Props to address Cutwater performance

[ucarrasquilla]

Does anybody know the difference between the Power Tech OFS5 and SCE5 in terms of performance?
I have a Cutwater c-32 coupe. The c-32 refuses to get on a plane below 27 knots. It also drinks gas heavily between 6 and 26 knots.
I normally cruise Puget Sound, the San Juan and Gulf Islands. My prefered speed would be between 15 and 26 knots.
Or should I be considering a different set of props? I normally fill up full and run to half empty. I keep the water tank mostly half full.
I normally don't load much since my wife and I end up eating at the different locations we visit.
Between my wife and I we weight 300 pounds.
Also, anybody knows how to get the attention of the people at Power Tech.
I have tried contacting them via their Web Site contact-us request, e-mail, phone call to the operator who connected me to a sales person's voice mail. Two weeks and no response.
I am trying to get the ext-tube welded as recommended in this forum. A distributor in Anarcortes indicated I would need to talk to Power Tech to get it done.
If it is not Power Tech, is there any other competing product?

 

[WWIProps]

I got a hold of the receptionist at the PowerTech front desk and she put me in touch with John Parker who was very helpful. I have a Cutwater 32CB and just installed the OFS5 CSE. I am not quite ready to publish my data as I have not had a really smooth day to properly compare the new props to my factory setup data. Preliminary results shows my performance is pretty much in line with Mike and Sarah's Solara 31 data. I have lost about 3-5mph (51mph down to 47mph) off of the top end speed and have seen significant efficiency gains around 42-4400 rpm. The hole shot is great and I get on a plane around 3400 rpm/21mph/.96gph. I cruise at 4200rpm/33mph/1.2gph. I am surprised the counter rotating prop (starboard) engine is burning more fuel in the midrange than the standard rotation (port side) which did not present with the original props. The WOT and below 2500rpm fuel consumption is the same on each engine. The boat seems to run flatter with the new props. Again, I need to do some more testing with slack tide and smooth water.

Overall I am very pleased and I recommend the upgrade.

 

[Submariner]

Does anybody know the difference between the Power Tech OFS5 and SCE5 in terms of performance?
I have a Cutwater c-32 coupe. The c-32 refuses to get on a plane below 27 knots. It also drinks gas heavily between 6 and 26 knots.
I normally cruise Puget Sound, the San Juan and Gulf Islands. My prefered speed would be between 15 and 26 knots.
Or should I be considering a different set of props? I normally fill up full and run to half empty. I keep the water tank mostly half full.
I normally don't load much since my wife and I end up eating at the different locations we visit.
Between my wife and I we weight 300 pounds.
Also, anybody knows how to get the attention of the people at Power Tech.
I have tried contacting them via their Web Site contact-us request, e-mail, phone call to the operator who connected me to a sales person's voice mail. Two weeks and no response.
I am trying to get the ext-tube welded as recommended in this forum. A distributor in Anarcortes indicated I would need to talk to Power Tech to get it done.
If it is not Power Tech, is there any other competing product?

Full disclosure: PowerTech is a channel sponsor.

The difference between the SCE and the OFS is blade geometry and diameter. SCE is a 14” diameter, OFS is 15.25” diameter.

I have spoken with and/or worked with owners on a C-288 (Twin F250’s), C302 (Twin F300’s) and a Solara S-310-SB (Twin F300’s). All these boats worked well with a pair of OFS5-16-EXT (OFS, 5 blade, 16 pitch, with the Exhaust Tube/Channel Surfing edition). The C302 performed fantastic with a pair of the OFS5-16-EXT’s. I suspect your C32 will perform similar.

I have all this documented, as well as specific information about ordering published on our website.
Https://csurf.co/powertech

The Channel Surfing edition prop’s are only available direct from PowerTech. They take 8-10 weeks to make once ordered. PowerTech hasn’t released them to the dealer network so no prop shop’s can assist. The prop’s are also patent-pending (the exhaust tube is the patent pending). PowerTech welds them together as the original 3 piece install wasn’t nearly as popular. The exhaust tube’s primary function is to improve fuel efficiency, stern lift, in the mid-range RPM band.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

 

[Rocky Lou]

There's quite a lot of data published on specific performance numbers that various folks have achieved. The net of if in my case is that I tried a slew of props from Sharrow and PowerTech and settled on the OFS5/16 with extension tubes (referenced on website above). The SCE props did nothing to lift my stern heavy boat with twin engines, generator, full gas tanks and sometimes a tuna bag on the swim platform. Changing to the PowerTech props was like getting a new boat.

