Cheaper alternative to the $5000 Mercury CNC propeller

[WILDMAN]

Here's a less expensive alternative on the $5000 mercury CNC prop that puts an extra 8-10 mph on the new Mercury 300R V8 outboard. First of all, I have never bought a Hill Propeller in my entire life. I've never heard of any big numbers from their props.
Mike Hill called me a couple weeks ago and asked if I'd be willing to test a new prop they just developed to run on the new 300R motors. I said sure, why not. I also told him that I would post all the results, positive or negative.
Chad Hill sent me two 34" x !5.5" 5 blade over the hub cleavers to try on a 21 Liberator cat. One had 15 degree rake and the other was 20 degree. There was 15-20 mph winds and I was on my little 1.25 mile long test lake, so conditions were not ideal. Let me start out by saying the 20 degree sucked. Ran 99 and had to trim down to keep it off the limiter. Only ran 48 at 4000 rpm. Now on the other hand, The 15 degree prop was incredible. I ran it and the Mercury CNC back to back. The Mercury was faster by 4 100ths of a mph!! Both ran 111.10 mph on gps. You can see in the last pic that the trim was minimal.
Now the price! Mercury's prop is $5000-$5500. This prop is $2380. I will be selling them for $2150 to your door. Cheapest 8-10 mph you'll ever see.

[eli]

That is great news we have an option now for props. Great job. In the pic cutting paper I always Dred parking at the beach and have some dumb onlooker walk up and get sliced on the leg by the prop and getting sued so now I park off the beach. Toss the anchor and they don't get to nosy

[oldschoolltv]

Nice, was cutting the paper a symbolism of cutting your prop cost in half.

[Double Rigged]

Randy, do you know if they offer in 30” pitch w/15 degree rake?
Would need LH also.

[mr fun]

5000.00 for a Frieking propeller, are they out of their FN minds? I realize a Rolex is not what sold for what it was 10 yrs ago. but everybody is working for less than 10 yrs ago and absorbing these price increases. piss on this schit, I'm buying real estate. fun out

[AZMIDLYF]

Randy, do you know if they offer in 30” pitch w/15 degree rake?
Would need LH also.

Our new 5 blade Signature Cleavers are on the way! Taking pre-orders now for January 2019!!! These new beauties will be available in 28-34 pitch, 14 1/2-15 1/2 inch diameter, 15° & 20° rake angle, and with a standard built-in 19 Spline. Priced at $2350 coming with a 1 year limited warranty as well as a one-time FREE exchange! Give us a call to pre-order yours today!

https://www.facebook.com/Hill-Marine-Products-132747386789032/

[WILDMAN]

Yes, Chad told me 29-36". They also do LH. I'm ordering a couple pairs of 36's for my 25 Liberators.

Randy, do you know if they offer in 30” pitch w/15 degree rake?
Would need LH also.

[schiadart]

Our new 5 blade Signature Cleavers are on the way! Taking pre-orders now for January 2019!!! These new beauties will be available in 28-34 pitch, 14 1/2-15 1/2 inch diameter, 15° & 20° rake angle, and with a standard built-in 19 Spline. Priced at $2350 coming with a 1 year limited warranty as well as a one-time FREE exchange! Give us a call to pre-order yours today!

https://www.facebook.com/Hill-Marine-Products-132747386789032/

Chad was very cool on the phone today. Looking forward to them getting one in my pitch, finished, and ready to sell. It would really suck if I had to spend more money with Mercury at a tune of 5 grand.

[Tin Man 2]

The world has indeed gone crazy, things no longer sell for what they cost to produce, products now sell for what they can get for them. I believe low interest rates have allowed sellers to get more money for things because the payments remain low. There have always been premium products that only the wealthy can afford. But today everyone wants premium.

[JPEROG]

The world has indeed gone crazy, things no longer sell for what they cost to produce, products now sell for what they can get for them. I believe low interest rates have allowed sellers to get more money for things because the payments remain low. There have always been premium products that only the wealthy can afford. But today everyone wants premium.

Supply and demand will always dictate market prices. As more guys step into the ring of making propellers that work for the new cases, there will be less demand for the original product. That being said, Mercury was the company that spent the time and money with their engineers to develop a propeller that would stay together and far outperform anything else out there-( now the world is going to follow). It would be interesting to know just how much money was spent in R & D along with the tooling cost for trial and error castings "my guess is that they have not made the money that everyone might think on this particular product".

Joe

[Beak Boater]

Great that they worked out so well for you. Great savings if the longevity is their. If they start slinging blades it wont be much of a savings. Hill has been making props a long time so I don't think that will be an issue. Interesting to see the effects of rake on the performance of the prop. Running them back to back.

[4Speed]

Is this the same "Hill" that makes the 3 blade Buckshot cleaver?

[CUDA]

Wildman, what prop worked best when you ran a 300XS on that 21?

[engineermike]

Supply and demand will always dictate market prices. As more guys step into the ring of making propellers that work for the new cases, there will be less demand for the original product. That being said, Mercury was the company that spent the time and money with their engineers to develop a propeller that would stay together and far outperform anything else out there-( now the world is going to follow). It would be interesting to know just how much money was spent in R & D along with the tooling cost for trial and error castings "my guess is that they have not made the money that everyone might think on this particular product".

Joe

It honestly shocks me how much anti-free market sentiment resides on this forum.

[powerabout]

Tooling for the lost wax stainless props is easy and simple.
Making lots of different ones to determine what works took time and money
Is the Merc a cnc from billet or a CNC finished casting?