Prop size?

[Frederick San Diego]

Hi all,

I recently bought a 2005 Sea Ray Sundeck 200 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. I spent a lot of time restoring it cosmetically and now it’s in with a mechanic to rebuild the engine (it was seized). I have read a lot about recommendations on prop size for this engine and wonder what everyone’s input would be. Looks like the boat weighs in the 3600 pound range and I will be using it in San Diego Harbor/Bay as well as the lakes of the Colorado River. So far I am thinking a SS 14.5 x 19 would give me some pop and high end speed?? Thanks

 

[Scott06]

Hi all,

I recently bought a 2005 Sea Ray Sundeck 200 with a 4.3 Mercruiser. I spent a lot of time restoring it cosmetically and now it’s in with a mechanic to rebuild the engine (it was seized). I have read a lot about recommendations on prop size for this engine and wonder what everyone’s input would be. Looks like the boat weighs in the 3600 pound range and I will be using it in San Diego Harbor/Bay as well as the lakes of the Colorado River. So far I am thinking a SS 14.5 x 19 would give me some pop and high end speed?? Thanks

What is on it currently? A 19” is always a good place to start buy you may want to go down to a 17” if you run loaded. Is the 4.3 a carbed 190 hp or mpi 220?

 

[Frederick San Diego]

Hi, unfortunately I bought it as a project boat and it had the lower unit removed already and no prop! Its a 4.3 MPI. I have read SS are thinner and stiffer, but aluminum is lighter. Any recommendations on that as well?

 

[Lazy Daze]

On Sea Ray's website, under the Owner's section, you can find a prop chart. It will list the original prop for your boat. For your engine, coupled with a Sea Ray, it would have been a stainless steel Vengeance prop. I'm not positive on the pitch.

 

[Frederick San Diego]

On Sea Ray's website, under the Owner's section, you can find a prop chart. It will list the original prop for your boat. For your engine, coupled with a Sea Ray, it would have been a stainless steel Vengeance prop. I'm not positive on the pitch.

thank you…I will check that out!

 

[Scott06]

Hi, unfortunately I bought it as a project boat and it had the lower unit removed already and no prop! Its a 4.3 MPI. I have read SS are thinner and stiffer, but aluminum is lighter. Any recommendations on that as well?

Generally you will get better performance with stainless. As mentioned yours likely was sold with a vengance which is nit a particularly good prop. Its inexpensive and stainless so that’s why they are the OEM prop. Generally a vengance wont perform much better than a black max standard aluminum prop.
If it were me id either find a prop shop that will let you try before you buy, or get an aluminum black max or michigan vortex in 19” cut your teeth on that see how it performs a d what the wot rpm is.
Not sure how you want to use it but if you want to do water sports maybe try a 4 blade.

 

[blaster]

19” may be over propped for a 200 sun deck. I run a 19” SS Vengeance on my 205 4.3MPI. Empty I can just bump the rev limiter at 4950 RPMS. When fully loaded I am around 4500 RPMS. This is around sea level. If I am at higher altitudes I run a 17” SS propeller or 19” aluminum to achieve similar numbers.

 

[SilentJ20]

On Sea Ray's website, under the Owner's section, you can find a prop chart. It will list the original prop for your boat. For your engine, coupled with a Sea Ray, it would have been a stainless steel Vengeance prop. I'm not positive on the pitch.

Kind of popping in here for a quick question: On those charts, mine says "14 x 19 (14.5 x 17 PX only)". What does the "PX only" mean? I've not been able to find any description anywhere.