Looking for Prop
 

Hello all. First time poster. Love the Forum. Anyone looking to sell a RH 24P Mirage/Mirage plus? I probably would need a hub kit as well? I have a 242 SS , 502 (worked a little ) =) running at 5100RPM WOT with 21P Mirage Plus. Someone told me to try the 24P and should be able to get some more top end out of her! A little sluggish out of the hole but willing to sacrifice for more Top End if you know what I mean. She does around 62 now.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Welcome to a fellow NJ resident and Formula member :cool:
Not to break your heart but Mirages don't come in even pitches. Bravos (four blades)comes in evens.Mirages come in odd pitches. General rule of thumb is when going from three to four blades you drop one pitch.
The smallest Bravo is 22 pitch which would bring your rpms down a little and also give you a better holeshot. Keep in mind these boats are not flat bottom ski boats and aren't made for holeshots. A higher pitch Mirage (three blade) will probably hurt your holeshot even more and MAYBE get you another mph.
My buddy has a 242 LS with a stock 502 415/390hp with a 23" Mirage and runs low 60's and 5000 rpms.
Best bet is to check around with friends to see if you could borrow something before purchasing ;)

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Welcome to the forum. Know the 242 as two different friends have owned similar. Can't recall what they ran for props as both have moved up. I think 21P/23P Mirage.

I spent some time talking with the Mercury Racing guys last year about prop selection in my 292, and they said the 4 blade would give me too much stern lift.

Also have read that boats like ours have low x-dimensions (drives are deep compared to newer boats), and that the 3 blade Mirage is the way to go.

I would try to borrow a 23P Mirage Plus and see if the engine will pull it. My guess is it will bring your WOT to 4800, which might not mean more speed :mad: . Worth a try though.

Good luck

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Welcome aboard Cleaster!!!! :drink:

I agree with Mopower fully. As a matter of fact, you said you were turning approxomately 5100 rpm with a 21 inch prop, thats about the rpm you should be turning with that engine. If you go to a 24 incher that'll be too much. Low 60s is about all you're going to see out of that rig without other modifications.

It's a little strange that you're only turning 5100 with a 21 prop. Is that with the trim up and the hull aired out?

Re: Looking for Prop
 

I have a 242LS with a 454 magnum. Was running a 21 pitch mirage (non plus) and saw 55mph at 5300 rpms. Tried a 23 pitch mirage+ and it was too much prop. Maybe 53mph but only 4500/4600 rpms and it a SLOW to get up on a plane. Switched to a 22 pitch bravo I four blade. Spins to 4900 at 55mph. While this is not much faster then the 21 pitch, the boat comes up on plane much quicker and runs much nicer at WOT and cruising then either the 21mirage or the 23 mirage+. It's interesting, like the prop has more bite. I worked with a retailer that let me demo the props first. I would however would like to try a non+ mirage 23 to see if I would get more top end. Speeds are GPS, two people in the boat with 50 gallons fuel, and trimmed out. I must have some serious slip if a similar boat is spinning the same pitch prop (21 mirage+) at 5100 and getting low 60s! Right?

Re: Looking for Prop
 

All...Many thanks for the Welcome! Formula owners are truly the most hospitable boat owners on the face of the Earth! This will be my second season with this baby and I love it! It handles great, even offshore. I appreciate all the replies. To answer Thirdbird, Yes, at 5100 I have it trimmed to the max, fully aired. I inquired to throttle-up props in Florida and they told me that they would recommend a four blader. Don't know if they were jsut trying to sell me the latest and greatest. I don't want to spend too much $$, as I'll probably trade up :-) after this season.... ( i know, I know - only after 2 seasons ) but you all know what it's like!!! lol Here is a recent reply from another vendor, Greatlakesskipper:
WWW.GREATLAKESSKIPPER.COM
"Hello, please look on our web site at MERCURY BRAVO I SST BOAT PROPELLER SET 15 1/4 x 24 P #BK013105GL5 We can sell you the one 24p Right hand prop only for 499.00 This is a 4 blade and the ideal prop for your boat! Please call us if interested. We also have the Mirage 3 blade RH prop 25p This prop would work also."

