Propeller chink : ok or replace?

The size of your current prop should be stamped on the hub. Can you currently get to WOT with your current prop? Can you get to WOT too easily with your current prop? If the boat was running fine before you damaged the prop then you might want to stay with the size prop that is currently on it.

Thanks. Yeah , I can’t find a stamp anywhere. When you say “get to WOT” do you mean achieve the 4400-4800 RPM that my manual says is the WOT rating while staying on plane? Or just get there?
 
Thanks. Yeah , I can’t find a stamp anywhere. When you say “get to WOT” do you mean achieve the 4400-4800 RPM that my manual says is the WOT rating while staying on plane? Or just get there?

If you can get to 4400 rpm but are less than 4800 rpm at wide open throttle while on plane then your prop is the correct size.
 
Another thought is to try a 4 blade prop like the quick silver Nemesis. Try it in a 14 X 17 to keep you in the 4400 - 4800 WOT rpm. Then get the 3 blade repaired. Now you have two different props depending on how you plan to use the boat. If you pull skiers or a tube you will like the low end grunt of the 4 blade. It will handle better at low speeds and keep the boat on plane at a lower rpm. The 3 blade will give you better top end performance. Which ever prop you are using keep the other in the boat as a spare. Get the extra hub kit as a back up and to make prop switches a little easier.
 
The size of your current prop should be stamped on the hub. Can you currently get to WOT with your current prop? Can you get to WOT too easily with your current prop? If the boat was running fine before you damaged the prop then you might want to stay with the size prop that is currently on it.

thanks for your help on this Chip. I haven’t been able to try WOT yet as I’ve only had the boat out once and was with my little ones so was taking it easy for their first boat ride. Hoping to open it up this afternoon when we take it out again with the new prop.

I ordered the 14 x 23 as I’m pretty sure my 4.3 is not fuel injected (Is there a way for a non wrencher to tell?) & installed last night. Easy ! My only concern is that I don’t have a torque wrench for this (got a prop wrench) so I’m not sure if I tightened the nut to spec. I got it “very tight” manually which should suffice until one arrives. Also , when I was putting the old locking tab washer back on (my hub kit hasn’t arrived yet) I put it on backwards the first time and bent the center part of it as I was tightening the nut. Was able to get it back in the right way and get three of the tabs pushed in, will this be okay for a trip or two out on the water until the new hub kit arrives and I can swap that in?
 
Another thought is to try a 4 blade prop like the quick silver Nemesis. Try it in a 14 X 17 to keep you in the 4400 - 4800 WOT rpm. Then get the 3 blade repaired. Now you have two different props depending on how you plan to use the boat. If you pull skiers or a tube you will like the low end grunt of the 4 blade. It will handle better at low speeds and keep the boat on plane at a lower rpm. The 3 blade will give you better top end performance.

This is an interesting idea. My wife gets a little skittish at very high speeds and we will be mainly cruising and towing a tube so perhaps the four blade is a good idea. Given I’ve got the 14 x 23 , would 14 x 17 still be the 4 blade equivalent? What’s the math or the chart that shows that conversion? And would there be any ill effects on the rest of the drive or engine?
 
I ordered the 14 x 23 as I’m pretty sure my 4.3 is not fuel injected (Is there a way for a non wrencher to tell?) & installed last night. Easy ! My only concern is that I don’t have a torque wrench for this (got a prop wrench) so I’m not sure if I tightened the nut to spec. I got it “very tight” manually which should suffice until one arrives. Also , when I was putting the old locking tab washer back on (my hub kit hasn’t arrived yet) I put it on backwards the first time and bent the center part of it as I was tightening the nut. Was able to get it back in the right way and get three of the tabs pushed in, will this be okay for a trip or two out on the water until the new hub kit arrives and I can swap that in?

My prop torque specification is 55 lb. ft. of torque. I can just get there with my torque wrench pulling as hard as I can. "Very tight" manually should be fine. I doubt you overtightened it.

The locking tab washer should be fine as long as the nut is sitting in the washer. It doesn't take much to stop the prop nut from spinning off in reverse.
 
This is an interesting idea. My wife gets a little skittish at very high speeds and we will be mainly cruising and towing a tube so perhaps the four blade is a good idea. Given I’ve got the 14 x 23 , would 14 x 17 still be the 4 blade equivalent? What’s the math or the chart that shows that conversion? And would there be any ill effects on the rest of the drive or engine?

Usually it is a 2" drop in pitch when going from a 3 blade to a 4 blade will keep you in the same RPM range. In your case I would try the 14 x 21. You might want to refer the Mercury Prop Selector tool to confirm this.
 
Weirdly , the prop selector still says 14x23 for a 4 blade. I need to verify I’m inputting the correct alpha gear case .
 
Weirdly , the prop selector still says 14x23 for a 4 blade. I need to verify I’m inputting the correct alpha gear case .
The nemesis is designed to be the same pitch as your 3 blade so the results should be good. I replaced my 4x19 Black Max (3 blade) with the recommended 4x19 Nemesis (4 blade) and it works great and kept the RPMs at WOT.
 
I have a 2004 185 Sport, 4.3 carb, Alpha 1, 1.81 with 14X23 prop, I have bought both Turning Point and Solas props, the cup on these props is more than the Merc prop, you need to contact them before you purchase. The Merc prop gives the best performance out of the three.
 
I have a 2004 185 Sport, 4.3 carb, Alpha 1, 1.81 with 14X23 prop, I have bought both Turning Point and Solas props, the cup on these props is more than the Merc prop, you need to contact them before you purchase. The Merc prop gives the best performance out of the three.


By Merc you quiksilver? I purchased and installed the Nemesis 4 blade , taking it out tomorrow for the first time.
 
By Merc you quiksilver? I purchased and installed the Nemesis 4 blade , taking it out tomorrow for the first time.
Yes, Quicksilver
 

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