Prop for Liberator 17

[stray cat]

Does anybody have any ideas on which prop would be best for a Liberator 17? I'm running an old Prov-150 Yammie. I'm sure sombody out there has some experience with these boats. thanks for any help.

[Rusrog]

Contender Tunnel Copy, true tunnel, needle nose with a slight turn up right at the tip...be carefull... Run a cleaver or Yamaha Drag style propeller. Something with very little bow lift. These boats are quick and can run pretty good but will blow-over very easily when you get into the high 80 low 90 range.

What do you do with the boat and what is yor set-up? Is it a ski boat? Have a nose cone? Do you normally go out with the wife and kids aboard? Give us a little more to go on and we can help you out.

Russ Rogers

Ft Worth TX

[stray cat]

I plan on using the Liberator as a general knock around boat. When I picked my hull up at the liberator factory Dave told me that the 17 is a copy of a Starbuck from the early to mid 70s. Im replaceing a 74 Starbuck with this new hull. Ive been told of the possiablity of blowing over with these hulls. My old hull is almost exactly like the new Liberator except the interior is a lot nicer and the motor sits 3 in higher, the prop I was running on the Starbuck is of unknown manufacture. What I do know is that it is a round ear looks like somthing on a stern drive and it supplies a LOT of bow lift. This present prop is a 25p and I will be getting a nose cone from Bobs Machine, need the low water pick up,if I change to a clever or a drag should I change pitch or stay the same or should I just try to be care full and base line with what Ive got thanks Billy

[Steven]

got any pictures of the new ride? like to see it if possible. i have an 86 19 liberator that russ is helping me with. take care, steven

[Rusrog]

It's kind of hard to say what will be your best wheel. That ProV 150 will be a pretty good motor for that boat but I wouldn't use a lot of set back. Maybe 4 in or so. If you get the nose cone yoyu should be able to run a 26 Drag style wheel but a 24 would make it a good ride out of the hole and bottom end. I think those Pro V150 's came with a 2:1 gear so a 26 would get you 68 or 70 at about 6000 rpm. You will just have to play with it and see....

Get a baseline and on performance and you can work with it from there.

Russ Rogers
Ft Worth TX

Steven, I got some heads for you and the weather is gettin' better.... Talk to you soon.

[O/B Dude]

Russ nailed it. Go for a Yamaha drag or drag copy. Great all around prop.