 

[ucarrasquilla]

Thank you all for your response. I contacted John Parker@ Power Tech via e-mail.

 

[Lrob32CB]

I got a hold of the receptionist at the PowerTech front desk and she put me in touch with John Parker who was very helpful. I have a Cutwater 32CB and just installed the OFS5 CSE. I am not quite ready to publish my data as I have not had a really smooth day to properly compare the new props to my factory setup data. Preliminary results shows my performance is pretty much in line with Mike and Sarah's Solara 31 data. I have lost about 3-5mph (51mph down to 47mph) off of the top end speed and have seen significant efficiency gains around 42-4400 rpm. The hole shot is great and I get on a plane around 3400 rpm/21mph/.96gph. I cruise at 4200rpm/33mph/1.2gph. I am surprised the counter rotating prop (starboard) engine is burning more fuel in the midrange than the standard rotation (port side) which did not present with the original props. The WOT and below 2500rpm fuel consumption is the same on each engine. The boat seems to run flatter with the new props. Again, I need to do some more testing with slack tide and smooth water.
View attachment 27662View attachment 27663
Overall I am very pleased and I recommend the upgrade.

Good morning. I recently purchased a 2021 Cutwater 32 CB, and I am planning to install a Nizpro economy tune and upgrade the propellers.

Have you had an opportunity to get a better gauge on your fuel economy since installing the PowerTech OFS5 CSE props? I am particularly interested in your cruising efficiency around 4,200 to 4,400 RPM.

Also, did you install the exhaust extensions with the new props?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

 

[Mike and Sarah]

I got a hold of the receptionist at the PowerTech front desk and she put me in touch with John Parker who was very helpful. I have a Cutwater 32CB and just installed the OFS5 CSE. I am not quite ready to publish my data as I have not had a really smooth day to properly compare the new props to my factory setup data. Preliminary results shows my performance is pretty much in line with Mike and Sarah's Solara 31 data. I have lost about 3-5mph (51mph down to 47mph) off of the top end speed and have seen significant efficiency gains around 42-4400 rpm. The hole shot is great and I get on a plane around 3400 rpm/21mph/.96gph. I cruise at 4200rpm/33mph/1.2gph. I am surprised the counter rotating prop (starboard) engine is burning more fuel in the midrange than the standard rotation (port side) which did not present with the original props. The WOT and below 2500rpm fuel consumption is the same on each engine. The boat seems to run flatter with the new props. Again, I need to do some more testing with slack tide and smooth water.
View attachment 27662View attachment 27663
Overall I am very pleased and I recommend the upgrade.

On our Solara 310 starboard engine burns about 2 gph more than port. But For the extra gallons per hour we found trimming both engines to 3 bars then going 1-2 bars higher on the starboard brings the gph inline with each other. We used to have to put 5 or more gallons in the starboard tank and now pretty much the same gallons in each tank.
We do have the ofs5 CSE 15.25 x 16 pitch

 

[WWIProps]

Good morning. I recently purchased a 2021 Cutwater 32 CB, and I am planning to install a Nizpro economy tune and upgrade the propellers.

Have you had an opportunity to get a better gauge on your fuel economy since installing the PowerTech OFS5 CSE props? I am particularly interested in your cruising efficiency around 4,200 to 4,400 RPM.

Also, did you install the exhaust extensions with the new props?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

Hi Lrob32CB,

I am very happy with the props with the extensions. We just did a 365 mile trip to Acadia National Park and averaged 1.1mpg. When it is reasonably smooth out I run at 4400 rpm, 3 bars up tilt on the port engine and 4 bars up on the starboard engine giving me 35mph +/-. The engine trim profile evens out my fuel flow between the two engines, trimmed equally my starboard engine burns more than the port, IDK why. On a perfect day I can get 1.2mpg.

We had a pretty rough first day going to Acadia. We ran mostly 25mph still making 1.1mpg and pretty comfortable. I was very happy to have the 5 blade props get me on a plane earlier than the 3 blades. I lose 5 mph off of the top speed but it is well worth improved efficiency and wider cruising speed range.

