R27-OB Propeller Testing <-- RESULTS are IN!

[gregc]

A friend of mine with his brand new 2025 R27-OB LE, with the dinghy lift and less than 20 hours on the engine... SCE5 Modified, Channel Surfing edition. He ran the boat from Everett to Oak Harbor yesterday. Wasn't great weather, but wasn't bad. What you might expect for March in the Pacific Northwest. He txted me a photo of his dashboard/chartplotter. 62.3 miles on 36.0 gallons of gas. 1.73mpg averaged for the trip. He rode mostly at 30mph. His exhaust tube didn't fall off this time. 😀

We used a lot of loctite, and let the prop sit out of the water for several days to ensure the loctite had time to set.
Also, I swapped out his prop by simply backing the boat into the dock as pictured.

View attachment 25029

I am seriously seriously considering doing this mod.

 

[kurtwitte]

I am seriously seriously considering doing this mod.

Hi all and thanks for the wonderful info. I just took delivery of my SCE5 prop in Colorado. It will be months B 4 I can install it on my R27 in Washington. Question: I was planning on using it within 12 hours of installation. Do I need to worry about the tube falling off??

 

[Submariner]

Hi all and thanks for the wonderful info. I just took delivery of my SCE5 prop in Colorado. It will be months B 4 I can install it on my R27 in Washington. Question: I was planning on using it within 12 hours of installation. Do I need to worry about the tube falling off??

If you have the prop, put it together today using loctite. Then install it onto the boat in months. It doesn't need to be assembled on the boat. (i.e. put the exhaust extension on, and the 1" diffuser). Then when you get to the boat in a few months, just swap the prop on the boat.

I lost the first prototype as it was assembled without any loctite at all. A friend of mine lost his, he didn't use as much loctite as he saw me use when I put his second one together for him. He also didn't go around and re-tighten them after initially assembly. So yes, if it's not put together tight with loctite, the extension tube can fall off. The prop isn't gonna fall off the boat, and the prop will get you home fine without the exhaust tube. The tube extension improves fuel efficiency and stern lift between 3,000 and 4,000 RPM. above 4,000 RPM, the prop works the same as without it. The exhaust extensions are inexpensive.

 

[Submariner]

Today was the day. 70 degrees outside, sunshine! Took Channel Surfing out for a day run up to Port Susan in search of flat seas to calibrate the Lenco Autoglide. I'd been doing so much prop testing, swapping props, that the calibration was off as it's specific to the prop on the boat. The prop I'm running is also is the final product, Power Tech SCE5 Modified, Channel Surfing edition, in black anodized aluminum. It's got the full 3" extension with 1" exhaust flare. All my previous testing and data sheets were done with just the 3" extension.

This prop is a great fit. Best I've tried. When I use the Argo Navigation app for planning my trips, I use 28mph at 17.5gph to estimate my travel time and fuel usage. That usually accounts for wind and currents and errors me on the side of caution. I'm generally seeing 1.7mpg average on our boating trips (dock to dock).

The hull of the R27 really does like 3500-4800 RPM with the sweet spot being 4000-4500RPM. I let the Autoglide do its thing during testing. It didn't use a lot of trim tab on either side. I saw under 35% tab(s) deployed.

I hit 39mph at WOT at 5,700 RPM! This is amazing on a 14" prop.

We cleaned up Channel Surfing and took off some stuff we weren't using. I've also decided for this season, boating around Puget Sound and San Juan's, to run with 1/2 a tank of freshwater since water is so easy to come by. Trying to lighten the load.

Note: Disregard my engine trim indicator. It's broken. I have a replacement, just waiting on warmer weather to swap it out. The engine trim is up 2 seconds. 😀

A couple friends of mine are seeing similar results, txting me photos of 1.9mpg. One has a 2023 R27, NW edition with the dinghy lift. The other has a 2025 R27 LE, with the dinghy lift. With wind and currents, figure 1.7mpg at the fuel dock.

 

[Submariner]

Now that boating season is in full swing, a few exhaust tubes have fallen off. PowerTech's replaced them as a courtesy, at no charge.
What's Powertech going to do about it long-term to ensure they don't fall off?

Additional details are in this video we just published a couple hours ago.

Channel Surfing Edition Prop - Changes are coming...

 

[Midwest Jeff]

I just ordered my SCE5 "'Channel Surfing Edition" from Jared at Powertech. It will take 4 to 5 weeks to get because they are in the process of remaking the extension ring in steel. Thank you Martin for doing the extensive testing on this prop. Jared knows you well and speaks highly of you. Hopefully you are getting a sales commission. I am really hoping the new prop helps my slow speed maneuverability. Which Jared says it should, because the exhaust extension will help when in reverse. I will post my results and impressions when I finally get to test it. Thanks again.

 

[Bentsea]

I have been calling every week for 4 weeks now and Jared will NOT call me back. It’s nice to know they are not ghosting everyone.

 

[Midwest Jeff]

I have been calling every week for 4 weeks now and Jared will NOT call me back. It’s nice to know they are not ghosting everyone.

Try emailing him direct at jared@ptprop.com and include your phone number. I too called a couple times with no response.

 

[Submariner]

If anyone is having trouble getting a call back from PowerTech, send me an email with your name and phone number and I'll make sure you hear from PowerTech.
Just send me a DM.

 

[Bentsea]

If anyone is having trouble getting a call back from PowerTech, send me an email with your name and phone number and I'll make sure you hear from PowerTech.
Just send me a DM.

Thank you Martin, I was able to get ahold of Jared and my order is placed.