a '97 2150 WT, with a 377 Scorpion engine, and TAPS. It cavitates when we wake surf. I believe it has stock prop (3 blade) on it. Should I put a 4 blade on? What considersation should I give for the extra horsepower I have...etc.?

Thanks!

DF.

[chpthril]

DD or v-drive?

If V-drive, whats the gear ratio?

Whats the current prop's diameter and pitch.

[Ruger761]

97 2150 WT will be a DD. Before you talk prop what kind of ballast are you running and where are you putting it?

[Ruger761]

Oh and what pitch and dia is your current prop? You should be able to see the numbers on the hub of the prop.

[bryce2320]

FWIW, I changed from the 515 prop to the 911 and it was a big difference IMO. Mine is also a DD but depending on your location, may not be what you need. I'd hit ACME and tell them what you have and they can tell u what u need. Than call Mike at MLA(chpthril) and order one

[dfleet]

OK, I need to check on the pitch and diameter. Sorry for not having enought info. I've been looking around on other sites and realized I need to do that. Ballast: we don't run any at all. Just a full tank of gas and two to three teenagers sitting on the back puts up enough wake to surf with.

Thanks, I'll check the prop and get back.

DF.

[Ruger761]

We need to see some pics too

Ballast makes world of diff on these hulls, but takes up room so there's always trade offs. I keep 200# under my rear seat (steel weights) doesn't take up very much room. Then 2-350#s sacs I move depending on surf or wake make for a good combination especially with 2-3 220lb brothers.

[NICKYPOO]

I've chased this issue for a long time. I doubt its your prop. Stock prop for that boat should have been a 4 blade OJ. Something like a 13 x 13, 1 1/8 bore. Once you pull the nut off, it should tell all.

I run an Acme 911 for home lakes which are 4000+ elevation and a 653 for lower altitudes. If I want to make the prop "cavitate", I can do so by putting the Taps on 8 and putting everyone on one side and run as nose high as I can with as much list as I can get. It's not really cavitating, The hull is trapping air and directing it to the prop. Getting the nose down and getting rid of some of the list cures it everytime. I run ~450# on each side of the trunk and always run a full tank of fuel, ~200# when full. I also run ~300# in the bow walkway. I then try for 400#+ in people in the surfside corner and Taps on 4, 10.6 mph on gps.

If you really think its the prop, call Acme. Ask for Jim Thelen. Have you ducks in a row. Boat, motor, elevation, RPM @WOT, top speed, ballast, goals, etc. Before you do that though, try to change the attitude of the hull when surfing to bring the nose down see if you can make it go away. If you can but your wake suffers (it probably will) its time to get with Mike's Liquid Audio (chpthril) and get some ballast.

[Ruger761]

My stock one is a 13x13 3 blade. I think around 99-00 they went to 4 blade stock along with the dash change.

Nicky's right on the money, plus has probably experimented with more combinations on these hulls than most.

I would have never considered altitude course I'm at all of 500 ft or so.

Dfleet,one word of caution as you probably already know, watch the bow when letting off throttle and picking up riders, front ballast will get you even faster.

[chpthril]

I've chased this issue for a long time. I doubt its your prop. Stock prop for that boat should have been a 4 blade OJ. Something like a 13 x 13, 1 1/8 bore. Once you pull the nut off, it should tell all.

I run an Acme 911 for home lakes which are 4000+ elevation and a 653 for lower altitudes. If I want to make the prop "cavitate", I can do so by putting the Taps on 8 and putting everyone on one side and run as nose high as I can with as much list as I can get. It's not really cavitating, The hull is trapping air and directing it to the prop. Getting the nose down and getting rid of some of the list cures it everytime. I run ~450# on each side of the trunk and always run a full tank of fuel, ~200# when full. I also run ~300# in the bow walkway. I then try for 400#+ in people in the surfside corner and Taps on 4, 10.6 mph on gps.

If you really think its the prop, call Acme. Ask for Jim Thelen. Have you ducks in a row. Boat, motor, elevation, RPM @WOT, top speed, ballast, goals, etc. Before you do that though, try to change the attitude of the hull when surfing to bring the nose down see if you can make it go away. If you can but your wake suffers (it probably will) its time to get with Mike's Liquid Audio (chpthril) and get some ballast.

Thanks for the props! Oh, and I do props to

[NICKYPOO]

Thanks for the props! Oh, and I do props to

Oh ya, don't forget to buy your new prop/ballast/stereo from Mike. He's our man with the master plan.

[NICKYPOO]

My stock one is a 13x13 3 blade. I think around 99-00 they went to 4 blade stock along with the dash change.

Nicky's right on the money, plus has probably experimented with more combinations on these hulls than most.

I would have never considered altitude course I'm at all of 500 ft or so.

Dfleet,one word of caution as you probably already know, watch the bow when letting off throttle and picking up riders, front ballast will get you even faster.

I will try to stuff that little nugget of info into my tiny brain. The new Acme are worth every penny. It is the fastest/most effective way of increasing performance. They really make a huge difference.

I've been surfing this boat for 10 years.

Altitude makes a HUGE difference. When I take my boat to Shasta (1000'), it goes like a stabbed rat. At Tahoe (6400'), not so much. I'm actually considering proping up again for Shasta. It'll hit the rev limiter with the 653 on it.

Yes, front ballast make an old droop snoot Tige a little sketchy upon decel. It's not as bad with 70/30 split. I find it much worse when we are skiing and we have nothing or no one in back.

[dfleet]

Thanks, I'll get my information in order and call Mike!

DF