Ok for what it’s worth here’s how my recent prop testing has gone down. Top 3 choices so far are:
• Precision 11x16 high rake BGF or modified hydro cleaver. This prop takes a quick set and is the easiest to drive on my boat but lacks some mph and is starting to nose the boat over.
• Precision 10-7/8x16 PGF/CF prop. Great flash then bites but tends to burn some it’s a mph faster than the one above and harder to drive.
Bill Diez is now making these, I’ve spoken with him and he seems willing to working with you like most of the other prop guys. Price will probably be around $750 he hadn’t really gotten going when I spoke with him about 4 weeks ago.
• The prop I had borrowed that showed the most potential was an 11x16 Wayne Mettler design Menkens (by Dallas). Was easy to drive with 18s had the highest mph, lowest flash and pull down. I changed to 15s and ran it Saturday it became hard to drive and ran same mph. Basically I think things were happening too quick and I don’t have enough down to keep my nose from going to high from a dead water start. From a slight roll it worked fine. When I talked to Dallas he said he could copy this one and Price would be around $750. He asked the most questions out of anybody and was asking how the boat set, how much plate was needed and what I’d like to see it do different. Basically he’d copy the borrowed prop to use as a baseline and tweak the new one to do more what I asked for.
I’ve also talked with Harold Kindsvater who was doing props for about $800 and Tom Bentley. All four of these guys seem to be willing to work with you and claim they’ll work with you until your happy. My current issue is the at my GPS doesn’t record at a fast enough rate to track acceleration differences and video is inconclusive. So without clocks I’m splitting hairs. In a nutshell I think I’d try Dallas first because of the experience and the questions he asked and the look/quality of the prop I borrowed.
Do remember that no two of these damn boats are the same and what works on your friends may not be the best choice for yours. My advice would be to try as many props as you can and then go with what ever one seemed to work the best with your boat.
Sorry for the run on,
Loren
