Props to address Cutwater performance

[Rocky Lou]

Good to see the power techs are working out great for other models. One note about the "fear" of changing a prop while in the water......I use a 4 ft diameter inflatable kiddie pool, with three sidewalk tubes. Slide it up under the raised lower unit, anything that falls falls into the bottom. I even use it to periodically check the shaft seal for leakage. If only I could figure out how to change the lower unit oil using it.

I can't figure out the lower unit either. The only idea I had was borrowing a neighbor's hydraulic lift. If there was one that was the right size.

 

[Jcat2010]

The only "practical" option that I've used on smaller outboards is to hoist the engine up with a lift mounted on deck, but out umbilical isn't long enough to clear the water; and even with a 115 HP that was not the easiest, but it did work. I have seen boats where the outboards are on a jack plate, and the lower unit, vertical, can be out of the water, but that's not my tugs either

I'm not giving up yet, there's a way but it will never allow the water pump replacement, that's gotta be a haul out.

 

[Rocky Lou]

A buddy of mine, who is a jet mechanic, did my impellers once in a way that I would never recommend. We backed the boat into shallow water and he pulled them off to do the work. The lower units on 300s should not be carried through moving waters by anyone who is not a champion weight lifter. He did it since another guy suggested it and his manliness did the rest, but, pulled a muscle doing so.

 

[cliffm]

Interesting to see the drop in pitch actually lower the GPH burn and raise the MPH.

 

[Rocky Lou]

I'm told that the extension tubes provide some level of stern lift so I was able to go with a slightly smaller prop which delivered slightly higher RPM at WOT.

 

[Submariner]

A few folks have had their exhaust extension fall off. PowerTech has replaced them as a courtesy, at no charge. However, changes are coming...

Channel Surfing Edition Prop - Changes are coming...

 

[TomM7986]

Just wanted to add my experience with prop change. I have a 2022 Cutwater C32 C with twin F300 Yamaha’s. I got a recommendation from Ken at Propgods and upgraded to Power Tech 4 blade 16P.

I’ve only run the new props for a little over a month but have seen measurable improvements in cruise rpm, speed, burn and prop slip.

Best rpm is 4400 down from 4600 and the riding attitude improved with better stern lift. I’ve initially focused on the cruising rpm range with roughly similar conditions and 200g of fuel and no tabs.

New Props Analysis

Original Stock 3 Blade:
4400 30.2mph 31.6gph 0.96mpg Slip 33.23%

New Power Tech 4 Blade:
4400 31.2mph 29.6gph 1.06mpg Slip 18.09%

Difference:
+1.0mph +3.3%
-2.0gph +6.3%
+0.1mpg 10.4%

New cruising rpm averages:
4200 27.5mph 27.1gph 1.01mpg Slip 24.36%
4400 31.2mph 29.6gph 1.06mpg Slip 18.09%
4600 32.4mph 34.6gph 0.936mpg Slip 18.63%

One issue I noticed is the fuel burn difference between the standard & counter rotating motors. The counter burns @ 2.5g/8% more fuel. Not sure how normal this is but I have experienced a higher burn in a HydraSport 33 with trip ETec 250s. The one counter burned more but I need to find my old data to compare

Tom

 

[Rocky Lou]

Just wanted to add my experience with prop change. I have a 2022 Cutwater C32 C with twin F300 Yamaha’s. I got a recommendation from Ken at Propgods and upgraded to Power Tech 4 blade 16P.

I’ve only run the new props for a little over a month but have seen measurable improvements in cruise rpm, speed, burn and prop slip.

Best rpm is 4400 down from 4600 and the riding attitude improved with better stern lift. I’ve initially focused on the cruising rpm range with roughly similar conditions and 200g of fuel and no tabs.

New Props Analysis

Original Stock 3 Blade:
4400 30.2mph 31.6gph 0.96mpg Slip 33.23%

New Power Tech 4 Blade:
4400 31.2mph 29.6gph 1.06mpg Slip 18.09%

Difference:
+1.0mph +3.3%
-2.0gph +6.3%
+0.1mpg 10.4%

New cruising rpm averages:
4200 27.5mph 27.1gph 1.01mpg Slip 24.36%
4400 31.2mph 29.6gph 1.06mpg Slip 18.09%
4600 32.4mph 34.6gph 0.936mpg Slip 18.63%

One issue I noticed is the fuel burn difference between the standard & counter rotating motors. The counter burns @ 2.5g/8% more fuel. Not sure how normal this is but I have experienced a higher burn in a HydraSport 33 with trip ETec 250s. The one counter burned more but I need to find my old data to compare

Tom

I'm presuming these are the OFS 4s vs. the SCE 4s that I tried. The 4 blades did little to improve performance for me and, after trying several different prop sets, I ended up with PowerTech OFS: 5 blade 16 inch with EXT. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm thrilled with the results and feel the change qualifies as 'it's like a new boat'.