Prop question

**Coon Krazy** · 09-02-2019, 08:52 PM

I have a 90 Stratos 285 pro. (19 foot). 150 2.5. Running a 25 pitch small hub ballistic. It’s turning around 5500 rpm. I’m wanting to try to turn it up to 6000. I’m having trouble figuring out what pitch big hub I need To try. Thinking about trying a chopper prop also. Any help on what pitch to try.

**Merc 2.5** · 09-02-2019, 09:11 PM

Do you have a jackplate? Do you have low water pick ups? Water pressure guage? Temp guage?

**Coon Krazy** · 09-02-2019, 09:16 PM

No jack plate. No low water pick up. Stock 2.5. I have A water pressure gauge. No temp gauge. I’m just needing a starting point going from a small hub prop to a big hub prop. I’m sure there will be a big difference but do I need To go down in pitch or up in pitch going from small hub to big hub.

**Merc 2.5** · 09-02-2019, 09:25 PM

For starters , chopper prop wont work like suppose to w/o lwpu , when u say small hub to big hub. U talking prop diameter? Or thru hub or over hub props? Over hub props wont give u best performance with ur set up

**Coon Krazy** · 09-02-2019, 09:31 PM

I don’t know much about props but the prop I have Now is a 25 4 blade ballistic that came off a small gear case. The hub is smaller than the prop that was on it. That’s all I know. I have Awesome hole shot.. awesome bow lift. GPS 56-57 at 5500. I’m wanting to turn closer to 6000 but I tried A 24 3 blade lazer 2 small hub and it ran the same rpm but I lost Top end.

**Merc 2.5** · 09-03-2019, 06:37 AM

I'd take the 25 to a prop shop and tell them u need few more rpm , b cheaper than buying props

**Tagg** · 09-03-2019, 03:24 PM

I have the same prop on my 94 procraft 180 pro. I too am a little low on rpm. I got this prop years ago from a friend that was an engineer for Michigan wheel. I literally just asked him about working this prop down last week. He suggested not doing it due to the blade thickness. I plan on buying a 23 4 blade ballistic as this prop has worked good on 2 different boats for me.

**Merc 2.5** · 09-03-2019, 03:45 PM

People have their preference, but I had a ballistic in that brand and wasnt very impressed, try tempest or trophy, both fast props with good lift

**Tagg** · 09-03-2019, 06:03 PM

I was all set to buy a tempest until I put my Lazer 2 back on it yesterday & realized I don't want a 3 blade. I remembered trying a 3 blade on my other boat (stratos 385v/ 200 2.4) & hated it. Got the same feeling with the Lazer. Trophy is a possibility but this ballistic hooks up hard. I've raised the motor on the procraft to 3 1/4 below & still can't break it loose with maximum trim. The Lazer basically is slipping all the time.

**David** · 09-03-2019, 07:55 PM

It's hard to beat a used Trophy for the money. I would start there. 24". Small hub.

buying new, I would call Hydromotive

**SS Minnow** · 09-03-2019, 09:17 PM

FWIW, I had trouble getting my 1990 140 looper over 5600 rpm. Just would not do it. A 24p raker, a 21p renegade or a 17p stv (omc 3 blade, name might be wrong). They would all hit 5600 rpm but not go over. So, over the winter I replaced the reeds with Chris Carsons, lapped the cages to 200g, and also changed out my fuel pump, with an original OMC, non VRO off of ebay, that I did not rebuild until later in the summer. The reeds were rated as recreational and that they would only be good to 6000 rpm.

Now I have the same results with all props, will only turn to 6k rpm. 24p hits 60, 21p will get 55, 17p about 45, with different acceleration, handling characteristics. The 24p I run alone, the 21p is when I have passengers, the 17p is when people want to ski or I am on small water.

Point to all of this? 30 year old motor, is it all good on the inside? Reeds are a wear item. Stock reeds were........meh at best.

**Tagg** · 09-03-2019, 09:44 PM

In my case, the procraft has a 175 xri that I'm at about 5 hours on breakin so I'm not really on it hard for very long. 15 overbore, pistons, rings, rods, mains & seals with Chris Carson Reed's & lapped cages. Still running 25-1 oil too so not really ideal condition for prop testing but the difference between the Lazer 2 & the ballistic is pretty Stark. The Lazer is old tech so I didn't expect much out of it but it's pretty bad.