What size props for my 1987 10 Meter Mid-Cabin?

[Unchained]

Hello everyone. I’m trying to decide whether to have my props repaired and balanced at an estimate of $800-$900 for the pair, or just buy new, but I’m not certain if the ones I have are really the correct size anyway. They are Federal 16x16, cupped, Nibral, 3-blade type. Does anyone know what size/type props shipped from the factory? I’m running basically the same stock 454’s with around 350HP each. Any suggestions? I have a dealer suggesting 17x19, 3-blade Nibral which is quite larger than my 16x16’s.

[prowlersfish]

What came from the factory , may not be the best prop . They propped the boat for the highest speed with a light load , new boat . your boat is heavier then when it left the factory , so the prop need maybe different . To find the right prop you need to start with what you have now . Are you getting full rpm at wide open ? if you turning less rpm then rated you need to go down in size , If your turning over rated rpm ( with a diesel you want to be 100 rpm or so over ) then you would go with a larger size . If your 16x16 are even close to right then what the dealer recommends is way to much .

The price for redoing your props BTW seems way to high , like 2x to high .

[tsawyer]

At the advice of some other members, I want with 17x14 4 blades from 17x16 3 blades.

My spares are 16x17 but I've never put them on.

Bobct posted some videos and numbers when he changed his props. Search for that for some more info.

[Unchained]

Thanks for the info, I'll check that out. I did find out that Trojan listed 16x17 super cupped props for the 10 Meter Mid-Cabin. This was in the documentation I had ordered last year from Beacon Marine and didn't notice that before. Thanks Bob! At least I have a reference point now.