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Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 9:24 am
by zedtwentyate
Hello firends,

Now that i've replaced the carb, it's time to move on to a new project. I think it's time for a new prop. I'm concerned that I don't have the correct prop on the boat and its in rough shape (i think). Can anyone offer advice? From what the old search function has told me, I need a 14 x10 on this boat and as you can see in the pictures, this prop is a little ambiguous. Looks like someone stamped over the original size. Maybe it was reworked?

WOT - 3900 RPM @ 20-21 MPH

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Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:03 pm
by prowlersfish
Looks like it was a 13x10 reworked to 13x12 . Your just slightly low on rpm 14x10 would be a good choice but you could always redo the prop to 13x11 and that would give close to the same results .

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:15 pm
by The Dog House
I believe the WOT range for that engine is 3800 - 4200, so it seems you are propped correctly. What is the horsepower rating for the engine? If the engine is only making 200 hp like many 305s of that era, I think the problem may be that the engine is undersized for the boat. My Chrysler 318 making 225 hp is a bit underpowered in my opinion. I'm cruising at 18 mph at 3000 rpm.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:39 pm
by zedtwentyate
The 305 is a 230 hp motor...
The Dog House wrote:I believe the WOT range for that engine is 3800 - 4200, so it seems you are propped correctly. What is the horsepower rating for the engine? If the engine is only making 200 hp like many 305s of that era, I think the problem may be that the engine is undersized for the boat. My Chrysler 318 making 225 hp is a bit underpowered in my opinion. I'm cruising at 18 mph at 3000 rpm.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 12:42 pm
by zedtwentyate
To achieve a nice cruise of 18mph, I would be in the 3500-3600 RPM range...

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 2:26 pm
by Paul
I run a 14 x 9 NiBrAl Cupped on mine with a 350 and a 1 : 1 Velvet drive. Boat's a little heavier that most F-26s however WOT is 4600, cruise at 3600 and 19-20 mph.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:16 pm
by The Dog House
zedtwentyate wrote:To achieve a nice cruise of 18mph, I would be in the 3500-3600 RPM range...
I believe the common prop for a newer F26/F27 is a 14 x 10 cupped prop. The cupping basically makes the prop equivalent to a 14 x 11 uncupped prop. I would think that a 14 x 10 cupped prop should give you ~18 mph at ~3000 rpm, but I'm just guessing. Hopefully someone with a newer (straight inboard) F26/F27 and a 14 x 10 cupped prop can post their performance numbers.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:24 pm
by prowlersfish
The Dog House wrote:
zedtwentyate wrote:To achieve a nice cruise of 18mph, I would be in the 3500-3600 RPM range...
I believe the common prop for a newer F26/F27 is a 14 x 10 cupped prop. The cupping basically makes the prop equivalent to a 14 x 11 uncupped prop. I would think that a 14 x 10 cupped prop should give you ~18 mph at ~3000 rpm, but I'm just guessing. Hopefully someone with a newer (straight inboard) F26/F27 and a 14 x 10 cupped prop can post their performance numbers.

It lists a small cup so that maybe equal to 1/2"" of pitch

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:41 pm
by zedtwentyate
Thank you for all the info. Looks like i need to read a little about props...i have no clue what I'm talking about.

From the sounds of it, I have two options:

1. re work the prop I have
2. Buy a new prop...or a used one.

I saw "Prop Shop" in a few other threads. Is there a reliable one that I should contact? I'm not looking to pay an arm and a leg for a prop for an old boat, but I do understand they aren't cheap!

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:44 pm
by prowlersfish
What area are you in ? I can recc some shops but best to deal local ask your marina or on the dock

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 5:45 pm
by gitchisum
My F26 with a FB ran about 16-18 mph depending on load @ 3100 rpm's This was a 233 mercruiser ( 351 block) 1977 model year. I know I had one cyl that was about 5% behind the the other 7, and I had 4500 hrs on the boat when I sold it. This hull is REALLY sensitive to loading and I ended up with Tab extensions ( basically whale tails!!!) to compensate for having 5-6 people in the cockpit area. ( didnt help that I had 3 downriggers with 15lb weights hanging off the backend)

I was running a cupped 14X10.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 6:28 pm
by zedtwentyate
gitchisum wrote:My F26 with a FB ran about 16-18 mph depending on load @ 3100 rpm's This was a 233 mercruiser ( 351 block) 1977 model year. I know I had one cyl that was about 5% behind the the other 7, and I had 4500 hrs on the boat when I sold it. This hull is REALLY sensitive to loading and I ended up with Tab extensions ( basically whale tails!!!) to compensate for having 5-6 people in the cockpit area. ( didnt help that I had 3 downriggers with 15lb weights hanging off the backend)

I was running a cupped 14X10.

I'm in Syracuse, NY. Maybe there's a forum member who wants to part with a 14x10 pro?

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 10:18 pm
by MattSC
What rotation is your current prop? I switched rotation when I re-powered years ago. I still might have my old RH 14x10 nibral cupped dyna-jet prop laying around Prior to the repower my old 318 cruised around 17-18 knots at 3100 rpm and around 25 at 4000 rpm. That is the Diameter and pitch prop that my boat was shipped from the factory with.

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2015 8:12 pm
by zedtwentyate
Well thanks to MattSC, the boat is now running a 14x10 cupped prop. She runs waaaaaaay better. At 3100 she is doing just about 20MPH. Max seems to be between 24-26 but I can still only get to 3900 RPM. I'm beginning to think there may be an issue with my tach.

Thanks again for all the help. I couldn't have accomplished anything on this boat without you guys!

Re: Prop Help: F27 Mercruiser 305

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:52 am
by The Dog House
zedtwentyate wrote:Well thanks to MattSC, the boat is now running a 14x10 cupped prop. She runs waaaaaaay better. At 3100 she is doing just about 20MPH. Max seems to be between 24-26 but I can still only get to 3900 RPM. I'm beginning to think there may be an issue with my tach.

Thanks again for all the help. I couldn't have accomplished anything on this boat without you guys!
Congratulations! It sounds like your performance is right where it should be. These boats are definitely NOT speed boats. :mrgreen: