Best Prop for Bigfoot 50hp - 2000 26x

[mpulaski]

We purchased our 26x last season and had her out a few times.

She is powered by a 50hp Mercury Bigfoot and the GPS would read about 17 nmph. (empty ballast)

My question about the prop. We never really felt that we were on plane.... it always felt that the bow of the boat was still pointed upward - not a lot... but enough that I felt that it really wasn't on plane.

Do you thinks it's an issue with the prop? Does anyone have any experience with this setup and a recommendation on prop/pitch?

Thanks

[mastreb]

What prop do you have now?
How heavy is your typical load?
How clean is your hull?

Try the search feature of this site--lots of posts about props for your specific motor on the 26X under different load conditions.

[dlandersson]

I've got a 1997 non-bigfoot Mercury outboard.

17 mph is pretty respectable. what is your tach reading?

What propeller are you using now? Nice thing is it's not hard to change them.

[Tomfoolery]

The problems are:

1) It's an , and

2) It only has 50 hp.

That's not a knock on either, but 17 kts is pretty good for that combo. I only get about 15 kts with a Honda BF50 and 'standard' prop, no ballast, mast up, three people on-board, and the engine a couple hundred rpm below max. I haven't tried speed runs with the high-thrust 4-blade prop I use for wakeboard towing, though, but I doubt it's any better - it's good for pulling a load, which is at lower boat speed with all the drag, and popping the rider up.

And as dlandersson asked, what does the engine speed top out at?

[seahouse]

We never really felt that we were on plane.... it always felt that the bow of the boat was still pointed upward - not a lot... but enough that I felt that it really wasn't on plane.

m -

I feel that way as well, and think it's the nature of the beast, particularly if that is a similar speed to what others here are seeing, and your engine max rpms are within the range.

If you are used to the feeling you get of being on plane with a dedicated powerboat, the feeling of "plane" on a Mac is not the same, and the transition is not as distinct, even under ideal conditions. A peek underneath at the difference in hull shape between the two boat types will at least partly explain the "mushy" plane of the Macs vs a power hull - one of the unavoidable compromises.

It might be a different feeling on one of the high-hp (90hp+) outfitted Macs, I dunno 'bout those…

-Brian

[mpulaski]

Thank you very much for the quick replys.

The current prop is a 14x10. The bottom is painted - but very clean & unfortunately - I do not remember the RPM we maxed out at.

I've had many power boats that get up on plane.... but the Mac just doesn't feel right...... but perhaps its just a different feel. Regardless - we LOVE the boat!

I own a small shop with CNC, 3D printers, etc and am looking forward to customizing a lot of 'mods' for the boat. There are so many great ideas from other owners that it's difficult to determine where to Start!

Thanks again - any more thoughts on the prop would be appreciated.

Mike

[Tomfoolery]

The current prop is a 14x10. The bottom is painted - but very clean & unfortunately - I do not remember the RPM we maxed out at.

That would be step one - get the rpm when it's maxed out, then go from there. But it sounds like speed-wise, you've probably hit the max with 50 hp. Do check the engine speed to make sure you're not lugging or overspeeding, though.

I've had many power boats that get up on plane.... but the Mac just doesn't feel right...... but perhaps its just a different feel. Regardless - we LOVE the boat!

That's because it's not really up on plane. At 90 hp or more, it's probably more like up on plane, but with 50 hp, it's sort of on the edge, as described by others.

But that doesn't stop me from enjoying it, either. Great Swiss Army knife of a boat.

[dlandersson]

If you check the thread below, another Merc 50 HP BF had a 14x10 prop - and he seemed to know what he was about.

You can check your tach when you get a chance and "move up" to SS if you are currently using aluminum - and use "Hull Kote". But it sounds like you're about where you should be - and doing exactly what many of us did - trying to go faster.

http://www.macgregorsailors.com/forum/v ... =9&t=20600

Thank you very much for the quick replys.

The current prop is a 14x10. The bottom is painted - but very clean & unfortunately - I do not remember the RPM we maxed out at.

I've had many power boats that get up on plane.... but the Mac just doesn't feel right...... but perhaps its just a different feel. Regardless - we LOVE the boat!

I own a small shop with CNC, 3D printers, etc and am looking forward to customizing a lot of 'mods' for the boat. There are so many great ideas from other owners that it's difficult to determine where to Start!

Thanks again - any more thoughts on the prop would be appreciated.

Mike

[DaveB]

I have a 2013 50hp Big Foot, cavitation plate is 1inch below bottom of keel. I run a Merc. 854342CP1 this is a 14inch diameter x 10 pitch.
Top speed empty boat is 17mph in 1 ft. seas. top rpms is 4800 .
I can lower the pitch to 9 to get around 5300 rpms and that is still under the 5500-6200 rpms manafactures recs.
I don't use full power 90% of time so happy with what I got.
Even if I did change prop. pitch to 8.5 to get that 5500 rpms I sill would only get 1 mph faster.
Boat is heavy loaded with 3 batteries, refig. 3 anchors etc.
Dave

We purchased our 26x last season and had her out a few times.

She is powered by a 50hp Mercury Bigfoot and the GPS would read about 17 nmph. (empty ballast)

My question about the prop. We never really felt that we were on plane.... it always felt that the bow of the boat was still pointed upward - not a lot... but enough that I felt that it really wasn't on plane.

Do you thinks it's an issue with the prop? Does anyone have any experience with this setup and a recommendation on prop/pitch?

Thanks

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I'll have to check mine again, but I think I'm getting 5600 RPM with 14X10 prop. It came from the PO with a 14X11 and that one inch of pitch made a huge difference. I think if you are getting 17 knots, you are doing great. My alltime max speed was 19.3 mph which is 16.8 knots and I'm pretty sure I had a bit of current in my favor , was very lightly loaded and just me on the boat. More typical is to get 15-15.5 knots with a fairly heavily loaded boat and a couple people on board. Weight on board and condition of your bottom will make the most difference.

[DaveB]

My prop was suppose to be triple cuped but the letters says 1 cup. This cup even at 1 will make a big difference in rpms.(made for a pontoon heavy 25fter)
This cup gives me lower rpms at 6 knots and more control at those lower rpms.
Also gives higher thrust for beating to windward.
I have never tested in calm seas. Maybe in future, sure it will get to 19mph in flat/no current waters. But that's rare in my heavy boat.
I have Burris Propella here in Cape Coral that can change prop. pitch to 9 or 8.5 but I like it the way it is.
Doing 6knots in 1ft seas @2200-2400 rpms works for me.
If one had a prop. to do the 5500 rpms than I think to do 6knots you will be doing around 2600-2800rpms.
I also think fuel spent is even both ways except less engine noise in lower rpms.
Dave