Labbed 30's?
 

OK, here's the deal. Finally got around to replacing my Corsa mufflers with straight tips. Was out yesterday with a bud for double checking GPS speeds. I picked up 200 rpm, now right @ 5100. I running labbed 28's, can I turn 30's? (fresh water) I suspect turning 4750-4800 rpm with 30's would yield the same top speed numbers. ps. 4000 rpm = 62 mph. Here's my pace boat,

I have a set of 30's you can try ...when {IF} the river ever clears
out !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes you can.
I have some labbed 30's with just a touch more cup and I ran them to 4900 RPM yesterday with a full bag of gas! I would bet you will get more spped too. I can get over 80 (cooler wx) with these props.

30s will be too big.I have yet to see an accurate tach.Plug in a scan tool and you're probably only running 4900-4950.Do what ya want, but the 30s will cost you holeshot and speed.

I was wondering if you guys could give me some advice? I have a 95 PQ 270 Laser with 454 Mag EFI turning a 21p Mirage (not a plus) and my top speed is 57.2 on GPS at 4600 rpm with 90 gals of fuel and two people. I am hoping to get to 60 mph and probably could with a lot less fuel.

My question is who do you recommend for Labbing a prop? I have talked to Mercury Racing and Bronson Propellers. I don't know much about the process of labbing but Bronson says they do not thin the blades. I have heard labbing usaully involves thinning the baldes. Are there multiple ways to lab a prop and is one better than the other?

I boat in Grand Haven, MI.

Thanks for the help.

Kentz, what is your best speed with the labbed 28's? Best I have been able to get with mine consistently is 78. Although they need additional tweaking, which they will get soon. (On the rev limiter) I ran Bill's 30's and got right close to 80 on flat water in humid 80 degree temps.

speed demon, you need to start a new thread for that one. The answer is long and everyone will have their own opinion.

Kentz, if you are going to buy a set of 30's, I have a pair that were labbed by Houston Propeller that have been used once and are in perfect condition and balanced perfectly. I will sell for $1,200 and I will pay the shipping. They took longer than I thought they would to get from Houston and bought a second set during the wait.

Macklin - I was 76-78 @ 4900 with the corsa tips. Last week I was 5100 without the mufflers. I was running head into a 3-5 mph current( ask Wildman1) and my gps was pegged at 75. Don't really know yet what/if I picked up additional mph. At least I didn't cheat and post a picture running with the current;)

If you pulled BillR's to 4800+ with a reasonable load and got a legitimate 80, you found the right prop. In talking with Dennis @ merc. I really need to start-over and run a stock 30 and see what I can get and go from there. Has BillR, Vyp340, wms or you run your boats with a stock 30? One last thought, I think your salt h2o is good for 200 rpm????

speed demon - quickly, @ 4600 your to low, mags are rated @ 48-5200. My 260 with 454mag would run 63-64 @ 5000, the lazer is a bigger boat and 60 is about right, lab that prop!

Kentz, I pulled Bill's to about 4950-5000. They are perfect! I just can't afford a merc lab job right now. Remember my 28's were all over the rev limiter at 5250. Yes, the salt water does pad the numbers!!

I don't know if Bill or Dave have tried stock 30's. I was going to, but we have had 16 straight weekends of rain. So WTF, I will be happy just splashing the boat at this point. But I am thinking that stock 30's will not turn up enough for the HO's .

Scratch that.....I did try a stock pair of 30's. At least the port was stock. The starboard had some kind of notch cut into the blades apparently to even out the rpm's on one of the boats they had been on. Anyway, I got 4725 on the port prop and 5000 on starboard. So you may see even less than that in your water.

speed demon, call john at:

York Propeller
1631-B N. Placentia
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 773-5444

KAAMA and I both had York do our props and were extremely happy with the results and they only charge $200 a piece(vs. Merc @ $350 a pop).
John is very knowledgeable and a pleasure to work with. If you can, get a reasonably accurate boat weight(truck stop or feed store) and let him know how you run it(for speed or in alot of rough seas) what your top speed is now and RPM's, etc. and he can tune it in a lot more to your liking. I know most people go for speed, but I needed my props optimized for big water, and they work great, plus I'm still getting 78 mph on rare occasions....
Good Luck , Paul