From all of it all the replies, looks like I could go with the 23P Mirage or try a 4 blade. Now I'm really confused! :-)

Re: Looking for Prop
 

What about hydromotive props? I have read that the Bravo I prop is a "bow lifting" prop and the hydromotive is a "stern lifting" prop?

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Welcome aboard, just to give my .02 I would go with a bravo 1 4 blade 22 pitch should help. You can also call Darin at Houston Prop very helpful. It`s good to have another 242 member :D

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Welcome abord! I agree with masi242. I've been dealing with Daren at Houston propeller about props on my 292. He's great to talk to and VERY knowledgeable. He's an excellent source for information about props.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Not to give the horse another beating, but it seems to me that a 22 pitch Bravo I wouldn't be "enough" prop for a 502 engine, that a 24 pitch would offer more top end. I guess the solution is to see if you could try several props and see which works best with your setup.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Thanks for all the advise everyone. I'll give Darin at Houston a call and see what he offers as advise. I'll keep you posted.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Can someone get me Darin's # at Houston? I can't find it online. Google search comes up with a few different hits and want to make sure I call the right place. Being a Jersey Guy, not that familiar with Texas. :-)

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Call Darin at Houston Propeller @281-580-7767 tell him your from OSO.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

If interested.... I have a 22P Bravo 1 that I need to sell and in like new condition. $300 plus shipping. Contact me via PM if interested.

Travis

Re: Looking for Prop
 

If anyone is interested...

I have been researching my ARS off about props recently! Here is a little comparison I got from Throttle up about props HP and RPM. Here is what I gathered...

Your boat should have the biggest prop it can run so that WOT RPM matches your peak HP RPM for maximum top speed. If you have a stock engine the Mercruiser WOT RPM reccommendations should be fine. If you have modified your engine and have DYNO results your doing even better.

Here is the scenerio...
89 357 SR-1 TRS drives 454 420 hp
23P Mirage 5800RPM 60 MPH (Mercruiser reccommended WOT RPM 5000-5200RPM) Obviously needs more prop and should not be run past 5200RPM.

A 23P Mirage plus should run 5650 RPM (Gain MPH in cruising and some top end also)Reason: More cup on the blades

A 22P Bravo 4 blade 5600RPM (Gain MPH in cruising and some top end also)Reason: 4 blades = More bite in water gives boat more lift which equals less drag and more speed all around.

This engine combo probably could use :
25P Mirage PLus = 5250RPM or
24P Bravo 4 blade = 5200RPM

There is also one more thing to consider: there is a difference between Bow lifting and Stern lifting 4 blade props. My opinion seems to be more owners of older NON-stepped hulls can use a Stern lifting props like Hydromotive 4 blade. Newer stepped hulls are better off using the 4 blade bow lifting props like the Bravo 1.

This is what I have gathered. I would like to try some props this summer to see what kind of actual results I can get in the real world. Moving back to LOTO this summer, had enough of NY cold.

And this is my .02 ! Feel free to scrutinize and correct. Im only human.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

F377
Thanks for this information. I also talked with Throttle UP and they were ready to put me through the test. This was last year right around the time I was ready to pull her out for the season. My 242SS is running 5200 WOT with the 21P Mirage. I took advise from some of the replies to my post and called Darin at Houston Prop. I talked to Darin and gave him my scenario. Believe it or not he had me look for a 19P Mirage Plus! I found a brand new one on E-bay and Darin now has it in his hands as I type this. He told me that he is doing his magic with the pitch of the blades and adding an accelerator kit, along with a Flo-Torq hub kit. Don't know what I'm in for but I am hoping for good things from Darin. He told me that once i get this new prop on, I'll never want to sell it! lol

I'll keep you all updated on the outcome. I should be dropping her in by the end of April.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

CL
Any idea what an accelerator kit, along with a Flo-Torq hub kit does ? All new to me

Definately keep us posted. I will not be making any changes to props unitl my boat is complete and in water.