 

[Submariner]

I made a run from Everett to Desolation Sound (Cortes Bay, BC) this past Saturday. Sunday looked awful, so we decided to make a run for it. We left at 6:00am and dropped anchor at 4:20pm.

225 miles, 10.2 hours driving, on 135 gallons of gas. PowerTech SCE5R15 CSE and the NizPro Eco Tune. 1.67mpg averaged for the entire trip. Wind gusts were 10 knots, going the same direction as the tide. We ran against them for most of the day which makes that 1.67mpg even better. I did hit 1.9mpg towards the last part of the trip, briefly, during slack. 3 adults, 3 dogs, full water tank, full gas tank, 1/2 full black water tank...

When I got back from Alaska, with an average of 1.3mpg, I went on a journey to figure out how to squeeze more range between fuel docks for off-grid cruising in Alaska. The number I set out to hit was 1.6mpg, average, with our boat weighted, tides, currents, all factored into that average.

Channel Surfing is ready for SE Alaska, Season 2, leaving May 2027....

 

[Lrob32CB]

Hi Lrob32CB,

I am very happy with the props with the extensions. We just did a 365 mile trip to Acadia National Park and averaged 1.1mpg. When it is reasonably smooth out I run at 4400 rpm, 3 bars up tilt on the port engine and 4 bars up on the starboard engine giving me 35mph +/-. The engine trim profile evens out my fuel flow between the two engines, trimmed equally my starboard engine burns more than the port, IDK why. On a perfect day I can get 1.2mpg.

We had a pretty rough first day going to Acadia. We ran mostly 25mph still making 1.1mpg and pretty comfortable. I was very happy to have the 5 blade props get me on a plane earlier than the 3 blades. I lose 5 mph off of the top speed but it is well worth improved efficiency and wider cruising speed range.

Thanks for the prompt response and for sharing your real-world performance data. It sounds like the 5-blade props with the exhaust extensions have been a great upgrade.

Anything over 1.0 MPG on a 32CB is a bonus in my book. My plan is to upgrade to the 5-blade PowerTech props as soon as possible. I'm also installing the Nizpro Economy Tune, so I'll be interested to see how the tune and the new props work together. I'll be sure to let you know what kind of performance and fuel economy I end up with once everything is installed.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It has been very helpful.

 

[ucarrasquilla]

Please excuse my ignorance, what is the NizPro Eco Tune?
I put in an order for the Power Tech props about a month ago. I was given a minimum of 10 weeks for delivery.

 

[Lrob32CB]

Please excuse my ignorance, what is the NizPro Eco Tune?
I put in an order for the Power Tech props about a month ago. I was given a minimum of 10 weeks for delivery.

The NizPro Eco Tune is an ECU reflash for the Yamaha engines that optimizes the fuel, ignition, and throttle mapping. The primary goal is to improve fuel efficiency while also providing a modest increase in horsepower and torque. On the Yamaha F300s, most owners report about a 10–15% improvement in fuel economy, especially in the mid-range cruising RPMs, while still being able to run on 87-octane fuel. It isn't intended to make the boat significantly faster—it's designed to increase range and reduce fuel consumption. https://nizpromarine.com/

 

[Submariner]

Please excuse my ignorance, what is the NizPro Eco Tune?
I put in an order for the Power Tech props about a month ago. I was given a minimum of 10 weeks for delivery.

The NizPro Eco tune is an ECU flash, differnet fuel injection timing on the Yamaha. Nizpro has had their "performance" tune, which boosts an F300 from 300hp to 332hp, but requires 89 octane fuel once flashed. Puget Sound and SJI's don't have 89 octane at most fuel docks. NizPro recently released their "eco" tune, which boosts the 300hp to 315hp, and is designed for 87 octane fuel.

NizPro is a pure fuel efficiency play, whereas the prop improves hole shot and reverse thrust (for docking) and most importantly, provides mid-range for that afternoon chop, 2-3 foot seas. The prop will improve fuel efficiency as well, but paired with the NizPro, it's a solid combination.

 

[ucarrasquilla]

Martin, thank you. Would the ECU update void the Yamaha warranty?

 

[Submariner]

Martin, thank you. Would the ECU update void the Yamaha warranty?

