More prop talk Seafarer 228

[bazzturd]

Seafarer 228 owners. What props are you guys running on the mid-2000's vintage? Looking to hear some numbers. I'm running a 2005 Seafarer with same year F225. I have a Power Tech OFS4 15.25 x 15 (per prop gods). My cruise is 4000rpm @ 20 kts with full load being 145 gallons fuel, 45 gallons bait tank, 100-200lbs ice and two average size dudes. I feel like I'm missing 4-7kts at that RPM.
Let me know what you got.

 

[DennisG01]

I have a larger boat and a 2-stroke (see sig), but I get better numbers than that. I run about 25 knots at 3,800RPM, give or take a bit depending on conditions with a similar load, maybe a bit less. That gives me roughly 10GPH. I have the standard Yamaha 3-blade 17" stainless prop.

What's your MAX RPM? If you run that kind of load normally, then do a MAX run with a similar load. It's always good to prop a boat based on how you use it most of the time. The other times, you can adjust.

 

[bazzturd]

I have a larger boat and a 2-stroke (see sig), but I get better numbers than that. I run about 25 knots at 3,800RPM, give or take a bit depending on conditions with a similar load, maybe a bit less. That gives me roughly 10GPH. I have the standard Yamaha 3-blade 17" stainless prop.

What's your MAX RPM? If you run that kind of load normally, then do a MAX run with a similar load. It's always good to prop a boat based on how you use it most of the time. The other times, you can adjust.

I max RPM in the low 5k's at low 30kts

 

[Don Davis]

I have a 1999 228G Seafarer with a 2012 Suzuki DF250 running a 3x16x18.5 pitch Suzuki prop. I like running it at 4400rpm and 31 mph with 4 people and full fuel. Over 44 mph at WOT but I don’t run it long because of fuel burn.

 

[glacierbaze]

I have a 2000 with a 225 OX66. Running a stock ss 17M, my cruise was
4000rpm/30mph/3mpg. I recently started running a Power Tech 15.25 X 16 four blade, and my numbers all dropped. 4000 now gets me about 27 mph/2.5 mpg. Everyone seems to love that set up, and the bite is solid at all speeds, but I am not sure the slight difference is worth the loss in mpg.
Not sure where others have their motor height for that set up, I am one hole down from the top, so I could go up 2 more holes.

 

[DennisG01]

I max RPM in the low 5k's at low 30kts

How does that compare with the WOT specs for you engine? I'm guessing you're at the lower end - but you should double check. If this is the case, you can certainly move up to a higher pitch... but you'll lose hole shot and low speed planing. If you have tabs, that will help with that quite a bit, though.

 

[bazzturd]

How does that compare with the WOT specs for you engine? I'm guessing you're at the lower end - but you should double check. If this is the case, you can certainly move up to a higher pitch... but you'll lose hole shot and low speed planing. If you have tabs, that will help with that quite a bit, though.

I am suppose to get 6k rpm and I did with the 17m, but I couldn't plane until almost 5k. Now I plane at 38-39. The performance data for my year was saying 28mph at 3800rpm, not achievable at my load., but I should be doing 28mph at my rpm I would think. I would be happy with my speed if I could do 3500rpm.

 

[ScottyCee]

I ran the Powertech Offshore 4 blade at 17" pitch (Seafarer 226), and got 56-5800 RPM WOT depending upon load. Night and day better than what I replaced.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

I have a 1999 228G Seafarer with a 2012 Suzuki DF250 running a 3x16x18.5 pitch Suzuki prop. I like running it at 4400rpm and 31 mph with 4 people and full fuel. Over 44 mph at WOT but I don’t run it long because of fuel burn.

Did you buy your boat out of Florida from Ingman Marine? I was looking at one very similar to yours listed by them and never pulled the trigger because of a difficult seller.

 

[SoLucky]

I have a 3-blade Solas Titan HD 14.5 x 17 on my 228. It matches up well with the two-stroke HPDI 200. WOT at 5100 is 41mph on smooth water. 3800 is slow plane (22-24 depending on sea state). 4100 is a good cruising speed at around 28mph.

 

[DennisG01]

Running the 17M and couldn't plane till 5K RPM? Are you sure you there's nothing wrong with the engine? Or maybe the hull is dirty? I only have 25HP more than you in my Offshore, but it jumps up onto plane with ease.

 

[glacierbaze]

When you say you plane at 38-39K, is that what gets you up, or do you fall off plane at anything below that? With 17M, I get 35 at 4500, and 40 at 5000.
Are you getting speed from GPS, or from gauge?
How long have you had the boat, and are you sure the 17M is stock, and not been reworked?

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

08 228, repower in 17 with 4.2 F250. prop OS4 15.25x16 ,motor mounted in second hole. boat has 125 gallon single tank and I normally fish a crew of 4. I noticed on the lake WOT5300 rpm speed 43-44 mph. Cruise at 3800 RPM speed around 28-29. At 4100 RPM I was getting around 32-33 mph.

