I have a 180 sportsman with a Yamaha 115 4 stroke. I have an aluminum prop but looking to upgrade to SS. Does anyone know what pitch, etc to get? The one I have now is perfect as far as rpm’s go at WOT (5900)
also, does anyone have first hand experience going from aluminum to SS? Any benefits?
Thanks!
All else being equal, a SS prop will have better performance under load. That is due to the fact that SS is stiffer and there will be less blade flexing.
SS blades can be made thinner also and that can improve performance too.
The cons for SS over AL is mainly cost and potential damage to the LU when you hit something. AL props will bend and break a lot easier than SS. So if your boating is in area where hard grounding or hitting things with your prop is commonplace, an AL prop might be a better choice financially.
The reality about props is that two different props with the same pitch and diameter and made from the same materials can have very different performance characteristics.
The real question is " What do you want to get out of a different prop?" Better hole shot, better trolling, better top end speed ect.? A prop can be optimized for a specific operation range, not across the board
