25 Trophy vs 27 DAH SRX vs 28 ET copy...prop testing today.

[imq707s]

I decided to head out this morning and do some prop testing. I recently picked up a Hill 28 ET copy and I wanted to see how it would run compared to my two other favorite props...my stock 25 Trophy, and my DAH 27 SRX. I left the LU at 1" below the pad...I probably could have squeezed a few more top end MPH out of the boat....but I like it at 1" under for when I have a few people in the boat, and when I'm pulling a wakeboard. Any higher and the props just slip to much at low/mid speeds.

I decided to check out one of my local lakes that is known for it's sailboating and fishing ( the water is pretty smooth most of the time..nothing but sailboats and bassboats). I don't think the hippies in their sail boats really liked me ruining the silence on their lake...but oh well. One guy in the marina (red shorts) though I was putting out too much of a wake when I was idling out....disrupting his 45'+ sailboat that was docked next to a big housboat. He yelled at me "slow down you're in an idle zone, stop being an ass"...I just idled by and waved. I was idling as slow as the motor would go....4.3mph gps. I hate people like that! I guess my 3" wake was just too much....the darn thing just wouldn't idle any slower! Damn Hippies! (see pic) :icon_bs:

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Once out on the water I spent about two hours running up and down the lake, logging speeds and rpms, and then when I got home I graphed them on a spreadsheet so I could see what it looked like.

I wasn't really all that impressed with the ET. It was very smooth, but slipped a ton coming out of the hole. It did give me a higher top speed than my other prop by 1mph....but other than that, it just wasn't that great. The stock 25 Trophy came out of the hole and accelerated faster than the other props, and was only 2mph shy on the top end. I love that prop! My DAH SRX is fast, and looks to be the best prop for just cruising around with a light load...very efficient at mid range speeds. I don't know if the motor just runs out of pep at 6500 or what....but it pulls pretty hard right up until around 6600rpms...then just won't go any higher...no matter what prop I'm running. Or, maybe it could be my cheap tach? Who knows...:confused:

Overall it was a great day...lots of fun testing props. I think I will get rid of this ET, and stick with my Trophy and SRX. I've tried at least 25-30 other props in the last few years...and I still haven't found anything better than those.

Here are some pics..... :thumbsup:

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[Charger200]

:thumbsup:Thats awsome looks like you had a fun day on the water

[Charger200]

ohh and great Data too:thumbsup: I havent gotten a chance to really test out my trophy but so far i love its, its a 23p and really only got it for water sports and easy cruisin with a full boat, but it hold the hull well accelerates great outta the hole and and keeps its traction at very low on plane speeds

[GregBourne]

Looking at your results, I am having to rethink my new prop purchase, I currently run Trophy 24 (99 200hp mercury, nose cone, jack plate, 2 inch below pad, on a NZ build kevlar constructed Sonic). This set up will spin my current prop well past 6300rpm. I was going to purchase a 27 Trophy, but I am now thinking this will be to big??

[imq707s]

Looking at your results, I am having to rethink my new prop purchase, I currently run Trophy 24 (99 200hp mercury, nose cone, jack plate, 2 inch below pad, on a NZ build kevlar constructed Sonic). This set up will spin my current prop well past 6300rpm. I was going to purchase a 27 Trophy, but I am now thinking this will be to big??

I'm not sure if the 27 would be to big or not. I would love to get my hands on one and test it out though...just to see if that would be the best of both worlds....top speed, midrange cruise efficiency, good hole-shot........

I'm really surprised that a stock 25 Trophy will run within 2mph of a worked DAH SRX. Not sure what it is about them, but they really run awesome...even compared to the other 4-blades I've tried like the OMC Shooters, and OMC Renegades...the Trophy just seems to be much more efficient.

[whipper]

The trophy is arguably the most copied prop ever.:D My 25 is a real good prop also. The 26 Hydromitve is a little better though in the top end dept because it likes to be raised when your up there in speed. Its great that you charted the results. Nice touch.:thumbsup:

[GregBourne]

I am not too concerned about hole shot with my trophy as I use a high five prop for skiing, I want the trophy for a good handling and forgiving "fast" prop.

[stokernick]

no offense,but I don't think I'd compare a Hill et cut with a real ET!

[imq707s]

no offense,but I don't think I'd compare a Hill et cut with a real ET!

I didn't.....I compared it to my SRX, and my Trophy :D :thumbsup:

[PropWash]

....Once out on the water I spent about two hours running up and down the lake, logging speeds and rpms, and then when I got home I graphed them on a spreadsheet so I could see what it looked like....


Nice job on plotting up the results. What did you use to log the data? Is it GPS speed data that is logged by the GPS, or some other method? What about the RPM logging?

[imq707s]

Nice job on plotting up the results. What did you use to log the data? Is it GPS speed data that is logged by the GPS, or some other method? What about the RPM logging?

I wish I would have had some kind of data logger to do all of the work...but I had to do it the old fashion way. I ran the motor to 2000rpms, wrote down GPS speed. Next, up to 2250...wrote down gps speed, next 2500rpms.,...wrote down speed.....and so on. When I got done, I had a whole note book full of rpms and speeds for each prop.

For the acceleration, I used my digital video camera and I recorded the readings on my gps from a dead stop....all the way up through 70mph. I did that for each prop. Then when I got home, I reviewed the videos....and wrote down the MPH for each second during the video...and recorded it on the spreadsheet. I did that for each prop.

I was a real pain in the butt, but I felt that it was the only really good way I could compare my ET to the other props I had. The graphs make it really easy to see what each prop is doing, and how efficient they were at different speeds.

