Prop Selection Honda 225

[GregE]

Honda 225 on the 22 Sea Legend issues:  prop cavitation above mid range power adjustments.  The motor was lowered to align with bottom of hull.  Water tests needed to determine what that effected.

Carried over from the Motor height adjustment thread.  http://www.arimaowners.com/index.php?topic=15588.msg186277#msg186277

Prop sizes:

Currently on the Honda 225:  3 x 15.8 x 15 aluminum  ( fooled me- thought the pitch was higher )

Original Solas: SS 3 x 14 x 19

Solas aluminum others:  4 x 14.75 x 17
                                     3 x 15.5 x 17

thinking:  compare the performance of the present prop to the 4 blade.  Don't think the SS 19 pitch is viable for hole shot

As always, you're opinions and experiences are solicitated 

[amazing grace]

Lower pitched, bigger dia. I would think a 4 blade would be ideal Greg. 

[Threeweight]

Greg, my boat has a very different hull, but for what it is worth...

The dealer rigged my boat with Honda's "all around" stainless 3 blade prop (actually a Solas Titan), in a 15.5" diameter, 15 pitch flavor.  It generally performed well for most things.  They recommended a 17 pitch, but it topped out at around 5700 RPM on my hull and I wanted more thrust for the ocean.  Top speed on my Ocean Pro with that prop when lightly loaded (2 people and a dog) on the big river was around 42 mph @6100 RPM, cruise @4000 RPM around 24 mph, and time to plane around 6 seconds.  Cruise fuel economy around 3.2 mpg.  When heavily loaded (3 big dudes, wife, dog, 300# of ice, 300# of Tuna!) it struggled a bit to plane, taking maybe 12-14 seconds to get up on step.

Because of how it handled when loaded really heavy, I checked w/ a different Hewes dealer who knows ocean boats, and they recommended I try the Solas Titan 4 blade, in the 14.5" diameter x 15 pitch flavor.  This is still a fairly inexpensive prop, but geared more towards offshore boats.

Lightly loaded on the river, this prop was both faster to plane (gunned the throttle and the Hewes was on step within the length of the boat, with all my tackle boxes sliding back onto the deck), and faster across the entire RPM range.  Top speed around 44-45 mph @5900 RPM, cruise @4000 RPM around 26 mph.  Fuel economy took a hit, down to 3.0 mpg on the river.  It really shines on the ocean, though.  Even loaded with the same 3 guys, wife, dog, ice, and tuna, it will plane the boat in about 6 seconds, and hold plane down to 16 mph.  Low speed handling is much improved around the dock as well.  Ocean fuel economy now averages about 2.8 mpg when loaded heavy.

I really like this prop, and it was fairly affordable.  Our boats are likely similar in weight and deadrise, but mine is a bit longer (24 foot planing surface w/ the full width engine bracket, vs. 21'11".)