Cleavers anyone???
 

Just wondering about using a cleaver on my 1986 F3LS. I have read several posts here from guys using them on their own birds. I am currently using a Ballistic from Michigan and it has outperformed my Mirage's. Seems like every magazine I read says that cleavers are outdated and will be outperformed by the new props out there. Yet severeal guys here say they get the best mph from the cleavers....What gives...Who uses' the cleavers and what have you compared them to. Im pushing about 4200lbs loaded with about 350hp on a 358SBC.

Bad-Habit

Hey Bad, thats a real nice looking 206!! How's she run, pretty nice I bet.

About the cleaver prop thing, maybe you should take that post to the technical or general topic area and post it there. More traffic than there is here lately. I would like to hear the answer to that question also.

Later man.

Oops, sorry Bad, thats an F3.

Bad Habit-
You may have read my post on props for the 242LS (similar hull).
I have been running 21"cleavers on this boat since I've owned it; the only other props have been 19" Mirages (not plus) that are 15 1/4" in daimeter, the largest that will fit on the Alpha. Although great for cruise, getting on plane, and breaking in engines, these are not great props for this boat due to the huge diameter and small pitch.
I have talked to another F3LS owner who had built 406 SBC's putting out huge HP, and he tried every prop available down at LOTO, and still wound up back with the cleavers as the best prop.
I can carry the bow very well with mine, and would hate to give that up. All props behave differently on different hulls, and you won't know until you try (bow lift, stern lift, etc.). I think I will try a pair of Rev4's and see how they work, since we spend a lot of time at cruising speeds.

I've got a set of merc cleavers (LH & RH) that have been sitting in my shop for 10 years that are in perfect cond. They were on an old scarab 300 that I used to have. If anyone wants them, e-mail me and I will shoot you a pic. $250+shipping for the pair. thx

Sorry, I forgot to mention they were 21P. thx again.

Hey Bad,
I had a similar situation and didn't know what to do. I have an 87 F206 repowered with a ZZ4. A friend of mine owned Obsession boat manufacturing in Shawano Wisc. and he kept telling me I was out of my mind using my labbed cleaver. One weekend he brought six different props up to the lake for a test. Hill prop, Mirage, Mirage plus, Four blade this, Five blade that. The cleaver is the only one that allowed the engine to spin up to 5600 rpm, and the only one to get to 76 mph on gps. I saved my money. He too9k all his props and his advise back to the factory. Good Luck .......Al