Thanks

Re: Looking for Prop
 

F377

Darin tells me the accelerator kit will get me out of the water VERY quickly. You probably know that our boats are heavier than the average. Mine is a DOG coming out. The Flo-Torq is the hub kit that needed for Bravo I outdrive. We shall soon see! lol

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Cleaster:

Not to throw another log on the fire here. I have a very good friend that had a 242 and he had a 454 bored and stroked to 496, dynoed just over 500hps. The prop that worked best for him was a Hydromotive Quad IV. 24p. Unlabbed he saw gps speeds of 68-69 @ 5300. He had it labbed and ended up having motor troubles. Never tried it after that. They predicted low 70's. He since decided to install a new 454mag in the boat and sold it. He put the stock 21p mirage back on it. He still has the labbed Hydro and he will part with it. It made the boat handle 100% better all around. If you are interested I will get you his number. Even if it is to talk about 242 performace. I know his ran very well.
Good Luck
PM

Re: Looking for Prop
 

PM:
Thanks for the insight. You do speak some sense. When I talked to Throttle Up last year they also wanted to try a Hydromotive 4 blade first for a baseline. I gather that this prop is a "stern lifter" from what I am reading in this thread. I invested the $$ into this new Mirage Plus and Darin's to be "magic". But i would love to talk to your friend as well. Let me know how I can contact him. Mike

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Mike, I sent you a pm.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

That seems to be pretty acurate assement except I would not recommend a Bravo 1 prop on a twin engine non-stepped hull. Probably best to try the Hydromotive Quad-IV.
Note they make 2 models Quad-IV and Quad-IV-X. The standard Quad is a stern lifting prop ala mirage which is what you want. The "X" model is their copy of the Bravo 1 - a bow lifting prop that typically works best w/ stepped hulls.

Also I have been told that TRS doesn't like to be "overloaded" with a big prop, and it is probably best to keep the RPMs up a bit, say top out between 5200-5300. I spoke to an engineer at Hydromotive, and he said that people used to race TRS drives pretty much stock at 6000 RPM, so the drive can handle it, and the internals actually "prefer" RPMs rather than extra prop shaft load. Again this was his experience, but seems to make sense from everything else I've heard about those drives. So not that you want to spin your motors that high, but possibly stick to the higher RPMs. Actually those motors make peak HP around 5600 from what I heard too. I am trying to prop mine to somewhere between 5200-5300.

Getting back to the original ?, I'd suggest testing either a Bravo-1 or Hydromotive 4 blade on that boat since it is a single. Should provide more hookup, thus better midrange and handling.

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Yes Yes and Yes
I agree with the bravo for stepped hulls and there are 2 styles of Hydro's.
Test before buying if you have that luxury.

Anyone wanna lend me some Hydros this summer at LOTO for a trial run???

Thanks for all the insight!
Love this website!

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Just in case you haven't already made your decision yet, one of your main items you should consider is just what do you plan to do with your boat. I own a 242LS also and have been in your place. I do alot of boat travel, carrying heavy fuel and gear loads. I run a 4 blade Hydromotive Quad IV 22 . I get plenty of bow lift and pull out of the hole farely easy. we built the stock 502 mag for it and with this type load, if fuel consumption is in any of your questions it clicks around 15 to 16 gallons a hour at 3200rpms

I also keep a labbed 22 mirage 3 blade for play time, It loses very little for the hole shot and spins 5300 easy, On a low tank of gas and myself it gets to 68 on the gps.

Keeping in mind these were not built for incredible speed, they have a large comfortability issue built in instead.
They may look fast, but without a supercharger the boat needs to be put on a diet. HEAVY

:drink:

Re: Looking for Prop
 

Cleaster, how did you make out with that mirage plus 19p from Darin. I just read an old post and was wondering how the speed and RPMs are. I am in the market for a prop for my my 1987-242-454-alpha drive 1.47.
Thanks

Re: Looking for Prop
 

1987-242,

The 19" Mirage "Plus" that Darin labbed for me was the answer! It works perfectly. I get out of the hole in 5 seconds, 8 seconds with 4 adults on board. I have been getting 60-62 MPH, with perfect trim @5000 RPM. The boat seems to like a little rougher water and performs the best with some waves! Darin's # is somehwere posted earlier in this thread. Good Luck!