boat prop rental/demos

[Elkoholic]

Anyone know of a shop that will let you demo or rent a prop? I am trying to find the right prop for my boat and I want to try a 3 or 4 blade 17 pitch prop. I currently have a 5 blade 18, and a 4 blade 21 pitch. Both are too much prop for this altitude. The boat came from Vegas and I guess those props worked well on Lake Meade, but they are not cutting it here.

Thanks.
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[wiper_junkie]

Hi,
Check with your local marina. If they want to sell you a prop, they'll most likely let you demo one. I needed to replace my factory aluminum prop early this spring, so I took my boat down to Peterson Marine on Riverdale Rd. They hooked me up with a 4 blade Mercury Trophy stainless steel prop and told me to come back after I had tried it a few times. A week later I ended up buying it, and have not regretted it. The difference is amazing!
Now I could have bought a prop online and saved about $50, but now I know that I would have gotten the wrong prop. This is one of those cases where the extra $50 was well worth the customer service. FYI, if you're looking at stainless steel props, and you care, Mercurys props are the only ones still made in the US. Apollo and all others are made in Chine/Taiwan, ect... HTH, Fred K.
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[Jmaze]

It's been awhile but Peterson's "loaned" me one. It is more expensive then online, but worth every penny to test before you buy. Props are tough to figure out, and salesmen can be helpful if they know what you are looking for.
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[fishingBoarder]

I've worked with Marine Prop in Clearfield a couple of times. He's repaired a prop, and I bought my 4 blade stainless prop from him. Very knowledgeable! One of those one guy shops, hence you always know who you're working with. If he sells you a prop you don't like, you can bring it back and exchange for another. www.marineprop.com
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[RapalaUt]

Lol

I'm in a simlar situation. So far about the only place that I've found with a rental type program is marine products in slc. I think it's $25 for the day and you can then apply that rental fee towards the purchase of a prop.

Good luck!
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[DKStroutfitter]

Lee's Marine in Hyrum will let you demo a prop at Hyrum Reservoir.
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[Therapist]

what motor are you running ??? a V6 or V4, or IO ???

[Elkoholic]

Thanks guys, I'll look into those shops and see what they reccomend for size and try one or two of them out.

The engine is a V6 fuel injected. I believe it's a '90. It's a 200 horse Merc.
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[fsh4fun05]

I've got a 23 pitch 3 blade Mirage Plus with medium PVS vent plugs on my 200hp fish n' ski. Finding the right prop is not easy but those vent holes make all the difference in the world. Tweaking the hole size or just plugging the holes is like putting on a different prop.
[url "http://www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/advantage/technologies/pvs/"]http://www.mercurymarine.com/propellers/advantage/technologies/pvs/[/url]
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[Therapist]

How big a boat are you pushing. I would think that the props you describe that you have would be on the small side at Mead and just about right up at this altitude !! How many RPM's are you turning with your 4 blade ???

[Elkoholic]

The boat is a 21 foot Champion. With the 4 blade 21 pitch, i was getting about 3,000rpm. I switched to the 5 blade 18 pitch and I came up to about 3,400 rpm. Both props are stainless, if that matters. I was told that I should be closer to 4-5,000 rpm on that motor. I wonder if there is something else not right with it. Maybe in the fuel system or electronics??
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[fsh4fun05]

I think max rpm's for your motor is around 5800, I can do that with a 21 pitch 3 blade no problem that's why I went with a 23 3 blade. WOT I'm at 5400 now (roughly). If we are talking about a 21' champion bass boat there is something else going on besides the prop.
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[Therapist]

I am not a boat mechanic, but your 200 should be spinning that 21 close to max RPM. Your Tach could be bad also. I would get it in to a good mech, Bret Halstrom in Lehi is who I use, but have your motor checked. If you were turning only 3000 at Mead, you have something wrong with the motor !!! My 21 Turbo, on a 175 Merc spins at about 4200 on Utah Lake !! That is on a 18 ft. Skeeter Walleye boat. Have your motor checked !!!

[Elkoholic]

I was affraid of that. I have had a few people say the prop is the problem, but more and more I hear the motor. I'll have to take it in and get it checked out. It could be the tack, but the motor doesn't sounde like it's reving high, so chances are that's not the problem.
I have a feeling this is about to get expensive!!
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[wiperhunter2]

BOAT= Break Out Another Thousand[]
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