99 185BR Prop: What's everyone running?

[velociraptorfarmer]

I've got a 1999 185BR with the 190hp 4.3L V6 in it. Alpha 1 drive with 1.81 gears.

I've run a few different props on it with varying results. When I bought it this summer, the previous guy had a 14x19 3 blade black max on it, which was hideously underpropped and would run over 5 grand easy. Also gave me a 14x20 4 blade black max that was still slightly underpropped and would kiss 4900-5000 with 2 people in the boat, full fuel, and only get to 44mph.

I picked up a used 13 3/4x23 3 blade SS Vengeance off FB marketplace to give a try. It almost seems overpropped now, topping out at 46mph @ 4400rpm with 2-4 people in it, or 49mph @ 4600rpm solo. Not to mention hole shot, porpoising, cornering, and high speed ventilation are crap. Plus the wife wants to get back into waterskiing next summer, and this prop ain't going to cut it.

I'm looking at picking up a Turning Point Hustler aluminum 4 blade to give a shot, just not sure if there's something else I should look at instead? I'd like to not give up too much speed, and just want an all around good general use cruising prop. Also, what's the opinion here on size? I've heard the hustlers have some aggressive cupping and can load up more than what their pitch suggests. I'm leaning 14x21, but wondering if anyone had some other opinions.

 

[Lazy Daze]

If you go to Sea Ray's website, you can look at the prop charts in the Owner's section and that will show you the original prop. If you're looking for the best overall performance, that's the prop that would be good to go with. Keep in mind that you can't have your cake and eat it, too. You can't get a great hole shot yet still retain top end. Can't happen. Since you have a carb'd engine, I can tell you that the original prop would have been an aluminum prop - probably either 21" or 23" Merc Black Max prop. I'm not surprised the 23" SS dogged a bit - between being heavier and higher pitch.

BUT... you put something like the original prop on there, which would get you good hole shot and good cruise along with still getting into the upper RPM Max range. AND, if you wanted to get a better hole shot to boot, add some Smart Tabs. That's about the only way you can do the cake thing.

 

[velociraptorfarmer]

If you go to Sea Ray's website, you can look at the prop charts in the Owner's section and that will show you the original prop. If you're looking for the best overall performance, that's the prop that would be good to go with. Keep in mind that you can't have your cake and eat it, too. You can't get a great hole shot yet still retain top end. Can't happen. Since you have a carb'd engine, I can tell you that the original prop would have been an aluminum prop - probably either 21" or 23" Merc Black Max prop. I'm not surprised the 23" SS dogged a bit - between being heavier and higher pitch.

BUT... you put something like the original prop on there, which would get you good hole shot and good cruise along with still getting into the upper RPM Max range. AND, if you wanted to get a better hole shot to boot, add some Smart Tabs. That's about the only way you can do the cake thing.

I've looked up the original before, would've been a 23p Black Max. The main thing is I want to jump to a 4 blade for pulling skiers and better fuel economy for running the river. I was just hoping someone has swapped to a Hustler at some point with this hull and try and figure out whether to go 21p or if I would have to drop to a 19p, which I doubt, but want to make sure.

 

[velociraptorfarmer]

Quick update: finally got it out on the river to test, and the 21p Hustler 4 blade performed almost identical to the 23p Vengeance, other than it got up on plane much quicker and had way more pop out of the hole. Gonna use their exchange to swap to a 19p. Whoever said that their props are about 2" of pitch than what they say they are was right, it's incredibly aggressive.