29scarab

I posted I was looking for a labbed 26 Bravo 1 prop.

My question is, how do you know without paper work a prop has been labbed?? Is there any markings on prop? You could shell out some serious cash and get screwed if your not careful!

A little help from you prop guys would be helpful!!!

Thanks!!!

Goodfella

If the propeller has been lab finished (correctly) the easiest way to tell if it has been done is to put in next to a stock propeller. There should be a huge difference in appearence. The blade configuration will be the same but the finishing edges of the blades will be different. Or you can have the prop scanned for a small charge and that paper work will tell you the truth about the prop.

Cord

iTrader: (2)

I've seen some mfr's etch the prop-but that can be polished off. If it has been truly labbed, then you'll be able to tell instantly by picking it up by one of the blades. The leading edge will have a distinct sharp feel to it.

hotbeek

I have seen the etching Cord speaks of (Broson Hill) I've also seen number/letter stamping on the prop hub.

Important: Lab finishing is a unique process. You send them specs(hull,weight,rpms,etc.) You tell them what you'd like and they try to massage the prop to achieve this(more bite,bow lift,stern lift,more rpms etc.). So buying a labbed prop from someone with a different setup may not be benificial.

If you're like most of us here , SPEEDS the name of the game. The price for speed is often loss of low end bite (out-of-hole). To gain rpms most often the Labber (?) will take cup(small bend at blade edge) out of the blades. They'll also thin the blades(this will give you the "one hit wonder" hit something once and wonder where to buy your next prop) This in turn will give you less bite but usually more top end.

In closing lab finishing has it's pros and cons. More often than not you can purchase a labbed prop from someone and they swallow the cost of labbing. I personally would buy a stock and spend the extra money on having it labbed. There are a number of good places to have this done. York Propeller,Bronson Hill,Mercury the list goes on. I've heard some good things about York. They seem very reasonably priced too.

Good Luck

KAAMA

iTrader: (1)

York Propeller beat out all other lab finishing prop shops at Merc's Lake-X...they even beat out Merc. Tommy at WPM (909-371-7567) said they have tried all of top prop shops with their lab finished props. They always have come back to York...he said that none of them do as good and consistant of a job than York Propeller. Also, York is only HALF the price as Merc. In a side by side comparison, I have seen for myself the consistancy of the finishing of the blades between some Merc vs York labbed props. From what I could see the Merc was not near as consistant in how they finish the blades compared to York's. Ask Audacity Joe, he was a big fan of Merc unitl he bought some labbed York's props...and he races too! He said that until someone else can do something better that York is the top prop for now.


[ 01-09-2002: Message edited by: KAAMA ]

29scarab

From what I gather, it may be more beneficial to buy a standard prop and then have it labbed to fit my boat better than one that already has been labbed.

Thanks for the info men!!!

Goodfella

Now your thinking!

MercruiserMatt

If Merc Lab finished the Prop, it will have letters and numbers,stamped on the top of the hub. For example it might say ZMTS And some numbers. The letter stand for the tech that Lab'd it. The numbers are the work order. Call merc (920-921-5330) and ask for Brett.(Don't bother Dennis) He will tell you what has been done to it. Another thing, most lab'd props are done to the same spec's. I have found from factory II racing that if you take a Hustler, Formula, and a few other's in the 8200 weight range they will all run 84-86 mph. Remember it is better to start with high pitch and remove cup and blade, and dia, then to add cup to a lower pitched prop.
We also stock every Lab'd Four blade that merc make's, with and without diffuser tubes and in various cup ranges. We get 950 for them, but we will work with you untill we get the right combo.

29scarab

This brings up another interesting question after mercruisermatts comment. I guess I need to give the specs on my setup.

1996 29' scarab
502mpi whipplesupercharged
stainless marine exhaust
28 Bravo 1 4 Blade
boat weight with fuel I think is about 6200lbs. I think 55 to 58 dry weight.

Turning 4800 RPM max right now. The rev limiter on ECU is set for 5450 RPM. Dustin at Whipple said I should be running about 52 5350 RPM.

Can I cup and finish my prop to get up to 52 or 5300 rpm? Or do I need to buy a 26 4 Blade!! How about some help from you prop specialist!!!

Thanks,

Shawn

MercruiserMatt

Why not just lab the 28, that will give you 400 hundred rpm. You can get more if you need it.