Disclosure: Rogue Custom Marine tuned my engine at no charge — that's the only in-kind service I've received. No other compensation or sponsorship exists. PowerTech became a paid sponsor of our YouTube channel this year. My prop testing was conducted before that relationship began. At that time, I was an unaffiliated boater with no financial ties to PowerTech.

Yamaha's official statement (I've read it) says that if you do something to the engine that increases HP, and that results in damage to the engine, they won't cover the damage caused (obviously). Their statement also calls out routine maintenance items which may also call the warranty into question, such as changing your own timing belt. Their verbiage is wrapped around service items that require extensive disassembly of the engine. Oil changes, filters, spark plugs, thermostats are 100% DIY.

NizPro's Eco tune boosts my F300 to an F315 and requires 87 octane fuel. I'm not going to notice 15HP, but I do notice the fuel efficiency improvements. The octane thing is an interesting one. The Yamaha factory ECU tune is designed for 89 octane which isn't prevalent throughout Puget Sound. So I've been putting in 87 octane into a factory Yamaha designed for 89 octane. Yamaha states this is 'ok' as the engine will detune itself as necessary. But now I have a NizPro tune designed for 87 octane which is what I run most of the time, and I can still put in 89 octane (like in Canada or SE Alaska), without any gain nor negative consequence.

I have 50 engine hours so far on the NizPro tune, and will have a published datasheet of my results at the end of this boating season to compare to last years season to compare Powertech prop vs PowerTech+NizPro.

 

[ucarrasquilla]

Disclosure: Rogue Custom Marine tuned my engine at no charge — that's the only in-kind service I've received. No other compensation or sponsorship exists. PowerTech became a paid sponsor of our YouTube channel this year. My prop testing was conducted before that relationship began. At that time, I was an unaffiliated boater with no financial ties to PowerTech.

Yamaha's official statement (I've read it) says that if you do something to the engine that increases HP, and that results in damage to the engine, they won't cover the damage caused (obviously). Their statement also calls out routine maintenance items which may also call the warranty into question, such as changing your own timing belt. Their verbiage is wrapped around service items that require extensive disassembly of the engine. Oil changes, filters, spark plugs, thermostats are 100% DIY.

NizPro's Eco tune boosts my F300 to an F315 and requires 87 octane fuel. I'm not going to notice 15HP, but I do notice the fuel efficiency improvements. The octane thing is an interesting one. The Yamaha factory ECU tune is designed for 89 octane which isn't prevalent throughout Puget Sound. So I've been putting in 87 octane into a factory Yamaha designed for 89 octane. Yamaha states this is 'ok' as the engine will detune itself as necessary. But now I have a NizPro tune designed for 87 octane which is what I run most of the time, and I can still put in 89 octane (like in Canada or SE Alaska), without any gain nor negative consequence.

I have 50 engine hours so far on the NizPro tune, and will have a published datasheet of my results at the end of this boating season to compare to last years season to compare Powertech prop vs PowerTech+NizPro.

View attachment 27836

Thank you Martin. I am probably better off to wait out my warranty.

 

[Lrob32CB]

Thanks for the prompt response and for sharing your real-world performance data. It sounds like the 5-blade props with the exhaust extensions have been a great upgrade.

Anything over 1.0 MPG on a 32CB is a bonus in my book. My plan is to upgrade to the 5-blade PowerTech props as soon as possible. I'm also installing the Nizpro Economy Tune, so I'll be interested to see how the tune and the new props work together. I'll be sure to let you know what kind of performance and fuel economy I end up with once everything is installed.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. It has been very helpful.

Hi Lrob32CB,

I am very happy with the props with the extensions. We just did a 365 mile trip to Acadia National Park and averaged 1.1mpg. When it is reasonably smooth out I run at 4400 rpm, 3 bars up tilt on the port engine and 4 bars up on the starboard engine giving me 35mph +/-. The engine trim profile evens out my fuel flow between the two engines, trimmed equally my starboard engine burns more than the port, IDK why. On a perfect day I can get 1.2mpg.

We had a pretty rough first day going to Acadia. We ran mostly 25mph still making 1.1mpg and pretty comfortable. I was very happy to have the 5 blade props get me on a plane earlier than the 3 blades. I lose 5 mph off of the top speed but it is well worth improved efficiency and wider cruising speed range.

One last question: what pitch and size props did you install?

 

[WWIProps]

OFS 5 15.25 x 16 CSE (Extension tube)