It was a pain...but I think it was well worth it :thumbsup:

[87vantage]

Sounds like you figured out the prop for your boat....I was curious as to how the Shooters did in comparison... I have almost the same boat as you , but with a 200 Pro Max. ( 87 Vantage XT) and just acquired a 25 shooter and should have a 27 on monday to try, I feel sure my rig is a little heavier than yours, but this 25 has been the best prop I have tried so far, getting out of the hole is great and seems to tote a load pretty good. I havent messed with the jackplate yet, But I should be around even or 1/2 in below the pad. Was the speed in the graph your top speed?

[imq707s]

Sounds like you figured out the prop for your boat....I was curious as to how the Shooters did in comparison... I have almost the same boat as you , but with a 200 Pro Max. ( 87 Vantage XT) and just acquired a 25 shooter and should have a 27 on monday to try, I feel sure my rig is a little heavier than yours, but this 25 has been the best prop I have tried so far, getting out of the hole is great and seems to tote a load pretty good. I havent messed with the jackplate yet, But I should be around even or 1/2 in below the pad. Was the speed in the graph your top speed?

When I ran the 4-blade OMC Shooters in the past...then all seemed to slip a lot at low speeds, and wouldn't really "bite" until about 45mph or so. The Trophy is the only prop I've ran that allows me to run at 1" under the pad....and still have enough bit to pull a wakeboarder up with 4 people and a big cooler in the boat. The shooters would just spin and spin coming out of the hole, it would take forever to get on plane. I think I was only getting low 70's with a 25 Shooter....and the 25 Trophy gets me 78. The Renegade props were a little better than the shooters if I remember right...but the Trophy still blows them both away.

Yes, I ran the thing WOT...and the motor just seems to stop pulling at around 6500rpms. All of the speeds listed at 6500rpms were my top speeds with each prop. The ET was 81, SRX was 80.1, and the Trophy was 78.

[PropWash]

For the acceleration, I used my digital video camera and I recorded the readings on my gps from a dead stop....all the way up through 70mph. I did that for each prop. Then when I got home, I reviewed the videos....and wrote down the MPH for each second during the video...and recorded it on the spreadsheet. I did that for each prop.

Good thinking - video camera as a data logger - this method would have worked for the first part too. No need for the notebook, just make some audio notes as you go...

[Charger200]

:iagree: even just record runs as you test a prop with audio, its hard to remember each props characteristics and to be able to talk it out might help find the right prop rather then forget about it after the 3rd test. I wish i lived close enough to decent water to be able to do some constructive testing like this. I think it would better help me get on track for the right prop

jay

[imq707s]

Good thinking - video camera as a data logger - this method would have worked for the first part too. No need for the notebook, just make some audio notes as you go...

Yeah, I thought about trying to use the camera for that. If I could have got the tach and the GPS in view of the camera at the same time, it would have eliminated all of the notes I had to take. I might have to try that next time :D

[JrCRXHF]

What is the small hose on the front of the LWP for?

I just got a 24p Trophy plus i hope to run in the next couple days.

[imq707s]

What is the small hose on the front of the LWP for?

I just got a 24p Trophy plus i hope to run in the next couple days.

It's an L&S nose cone with a built in speedo pickup in the tip....that little tube goes up to the speedo :thumbsup:

[JrCRXHF]

That is a good idea.

Just had not seen it before maybe other have it i just have never noticed.

[WATERWINGS]

It's an L&S nose cone with a built in speedo pickup in the tip....that little tube goes up to the speedo :thumbsup:

I had to carry a little "pin vise" to hold a small drill so I could stop and unplug the tip of the speedo pick up from time to time.

I love my Trophies.

I have the older style 26, (handles the best), the 27 Plus, and the latest, the 28 Plus.

I will do a seperate thread with the differences between these props, as I have for a while, asked the difference between the two, (three).

Now I can answer the questions for ya'll !

BTW....my 27 Trophy ran 95.9 GPS with a 2.4 200.

The 27 is also FASTER than my 30 inline chopper at ALL speeds.

[imq707s]

Thanks for the info.

Which runs faster...the 27 or 28 Trophy? I've been thinking about getting another for top end, my 25 is a great all around prop!

[WATERWINGS]

The 28 is faster, but I broke my good gearcase, so I am stuck with a 2:1 for now, can't really get any top end numbers with the 2:1. (thats why I went to a 28 cause I was tired of having to watch the tach at even UNDER 70 mph)

The 28 doesn't like trim as much as the 27, and it takes off like the hub is spinnin, (if you mat the petal, which I hardle EVER do). The 27 seems to take off stronger if it is matted. (NOTHING so far has compared to an ET in the launch dept...Hoss Triton was next, and Mazco was about 3rd.

The 28 has more bowlift and seems to all of a sudden hook up and shoots the bow to the moon, (accelerating from say 40 to 65)

It feels like it is hooked up, and accelerating, then all of a sudden BOING.....where is my DOWN button?

The 28 likes to be neutral trim, and the 27 likes a little more pos trim.

The 28 has a different blade shape also.

The 28 and the 27 are the same dia., the 26 is smaller dia. believe it or not.

When I am at the house, so I can give a better idea of exact dia numbers, I will start a thread about the differences in these 3 Trophies.

[Riverratt]

What is the difference between the trophy and trophy plus? I am thinking about trying a trophy on my boat since I always travel with a heavy load and don't like surfacing my v8 gearcase.

[WATERWINGS]

I think the regular Trophy was the first one out, (when I got mine it was powder coated blue and it was a demonstrator model, not for sale yet?)

The 26 old style, (smaller dia) stilll handles better than the others, and a different blade shape than the other two.