Is this the reason for low speed and 24% + slip??? photos of prop
 

Vessel: Baja 265 DVX, 502 mpi engine. Bravo 1, 1.5 drive., 3 people, 18-20 gallons of fuel

Well I was able to get out on the water yesterday. I only ran 53 mph(gps) at 4800-4900 rpms. Prop is a mirage plus 23 that is pretty beat up. But will it cause the 24% slip I was seeing?

I then swapped props quick. Michigan Wheel SS prop, 25 pitch X 14.5 RH is all it says. It is perfect condition and came with the boat when I bought it. It ran 50 mph at 4800 or so rpms. 34%!!!!! slip. I see why the guy never used it, must be just junk design.

Also the boat feels "heavy" or "slugish" once trimmed out. Almost like a anchor is being drug.. Maybe the DVX is a slow hull???

Here is the mirage prop pics. Should I just find a new one that isnt damaged and start all over? Share your thoughts.

Rob

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps962aa7da.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps5102614a.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps27a31e67.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9530bc91.jpg

Photos of Michigan wheel prop.

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps23057f27.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps79703203.jpg

Id try a bravo1 22pitch

4 blade. Wouldn't that have a even lower top end?

Boat cruises pretty well at 3000-3200 rpms, and 38 mph. (I dont remember the exact rpm's)

I don't like Michigan Wheel props at all. Any that I've tested have always been terrible, worse than a merc aluminum prop. Your boat should like a Mirage but yours is pretty beat up. It's possible that the Skeg Guard is causing some cavitation. How bad is the skeg? I'd start by having your Mirage repaired which should be under $150 then look at removing that Skeg Guard.

Under the steg guard I have no idea. It's been on there since I bought the boat. I'm almost afraid to look and see. LOL!

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps9d1408e2.jpg

http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps454b22a6.jpg

Go into the general tech question area and post a skeg guard question, you'll get more action there. I think those little bolts and the gap between the guard and the drive would cause air to be pulled into the prop. I'm no expert but I know that area needs to be clean and smooth and with that guard on there it's neither. On my last boat about 1/3 of the skeg was cut off and I noticed not issues at all.

There are many issues.
Call us and we can answer some of those issues.

Brett

Our test program is a starting point.

That beat to chit Mirage prop could easily cause high slip and poor performance.
It could even cause the bearings in your drive to go out prematurely.

That 25 p looks like it has some grooves cut into the front.. Hope you don't have drive issues, may just be prop is toast..

I saw the groves on the 25 also when I first bought the boat. I tryed to figure out where they came from because once installed it doesn't rub on the drive at all! Only thing I can come up with is at some point it was installed with out the spacer. There is a brass spacer so it adapts to the bravo.

Brett, thank you for chiming in :) I will give you a call one of these days. Im guessing you guys probable know what a DVX likes in a prop. I just know Baja's in general needs bow lift in the prop.

Thank you all