Anyone have any experience with Spinelli props?
 

I have a lead on Spinelli props that I was thinking of buying. I realize tehy went out of business but i can buy these at a VERY reasonable price. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with them, and more specifically, on a 24 Skater application. I was wondering if they work as well or close to Merc Lab props.

Thanks,

Shane

I had one on a 23 WPM (800hp) and on a 30 Daytona twin teagues and they rocked!!!

We tested one on the Baja, Gordo had it. It did not preform well for us but every boat is different.

I have one in my truck right now. Although, it's not the best performing prop on my application, it could perform very well on a outboard cat. These used to be the ultra preemo custom built props. I know that mine is a very nice prop. If the price is right, try it!

I can buy 2 BRAND NEW NEVER USED for about $400 each including shipping. This particular gentleman bought all their props when they went out of business.

Shane that sounds like a good deal and if they don't work for your boat they will still hold their value.

Becca,

I had similar thoughts.;) :eureka:

I used a round ear on my old 21 Eliminator (300 Evinrude). It was the old Shawno factory demo boat. Eliminators owners told me it was 3 mph faster than anything else they tried. I never found another that ran any faster either.
$400 is cheap. Buy it.
Gary

Just for clarification, Mike Spinelli retired from his craft and closed up shop. He made a great prop. If you were lucky enough to have him build a prop, he would rework that prop until it performed as it should.
A very talented individual.
Amazing, someone didn't apprentice with him so he could have passed on the knowledge.
$400 bucks for a pair of Spinelli's sounds like a fair deal to me.

Shane,
I had a Spinelli prop on my last boat and it changed the boat totally. It was night and day. Ran great. The beauty of Spinelli was that Mike would rework the prop untill it ran perfect and you were totally satisfied. Now, what do you do if the props are not perfect out of the box?

I have heard the same thing from everyone about Mr. Spinelli. In speaking with the gentleman from whom I will likely purchase these wheels, he said they can still be worked if needed. He is a stand up gentleman.

To clarify, it is $400 per prop, not the set.

Had a pair made for my 32 Sunsation with 2-454s with Whipple SC's. The props never worked. Lots of blow out, hard to get on plane, never approached the speed of Bravo I 4 blade that were purchased after the Spinelli's. Spinelli made 3 attempts to rework. Cost me alot in shipping.

I had them on the Cafe Call me if you want my opinion. I'd go for it if they are in good shape

Thanks for all of your replies. The main thing is I need feedback on the Skater application. All props perform differently in various applications. Here's an example, lets say you have Boat X running a 14X23 Merc labbed prop. Now put on a 14X23 Spinelli or Hydromotive and the boat may performa drastically different.

Brandy spankin' new.

I just called a friend They did Close shop few years back :(

Shane I ran a set of their cleavers on a 33' cat I owned years ago. Those props had a decent amount of rake and I could feel the whole boat lift not just the nose. There was not enough blade area for that particular boat but I really liked the way the ran. Give them a try

.
 

They used to advertise if you aren't running there
props your running behind the props.


:D :D

Cougarman

Here Shane found my story with those props posted elswhere;
BTW they were used paid $550 for both and sold a set of 3 blades 23" for $300, thus net was $250.

Thanks GL.:)

Shane
 

Buy em!
I assume you're talking about Dan Weeden up in Canada eh?
I just got a 30" Cleaver from him for my race boat.
Have'nt had time to test it but is a beautifull wheel and Dan did exactly what he told me he would.
For O/B's the Spinelli Bros had the reputation as the best of the best.
As far as comaring to Merc Labs, you're comparing apples to oranges.
What Dan has are basicaly what I call "blanks".
In other words right out of the box. Run them on your boat, then send them to somebody like Performance Propeller in Sody Daisy Tennesse and then they'll be "Labbed" and should run right beside the Merc's.
On a 24' Skater I'd say you're right there.
A friend of mine ran a "labbed" 30" Spinelli on his 19' tunnel boat and he said it pulled like his 28" labbed Merc but would eat it's lunch up stairs!
I may buy two more from Dan just to have them.
The Spinelli Bros, retired about a year ago.
P.S., I bought 14 1/2's so I can cut down the dia if I can't spin it. You might consider the same thing. He has 15's,14 1/2's, and 14's. I'd buy 15's for your boat and gpo from there.
Gary

Re: Shane
 

Those are some good ideas. Thanks Twin O/B Sonic. I am hoping to hear from Ryan Beckley. Guess I'll call him.

"Dan Weeden" That name sounds very familiar. Is this guy selling the props on Scream and fly?

If you are looking for more experience, I tried one on my 288 Sunsation. Didn't work well, lost speed and rpm!! I called them and explained what was happening, they told me that "they couldn't help me. Send the prop back." So I did, and chalked it up as a bad experience!

Spennelli is out of business for a reason!

But, they have helped others. And you've got a good price, unless these props have been worked one to many times!

No they are brand new Canada Jeff. Cord, yes that is the gentleman.

Spinelli's shop was (5)minutes from my house. Since Mike retired, I miss not having that talent in the backyard. I am also amazed that he never had someone to groom/apprentice/etc to take over the business.

Mike is a great prop guy!
 

but,to take over in the prop Business, it takes years of practice . it's a ART ,to be as good as he is.

He has been around since, I started back in 79:eek:

oh! how time flies when your having fun.:D


Darin

HoustonProp
 

agreed!
It's art alright, freagin "Black Art"!
I have been priveldged enough in my boating life to have been around some of those guys like Floyd Hopkins, Pappa Smith, Ron Hill, the Dewalds among others.
As a consumer the best thing we can do is educate ourselves about what ??? to ask, what to look for and then don't ***** when you find out how much they are:eek: (there's a reason one guys wheel is $150. on e-bay while another one that looks identical is $695. w/a 60 day wait!)
The guys that are at the top of their game are simply amamzing at their craft.
My personal opinion is to go to the guys that specialize in your segment of the trade.
A good I/O guy or Inboard guy may not be the best O/B guy and vice versa.
I have a set of "worked" Choppers on my Sonic and was looking to upgrade and started calling around.
I was talking to the owner of I believe it was Hoss Propeller and telling him what I was looking for. He asked the current #'s of the boat which I knew were very impressive for out of the box and when he replied "you're probably there. Your slip vs MPH is excellent and I don't think I can improve on it".
That impressed the **** out of me!!
I knew another guy named Harold Barnes back in my kneel down racing days.
He was known for building 4 cyl Merc race motors but was also a fairly well respected "Prop God".
He used to drag around this old chair with him. I finally figured out it was his "prop chair"!!:p
I wathced a friend of mine walk up to him with a prop in his hand while testing and told Harold, "it's very, very good but I'm still getting pulled a bit coming out of the turns."
Harold looked at it for a minute and then put one blade on one of the chair uprights that just so happened to have the perfect radius :eek: ;) and he tapped on it for a couple minutes and handed it back.
My friend re-tested and it and came back and told Harold, "It's freagin perfect!!"
An art in deed!
We miss you Harold!
Gary