New Prop Needed

[atlantabuff]

Finally a break in the weather out all day yesterday and looking forward to today.  However, I need a new prop.  I have heard OJ stainless is good.  Anyone have any thoughts?  By the way: it's 13x13 4 blade and is it 1" or 1 1/8"?

[cyclone]

13x13 LH 1" Look at your prop, it is stamped on it, you can tell the rotation by looking at it. Toyota docs occasionally say RH props but that may be a misprint. Don't know about the V drives. The shaft is the same, 1"

I've heard great things about the OJ stainless, I would stay away from the Cutter.
Try Atlanta Marine, I bought my 4 blade from them, the price was better than the catalogs. I paid 400$ for an OJ Nibral 4 blade WITH the briefcase, puller, wrench, etc., over 100$ less than Overtons.
I would recommend that you specify 'heavy cup" if you wakeboard. It makes a big difference when pulling a weighted boat. The change from the stock 3 blade is NOT subtle, it pulls so much better. Haven't tried stainless, that's probably better still. I lost about 3 MPH on the top end, 46 to 43, but who the hell cares? The boat's easier to drive, too.

[davidgree1]

What is the top speed of your boat?  Unweighted mine will barely hit 40 (2001 SX)

[cyclone]

With the original 3 blade it would hit 46, with the four blade it maxes out  at about 42. Plenty fast for me, I rarely go over about 30 anyway. 95% of the time I am running 20 mph

[brad]

I just changed from a Nibral 3 blade 13x13 to a Nibral 4 blade  13x13 LH (damaged the 3 blade so I put on my extra prop).  

I like to performance of the 4 blade better.  Seems to have better pop out of the hole.  As mentioned earlier, I may be giving up some top end speed but I typically don't go higher than 30 mph.

[blindside]

I have been shopping for a prop for weeks now and today I talked with one of the guys at acme that has been there since the first epics came out and he knew exactly what he was talking about.  Because the engines are high reving and the highest torq is around 4,000 RPM and I will be using 2000+ lbs of ballast  he recommened the 13x11.5 3 blade due to the fact that at wakeboard speeds the boat will be at a little higher rpm and will be torqier at those rpms for a more consistant and smooth pull and have a faster hole shot.

It should be here by next tuesday/wednesday

[Dwayne]

seems to me you just gave up gas milage & top out speed at the same time but i could be wrong

[blindside]

Ya Dwayne but not much.  He said it will be reving 150-250 rpm higher at pulling speeds but it will be a stong consistant pull.  That is what I was looking for.

[toyotafreak]

Hope he's right, cuz a strong, consistent pull will put a shizzle on yer face ;-)  

I like the idea of propping downward in the case of the v-drive. Fuel consumption will go up SLIGHTLY. And as far as top end goes, a v-drive might even gain a little (mine has never reached redline).

ACME pts out a CNC-milled prop, don't they?

[blindside]

Ya, the acme 3 and 4 blade are CNC Milled.  Also the 3 blade for 2004 has just as much surfase area as the 4 blade.

I like this FAQ from the acme marine website

<quote>

Q: Which propeller should I choose, the Acme 3-blade or the Acme 4-blade?
A: Theoretically, a 3-blade propeller should always be more efficient than a 4-blade. However, in the past, two big issues have prevented the 3-blade from taking the lead in popularity. The first was a lack of manufacturing precision, which commonly caused 3-blades to vibrate more than 4-blades. When significant dimensional variation exists in a propeller, vibration is generally more noticeable in a propeller with fewer blades. The second reason for the 3-blade disfavor was an almost certain loss of blade area in the transition from four blades to three. Consequently, even though top-end gains were achieved, performance expectations on the low-end were diminished.
Through the implementation of precision manufacturing and design improvements, Acme Propellers are giving the 3-blade the reputation it deserves. Acme is consistently holding tolerances never before achieved in propeller production. This accuracy makes the Acme 3-blade incredibly smooth. In addition, the blade area of the Acme 3-blade has been expanded to equal that of the Acme 4-blade. The translation? The Acme 3-blade has raised the performance bar. From an awesome hole-shot to an unmatched top end, and all the smoothness throughout, the Acme 3-blade leaves nothing to be desired. We believe it has an edge that everyone will appreciate. On the other hand, please do not mistake our excitement as a lack of appreciation for the Acme 4-blade, a proven winner.
It should be noted that this choice might still be mildly influenced by application, because it is possible that the most perceptive users might be able to detect slight differences that cause them to prefer one prop over the other. Even still, the overall performance of either Acme Propeller is paramount, and is that from which dreams are made.
</quote>

The technician i spoke to was Jim and he convinced me he knows what he's talking about. 1-888-661-ACME call and ask for him if you are looking for a prop.  He will tell you what prop you need depending on DD, VD, amount of ballast etc...

oh, and i ordered it from propellersonline.com for $315 with free shipping