Stiletto props

[captain kirk]

I bought a new Triton Bass boat in Feburary 09 from a local dealer. The Mercury Optimax came with a stainless Stiletto prop. I ran this prop for the first twenty hours but the motor kept hitting the limiter. The dealer replaced the prop with a larger pitch, another Stiletto stainless. I picked up some vibration between a 1000 and 2000 RPMs. I took a good look a it and it seem to me to be a welder prop, not a casted one, like the dealer claimed it to be. I also setup a dial indicator and checked the run out at the rear, just behind the blades, which was .058ths., also checked each blade and found one leading the other two by .045ths. Dealer replaced the prop with another one of the same, still claiming it to be a casted prop. This one has a run out of .023ths. and two blades leading the other by .045ths. I believe this prop to be welded because of the under cuts at the end of the blades, it is also made of a magnetic materal which is usually a cheap grade of stainless. I will appreciate any knowledge that anyone might have on this and if these variations even matter. Also your opinion of Stiletto props.

 

[Guest]

I dont know anything about those props, but usually, you wont get a "perfect" one out of the box. You could take it to a prop shop and let them even it up, or buy a high dollar prop that has already been balanced.

 

[wrechin2]

I agree, very, very few props are going to be perfect, or anywhere near perfect, out of the box. I had a friend bought a cleaver racing prop that was unfinished and paid $1500 and then spent nearly $500 getting it lab finished. He had right at 2K in just a prop and that was in the 80's. If you want it perfect, it will have to be lab finished and will cost more than the prop did. It would surprise you how a prop is balanced. Also if the ends of the blades were welded, you would not be able to tell. watch the video at bottom. It shows the complete process of a prop being repaired. </p>

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Are you having a vibration at low speeds? It may just be the way the prop is trying to "bite". I have dealt with that on so many boats. Have a vibration that can be felt at high idle and not on plane, like hurring through a no wake zone. Change props and the vibration goes away or changes at what RPM it comes in. Different props react differently in all aspects. JMO..... </p>

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eq9PwAgDroQ&feature=player_embedded </p>

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[captain kirk]

When I refer to the prop as a welded prop I am talking about the procedure used to put the blades on the hub as opposed to a completely poured unit. It kindly irks me to pay the price that these boats cost and end up with a piece of junk, the cheapest thing they can find, on the business end of it.

 

[wrechin2]

I am pretty sure they are not weld on blades but casted on. Call Tim and Billy at Performance Propeller and ask them.