Correct Prop for 2000 Ski Nautique 196

[dsums]

RE: Re: prop size

nautibouys, just removed the nut to check. Mine is 13 X 16 and it is marked "cup" Just doesn't say what the cup is. There are no markings I could find any markings like F325 on mine. sodbuster I can't confirm whether it pulls rooster tail in closer. Nothing to compare it to. I usually ski 32 - 34mph @ 15 or 22 off in open water depending on conditions and I only get into 22 off in the course. Not enough course time.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Correct Prop for 2000 Ski Nautique 196

Best prop for that boat in my experience is the acme 422. I believe that is what they come with from the factory.

Sorry about the incorrect info, I didnt know they had changed to the 668 on the new boats. Makes sense though to add some cup with the increase in HP on the newer engines.

NC, I dont think you were giving incorrect info. The 422 is still the stock prop on the 330ex powered 196's to my knowledge, as it always has been (and the GT40 before it, starting in '00 or 01). The ZR6/ZR409 prop has always gotten more cup- so I am guessing that j2nh has a 6.0L.

Im going to disagree with everyone elses overwhelming recommendation for the 4-blade 422. Ive found the 3-blades outperform it- both in acceleration and top speed, with no discernable difference in wake quality. I run an Acme 612 (NLA) or 1442 on my '90, and my dad runs a 470 with extra cup on his '03 196. The stock 470 outperformed the 422 as well. The 422 is a good prop- the 3 blades are just a *touch* better, in my opinion.

[dan1166]

Correct Prop

IMO, Testing should always be done on the same boat, with the same drive train. On TRBenj's test they are 2 different boats, 2 different motors, 2 different hull designs. I don't think this is an apples to apples test, but an apples to oranges test. Just my 2 cents

Dan the skier Man

[east tx skier]

Re: RE: Correct Prop for 2000 Ski Nautique 196

Best prop for that boat in my experience is the acme 422. I believe that is what they come with from the factory.

Sorry about the incorrect info, I didnt know they had changed to the 668 on the new boats. Makes sense though to add some cup with the increase in HP on the newer engines.

NC, I dont think you were giving incorrect info. The 422 is still the stock prop on the 330ex powered 196's to my knowledge, as it always has been (and the GT40 before it, starting in '00 or 01). The ZR6/ZR409 prop has always gotten more cup- so I am guessing that j2nh has a 6.0L.

Im going to disagree with everyone elses overwhelming recommendation for the 4-blade 422. Ive found the 3-blades outperform it- both in acceleration and top speed, with no discernable difference in wake quality. I run an Acme 612 (NLA) or 1442 on my '90, and my dad runs a 470 with extra cup on his '03 196. The stock 470 outperformed the 422 as well. The 422 is a good prop- the 3 blades are just a *touch* better, in my opinion.

I talked to Bill at Acme about the three blade versus the four blade question before I bought the 422. My hesitation in going with the 4 blade was that I'd had (on Bill's recommendation) the comparable 3 blade acme on my old MC, which, like you say, outperformed the four blade for my intended application. Bill told me that his recommendation of the 422 was specific to the TSC hull and forward SN because, according to him, the 422 was specifically designed for those boats.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the three blade outperformed it. The blade surface area is probably about the same and, according to those with whom I've spoke that have tested the 3 and 4 blades next to one another, the 3 blade "reacts/whirls" a bit quicker than the 4 blade out of the hole. That doesn't exactly translate too well in my mind, but that was one of the advantages that was conveyed to me.

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Correct Prop for 2000 Ski Nautique 196

Best prop for that boat in my experience is the acme 422. I believe that is what they come with from the factory.

Sorry about the incorrect info, I didnt know they had changed to the 668 on the new boats. Makes sense though to add some cup with the increase in HP on the newer engines.

NC, I dont think you were giving incorrect info. The 422 is still the stock prop on the 330ex powered 196's to my knowledge, as it always has been (and the GT40 before it, starting in '00 or 01). The ZR6/ZR409 prop has always gotten more cup- so I am guessing that j2nh has a 6.0L.

Im going to disagree with everyone elses overwhelming recommendation for the 4-blade 422. Ive found the 3-blades outperform it- both in acceleration and top speed, with no discernable difference in wake quality. I run an Acme 612 (NLA) or 1442 on my '90, and my dad runs a 470 with extra cup on his '03 196. The stock 470 outperformed the 422 as well. The 422 is a good prop- the 3 blades are just a *touch* better, in my opinion.

I talked to Bill at Acme about the three blade versus the four blade question before I bought the 422. My hesitation in going with the 4 blade was that I'd had (on Bill's recommendation) the comparable 3 blade acme on my old MC, which, like you say, outperformed the four blade for my intended application. Bill told me that his recommendation of the 422 was specific to the TSC hull and forward SN because, according to him, the 422 was specifically designed for those boats.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if the three blade outperformed it. The blade surface area is probably about the same and, according to those with whom I've spoke that have tested the 3 and 4 blades next to one another, the 3 blade "reacts/whirls" a bit quicker than the 4 blade out of the hole. That doesn't exactly translate too well in my mind, but that was one of the advantages that was conveyed to me.

I've pasted a graph from the study I did of 422 vs 470 last summer. I don't have time tonight to explain all the details....but

1. my top speed was the same for both props...only .1 different

2. hole shot was not obviously different except more bow rise on the 3 blade. 4 blade probably got up faster...but I had no way to test.

3. 3 blade throttle changes at speed were much smoother than 4 blade

4. Power turns and throttling up in power turns was much better on 4 blade. The 3 blade just flat bogged down in a hard power turn.

5. Didn't think to notice rooster tail.

6. Didn't notice difference in noise

I need to clean up the data and reverse the axis for a different look and send to Bill at ACME. I told him I would sent it then forgot all about it as the days got shorter. I'll test another prop next summer.

AirTool

[SkiTower]

My Gekko came with a 3 blade and I had temporarily put a 4 blade on for a while (don't have any numbers but they were the same OD). The 3 blade had both better hole shot and top end.

I considered putting a 3 blade on my 211, but WL talked me into upgrading to a TEAM prop (again, don't know the number). Better hole shot, but I still wonder what a 3 banger would do.[/u]

[TRBenj]

Re: Correct Prop

IMO, Testing should always be done on the same boat, with the same drive train. On TRBenj's test they are 2 different boats, 2 different motors, 2 different hull designs. I don't think this is an apples to apples test, but an apples to oranges test. Just my 2 cents

Dan the skier Man

Dan, in case it wasnt clear, I tested both props (amongst many others) on BOTH boats in question. Results were the same on both boats. I shared the info on the Excal powered 196 only because its a better comparison to the '00 SN in question. My '90 hull is quite a bit different and has quite a bit more HP, so the comparison isnt quite as linear. I do have numbers to back up all of my "seat of the pants" impressions- I simply havent put them on the computer yet.