Prop Testing - Twin F300's

[Submariner]

Has anyone tried the Channel Surfing edition PowerTech props on twin-engine setups for Cutwater or Solara boats?

My experience:
I recently worked with Reel Salty Bliss on prop testing his Solara S-310-SB with twin Yamaha F300s. From what I understand, that hull is basically the same as the Cutwater C-288. I also know @Rocky Lou ran the same prop setup on his Cutwater 302 and saw similar results.

The numbers are pretty impressive—about a 20% bump in fuel efficiency. Even better, these props really open up the mid-range, so you can cruise slower without falling off plane. That’s a huge win for those choppy afternoons when you want a smoother ride.

My Ranger Tug R27 with a single F300 and the newer model R27's with the F350, as well as the R25 all work well with the SCE style (semi-cleaver), 5 blades.
The Cutwater and Solara boats with twin engines appear to prefer the OFS style (offshore), 5 blades.
According to PowerTech, both the SCE and OFS blade geometries were specifically engineered to provide stern lift.

PowerTech has officially started manufacturing and shipping the Channel Surfing Edition props in both SCE and OFS styles. These props are now produced as a single, all-stainless unit for maximum strength and performance. As a special touch, they’re engraving each one with “Channel Surfing” to recognize the work I’ve done helping them test and validate their design for improved stern lift.

Cutting Through Currents on our Ranger Tug R27 - PowerTech

PowerTech OFS5, 16 pitch, Channel Surfing Edition on a Solara S-310-SB with twin F300's.



Yamaha Saltwater Series II, 15.25", 18 pitch, factory prop on a Solara S-310-SB with twin F300's.



This has got to be one of the best pic's I've seen all year!! (Twin F300's, with OFS5-16 Channel Surfing Edition prop's installed).

 

[Srfnut]

We acquired our PowerTech 5-Blade (OFS 15.25x16) propellers this weekend. (Note: the zinc anode is missing on the right motor; new units are in transit.) Due to low water levels, I will be unable to conduct testing for approximately one month. Once testing is completed, I will publish the results. Thank you, Submariner, for sharing this information online; I would not have been aware of this option without viewing your channel. We were experiencing 47% slip with factory Yamaha SS propellers.

 

[Submariner]

We acquired our PowerTech 5-Blade (OFS 15.25x16) propellers this weekend. (Note: the zinc anode is missing on the right motor; new units are in transit.) Due to low water levels, I will be unable to conduct testing for approximately one month. Once testing is completed, I will publish the results. Thank you, Submariner, for sharing this information online; I would not have been aware of this option without viewing your channel. We were experiencing 47% slip with factory Yamaha SS propellers.

I had to start putting a little blue loctite on that engine trim anode after I lost 2 of them in 3 weeks. Haven't lost another since.

 

[Submariner]

Amazing results...

Twin Engines, 5-blade Props & the Joystick - Fishing and Docking made Simple!

 

[Submariner]

Update: I’m not affiliated with PowerTech and can’t help with orders or support. For the Channel Surfing Edition (SCE5), contact PowerTech directly at stevenl at ptprop dot com.

 

[Kjbraman]

Has anyone tried the Channel Surfing edition PowerTech props on twin-engine setups for Cutwater or Solara boats?

My experience:
I recently worked with Reel Salty Bliss on prop testing his Solara S-310-SB with twin Yamaha F300s. From what I understand, that hull is basically the same as the Cutwater C-288. I also know @Rocky Lou ran the same prop setup on his Cutwater 302 and saw similar results.

The numbers are pretty impressive—about a 20% bump in fuel efficiency. Even better, these props really open up the mid-range, so you can cruise slower without falling off plane. That’s a huge win for those choppy afternoons when you want a smoother ride.

My Ranger Tug R27 with a single F300 and the newer model R27's with the F350, as well as the R25 all work well with the SCE style (semi-cleaver), 5 blades.
The Cutwater and Solara boats with twin engines appear to prefer the OFS style (offshore), 5 blades.
According to PowerTech, both the SCE and OFS blade geometries were specifically engineered to provide stern lift.

PowerTech has officially started manufacturing and shipping the Channel Surfing Edition props in both SCE and OFS styles. These props are now produced as a single, all-stainless unit for maximum strength and performance. As a special touch, they’re engraving each one with “Channel Surfing” to recognize the work I’ve done helping them test and validate their design for improved stern lift.

Cutting Through Currents on our Ranger Tug R27 - PowerTech

PowerTech OFS5, 16 pitch, Channel Surfing Edition on a Solara S-310-SB with twin F300's.
View attachment 26765


Yamaha Saltwater Series II, 15.25", 18 pitch, factory prop on a Solara S-310-SB with twin F300's.
View attachment 26766


This has got to be one of the best pic's I've seen all year!! (Twin F300's, with OFS5-16 Channel Surfing Edition prop's installed).
View attachment 26759

I would be curious what PowerTech recommends for the new R27 with twin 150’s.

 

[Rocky Lou]

While there may be strong similarities between boats of the same make and model, I think each is unique as a fingerprint. In my case, I ran 4 different PowerTech prop options before settling on OFS 16 5 blades with extension tubes. The SCE/Channel Surfing version, for example, did nothing to lift my very heavy stern. My C302c not only has the twin 300s on a pod that sometimes has water in it, 300g of gas that is mostly aft, a heavy generator and I'm usually carrying an XL tuna bag full of ice or other fishy stuff, like a full live well, on the engine pod. Clearly, that's different than most others. Without doing your own trials, I don't see how you get the optimal result and I don't know which versions offer extension tubes as nothing is on the website.

 

[Submariner]

While there may be strong similarities between boats of the same make and model, I think each is unique as a fingerprint. In my case, I ran 4 different PowerTech prop options before settling on OFS 16 5 blades with extension tubes. The SCE/Channel Surfing version, for example, did nothing to lift my very heavy stern. My C302c not only has the twin 300s on a pod that sometimes has water in it, 300g of gas that is mostly aft, a heavy generator and I'm usually carrying an XL tuna bag full of ice or other fishy stuff, like a full live well, on the engine pod. Clearly, that's different than most others. Without doing your own trials, I don't see how you get the optimal result and I don't know which versions offer extension tubes as nothing is on the website.

They can put the extension tubes on any of their props. The one's they are doing it for currently are the OFS5 and the SCE5. But they could also do the 4 blade version of these props as well. I have an OFS4 with an extension tube that we used for testing which I saw 1.8mpg on.

Your testing with twins discovered that the twin F300's preferred the OFS5 in a 16 pitch, with the ext tubes. Technically, the "channel surfing edition" is the extension tube, regardless of whether it's on the OFS or SCE prop's.

Mike put the OFS5-16's with the extension tubes on his Solara S-310-SB and saw immediate results, as you did with your C302.

The OFS and SCE are both designed for stern lift. The OFS is a 15.25" diameter, while the SCE is a 14" diameter. They can do either of them in 15 pitch or greater. The blade geometry is different between the OFS and SCE also.

Ironically, the mid-range for the twin engine boats is about 20-30mph, while the mid-range for us single engine boats is 11-20mph.

The R27 with Twin F150's is going to have to start from scratch to find the prop size. Being 4 cylinder F150's, I suspect it'll be 4 blade props and not 5 blade, with the extension tubes. I don't know if it'll be the OFS or SCE.

 

[Nwdiver]

I have my new 5 bladed props, but I won’t have any data for a bit. I’m pulling my boat out for winter maintenance next week and the props will be put on then

Annual maintenance

• Nwdiver
• Nov 20, 2024