Polished -vs- Satin Finish: The Results...
 

Darin(Houston Propellor Servivce) and everyone, It was a beautiful weekend to test and the results are in!

A satin-finished prop, in this case, is FASTER.

History:
The Contest - http://pub47.ezboard.com/fteambajama...icID=122.topic

The First Test - http://pub47.ezboard.com/fteambajama...icID=137.topic

Pictures after Finishing - http://offshoreonly.com/forums/showt...threadid=48726


The test conditions for my original factory Mirage Plus 23P were:
Temperature: 82*F
Humidity: 80% Relative
Pressure: 29.90 In HG
Winds: Calm, 5-10knots
Tides: High, little movement
Load: 1/2 tank Fuel, 2 people
WOT MAX Speed: 65.4mph


The conditions yesterday with the satin-finished prop were:
Temperature: 84*F
Humidity: 80% Relative
Pressure: 30.00 In HG
Winds: Calm, 5-10knots
Tides: Incoming, Almost High, moderate movement
Load: 1/2 tank Fuel, The Same 2 people
WOT MAX Speed: 66.1mph


This time, I also made two runs(similar to the first time) to get an average to cancel out any wind or tide effects. The only difference is that I ran East-to-West and vice-versa because the tides were incoming(running north) and the wind was southerly(heading north).

I felt that with those two factors, the speeds would be innacurate if I ran north or south.

In any event, the speeds were identical this time, going both directions.

I would conclude, based on my speeds, slightly higher temps and an identical load, that a satin-finished prop is faster.

BajaDaze well done
 

you coun'dt have provided better testing results,Great Job!!!!!!!!! and very interesting.

Thanks very much :cool:

maybe the satin prop had a little more bite cutting down on the slip ratio??? sounds good anyway, hell my props are polished on my boat, guess this winter I will have to send them to houston prop

I think that is why Merc. doesn't polish the labbed props.

Thank's H2XMark,and yes it's a heck of alot easier to finish the props out satin,Instead of mirror polishing ,That takes away alot of time and energy,but they look nice either way!Satin is also cheaper as far as the cost. again good Job /Baja Daze!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darin/Houston Prop

Mine are in right now for satin finish. Should have them back on Wednesday. I will post results but I doubt my tests will be as controlled as BD's. All I know is my best GPS ever was 78.3. If I ever see anything better than that, I would have to say it was the satin.

Doesn't matter either way - but at least with the satin I won't have to worry about those ugly water spots on the props.

I guess all I need now is an acurate GPS. The GPS I have is 1-1.5mph slow at 70mph when compared to the speedos in my vehicles.

What motors are in your boat to go 78.3mph? I assume you have a 29 Outlaw.

HO's

Lookin' forward to the results. Happy testing. :)