Boat: 2021 Adventure 208 w/ hard top, typically loaded with 2-4 people + ~200 lbs of ice and fishing gear.
Engine: Yamaha F200 (4 cylinder)
Typical conditions: Offshore fishing in Hawaii (North Shore), 2-4’ wind chop/ short period wind swell with large winter ground swells.
Boat came with the Yamaha Reliance 3 blade: 14.25 / 17p. While this gave me optimal WOT RPM’s (high 5000’s from what I remember) and a top speed of ~40 knots. I rarely operate in glassy conditions to use that top end and troll 7 to 10 knots 90% of the time. It also gripped TERRIBLY in rougher conditions. Down swell I had little control and I would struggle to stay on plane when I was trying to stay at cruising speeds in rougher conditions. It also cavitated and slipped a lot in certain conditions.
Next prop: I tried the Powertech OFS4 4 blade 15.25 / 15p. Immediately better handling, got on plane so much easier, stayed on plane, and gripped tremendously. Problem: it is just too much prop for my I4. I only got 4800 rpm at WOT, and topped out at about 28 knots. I also felt a little bit of vibration. Sold it locally to try to find a 4 blade that wasn’t as extreme of a jump.
Current Prop: Turning Point 4 blade 14.5 / 17p. I’ve been running this one for over a year and got it in aluminum as a test run (will buy a stainless prop again when I find one that works). This prop did close the gap, but just not enough. 5,000 rpm at 30 knots on flat, glassy day. Still have good grip and like the performance overall, but I want more RPM’s and available power when it’s needed. I also don’t want to continue using props that have too much drag on my engine long term.
Has anyone had success using the offshore Yamaha 3 blades versus the reliance on the I4 Yamahas? Any other prop selection ideas? Turning Point makes a 14” 4 blade, but only in a higher pitch (19-21), which would probably even out with my current prop (less diameter but less RPM due to pitch). Has anyone seen a massive difference in performance with the tried and true Reliance props by just changing the pitch?
I’m starting to believe there just isn’t a 4 blade out there that works on the I4 Yamaha.
Fingers crossed my next prop is the ticket
Engine: Yamaha F200 (4 cylinder)
Typical conditions: Offshore fishing in Hawaii (North Shore), 2-4’ wind chop/ short period wind swell with large winter ground swells.
Boat came with the Yamaha Reliance 3 blade: 14.25 / 17p. While this gave me optimal WOT RPM’s (high 5000’s from what I remember) and a top speed of ~40 knots. I rarely operate in glassy conditions to use that top end and troll 7 to 10 knots 90% of the time. It also gripped TERRIBLY in rougher conditions. Down swell I had little control and I would struggle to stay on plane when I was trying to stay at cruising speeds in rougher conditions. It also cavitated and slipped a lot in certain conditions.
Next prop: I tried the Powertech OFS4 4 blade 15.25 / 15p. Immediately better handling, got on plane so much easier, stayed on plane, and gripped tremendously. Problem: it is just too much prop for my I4. I only got 4800 rpm at WOT, and topped out at about 28 knots. I also felt a little bit of vibration. Sold it locally to try to find a 4 blade that wasn’t as extreme of a jump.
Current Prop: Turning Point 4 blade 14.5 / 17p. I’ve been running this one for over a year and got it in aluminum as a test run (will buy a stainless prop again when I find one that works). This prop did close the gap, but just not enough. 5,000 rpm at 30 knots on flat, glassy day. Still have good grip and like the performance overall, but I want more RPM’s and available power when it’s needed. I also don’t want to continue using props that have too much drag on my engine long term.
Has anyone had success using the offshore Yamaha 3 blades versus the reliance on the I4 Yamahas? Any other prop selection ideas? Turning Point makes a 14” 4 blade, but only in a higher pitch (19-21), which would probably even out with my current prop (less diameter but less RPM due to pitch). Has anyone seen a massive difference in performance with the tried and true Reliance props by just changing the pitch?
I’m starting to believe there just isn’t a 4 blade out there that works on the I4 Yamaha.
Fingers crossed my next prop is the ticket