I talked to Ken at Prop Gods and after doing some looking over the stern at cruise my antiventalation plate is slightly submerged. The motor needs to come up one hole. I bought my OS4 in May and reported the poor top end to Ken immediately. He offered to switch for $15 an OSf4 15 inch pitch instead of 16. Then we got to talking and it was determined the motor is actually too low. He thinks raising it will hit the sweet spot. I am going to do that.

You will likely lose some top end performance but you should be going midrange and low end performance with a 4 blade prop on the 228.

 

[bazzturd]

Running the 17M and couldn't plane till 5K RPM? Are you sure you there's nothing wrong with the engine? Or maybe the hull is dirty? I only have 25HP more than you in my Offshore, but it jumps up onto plane with ease.

Engine is good. No faults, good compression and runs great. Hull isn't smooth as silk but cleaner than bottom paint.

 

[bazzturd]

When you say you plane at 38-39K, is that what gets you up, or do you fall off plane at anything below that? With 17M, I get 35 at 4500, and 40 at 5000.
Are you getting speed from GPS, or from gauge?
How long have you had the boat, and are you sure the 17M is stock, and not been reworked?

4k gets me to plane and yes falls off below 3700. GPS speed which may he's gauge. Unknown of the 17 was worked or not and have had the boat since March.

 

[PNW_Drifter]

Seafarer 228 owners. What props are you guys running on the mid-2000's vintage? Looking to hear some numbers. I'm running a 2005 Seafarer with same year F225. I have a Power Tech OFS4 15.25 x 15 (per prop gods). My cruise is 4000rpm @ 20 kts with full load being 145 gallons fuel, 45 gallons bait tank, 100-200lbs ice and two average size dudes. I feel like I'm missing 4-7kts at that RPM.
Let me know what you got.

I can comment as I've tried your exact same prop with the same boat/motor. (Power Tech OFS4 15.25 x 15 (per prop gods)). I tried it once. Had your exact same experience. The pitch is too low. I took it off immediately. Yes it's better traction but I'd like to try a 16 or 17 p to run it. I was getting 25mph at 4500 rpms which is to totally unacceptable to me. Brand new hub BTW. Terrible MPG.

I know the conventional wisdom is to drop 2p when going from 3 blade to 4 blade but dosen't seem to apply to this prop. Over hyped in my opinion.

In fact a friend hit a rock with the prop and on the way back we got the same performance LOL.

I now am back to my 3 blade 17p. I'd like to try a higher pitch 4 blade but don't have the $$$ to gamble on getting the right pitch. BTW my motor is mounted on top hole. I have rough bottom paint.

 

[PNW_Drifter]

Bazzturd, out of all these comments only you and I have the same motor/boat/prop combo and the exact same experience. I woulding put much stock into comments from people with different motors/boats and the same prop. apples to oranges.

 

[Ryhlick]

I have a 2000 seafarer 228 with a 2001 225hp ox66, and I am running the PT 15.25 x 16 4 blade prop and I love it. I have can stay on a plane at 15-17 mph playing the throttle if I need to. I chose the prop for the mid range control in less than desirable conditions on the Oregon coast. I took off the OEM 17 pitch SS yamaha prop. I have not paid much attention to the rpm's but I am 20ish at around 3900 rpms? Speed varies greatly with the RPM's especially when you're head down swell. I am seeing the same mileage with the 4 blade as I was with the OEM prop. On a good day loaded with 145 gallons of fuel, 300lbs ice, 3 guys and gear, I am seeing 1.8. If I was seeing 3mpg I would not change a thing. My .02

 

[DennisG01]

Bazzturd, out of all these comments only you and I have the same motor/boat/prop combo and the exact same experience. I woulding put much stock into comments from people with different motors/boats and the same prop. apples to oranges.

That's a bit harsh - especially when you don't know the level of experience of the other people responding. It's very possible that others have had LOTS of experience with LOTS of boats and can safely make a good inference as to how the boat should handle. If you want to dial it in to that last 1%, sure - but it's not really an apples to oranges thing. It's more like a Macintsoh to Red Delicious thing.

 

[DennisG01]

Engine is good. No faults, good compression and runs great. Hull isn't smooth as silk but cleaner than bottom paint.

You might be surprised what a slightly dirty bottom can do. A layer of light slime has much more drag than bottom paint. Before you start doing too much messing around with props, it would be best to start with a perfectly clean bottom. Pull it out and power wash it off.

Lastly, you'll need to decide what you want the prop to do. You won't be able to have a great top end and a great hole shot/mid range. You have to choose. If you add trim tabs, though, that can allow you run a higher pitch for top end, yet still retain the bottom end.