OJ 16"x15" for the 550hp boats --FINALLY--

[JoeA]

Fish tournament and bad weather kept us off the G23 this past weekend. I will find a way to get out this weekend.

[JoeA]

Prop is on. Water test very soon....maybe tomorrow.

[JoeA]

We ran the OJ 16x15.5 this weekend both days mainly surfing and a little wakeboarding. Fuel economy is significantly improved. I cant tell you how much of an improvement because the boat ran two days and never had to fill up although were at 30% now.

Before making a final decision I'd like to test the 16x15 prop as I might be willing to forgo a little fuel economy for more power on take off.

[jesutton3]

What ballast set up are you running? And how much did the 16x15.5 affect the takeoff?

[c640947]

I finally made it out down here on mine. I'd been off the water and stuck to cable only due to all the rain and floods we've had in TX. Saturday I was running stock prop, 3850 rpms with 2850lbs + ~2000lbs + people and gear, 23.7 mph, 13.5 ft of water. very excited to improve that as mine guzzles gas.

So what's the "best" prop?

If you want or need to go mega extreme... 2850 + another 2000-4000lbs(especially at 22-24mph speeds). Gas and RPMs be ****ed: get the 16x15 and set new limits. Pros and true wave crazies fall info this category.

If you keep your ballast roughly 2850 + 2000 and under, or gas savings really matter to squeeze and extra day of use before you need more gas.. 16x16 for great performance, RPM reduction and significant gas savings.

I

I think I fall in your first category. I thought your first test was of a 16 x 15.5 though and here you are saying 16 x 15. Is it a typo above or is the 16 x 15 the one to get for heavily weighted boats and I missed something?

[nyryan2001]

[nyryan2001]

I think what we are seeing here is the variance in requirements for heavy surfing versus heavy(4-6000lb) 24mph wake. Good at one does not necessarily equate to the best for the other.

I've got 2 full weekends on the 16x16, love it, keeping it.... I surf 90% of the time, 11.6 - 11.8mph. This weekend full OEM ballast 2850lbs + 1500ish on average (<---spins ~27-2900rpms....^^^^ pics above). sometimes I'll add maybe up to another 1000lbs with more folks onboard. Wave is fantastic and performance is A+, better than OEM. Fuel savings is huge, RPMs are lower, better atmosphere and more quiet. Better hole shot for surfing on the 16x16, no need to over rev to achieve 11.6mph. I'm keeping the 16x16.

If you wanna go 24mph, OEM 2850lbs + another 2-3000lbs, NCRS cranked up to 5, and 10 200lb dudes in your boat.... you're gonna want a 16"x14.5" range prop. <---- you cant talk fuel economy and this type of setup in the same sentence with a straight face, this is your 3800rpm 15+gph on the OEM prop setup.


here is my fuel log:

2014 G23 XR550 fuel log
(OEM 15"x14.25" prop)

3 Aug. Shell 29gals used, 3.3hrs of use, 8.78gph average. 3000rpm boys stock+ surfing, 3200-4200rpm cruising. 6/10 heavy hard use.

10 Aug. 39.8gals used, 126.9hrs start, 132hrs finish, 5.1hrs use, 7.80 gph average. Maybe 3hrs medium 2900-3200rpm boys stock + surfing & wakeboarding, 2hrs 3250rpm 23-25mph cruise. 6/10 heavy use.

17 aug, Shell 49 gals used, 6.1hrs use, 8.03gph, 8/10 heavy adult wakesurfing.


24 aug, 3.1hrs, Shell 24.28gals used, 7.80gph average . 5/10 heavy use, boys OEM ballast wakesurfing.

31 aug. 141.2 start, 146.1 end, 5.1hrs. Exxon 36.13 Gals used, 7.08 gph average. 7/10 heavy use.

1 Sept, 4.8hrs use, Gulf fuel. 33.61Gals used, 7.00 Gph average. 6/10heavy use. Some boys medium wakesurfing but 28mph 40 min cruise.

7sept, 150.9 start, 155.3 end, 4.4hrs 32.92 Gals Shell used, 7.48 Gph avg.

21 sept 155.3 start. 159.2 end, 3.9hrs use, 30.45 gals used, Shell 7.80 Gph avg, 7/10 heavy use wakesurfing and cruising.

28 Sept, 159.2 start, 163.2 End. 4hrs use, 28.38 Gals Shell used, 7.09 Gph avg 8/10 heavy wakesurfing.



*******2015********

(16x15 Prop install)
17 May 2015, 171.2 start, 174.5 end, 3.3hrs, Shell 24.3gals, 7.36GPH average, upper heavy 4000lb surfing.

(16x16 Prop Install)
25 May 2015 174.5 start, 180.9 end, Shell 6.4hrs total, 42.26 Gals, 6.6Gph. Mixed light to heavy use.

(16x16 Prop)
7 June 180.9 start, 184.3 end, Shell 3.4hrs ~6/10 medium use, 20.7 Gals used 6.08Gph average.

[c640947]

I think what we are seeing here is the variance in requirements for heavy surfing versus heavy(4-6000lb) 24mph wake. Good at one does not necessarily equate to the best for the other.

........

If you wanna go 24mph, OEM 2850lbs + another 2-3000lbs, NCRS cranked up to 5, and 10 200lb dudes in your boat.... you're gonna want a 16"x14.5" range prop. <---- you cant talk fuel economy and this type of setup in the same sentence with a straight face, this is your 3800rpm 15+gph on the OEM prop setup.

Yes fuel economy is not the primary concern or else you just need to not have a bigger wake BUT my problem is 6 wakeboard sets and we are starting to get concerned about the fuel level. I don't have a place to fill up on the river so once we are out of gas I have to go back to dock (20 min) and then gas station = day is done.

So in an earlier post I think you said that the 16x15.5 improved RPMs with wakeboard setup but you think the 16 x 14.5 is really the way to go to get RPM (and fuel economy) improvements with stock ballast and 2000+ more and 23.5+ mph?

Thanks again and sorry for not understanding.

Andrew

[nyryan2001]

Andrew- not a problem.

For guys like you who really go heavy at 23-24MPH, way beyond OEM ballast, NCRS 5, and spend a lot of your boating time there... you need to be in the 16x14.5 to 16x15 range. I think you will still lower RPMs compared to OEM as the increased DIA reduces prop slip.

The higher pitch you go, you will limit your performance in hole shot with those extreme weights getting up to 22-24mph. I can tell you the 16x16 performs about the same 0-23 with ~OEM ballast. Need some of these other guys with the test props to chime in.

I can tell you for heavy surfing.... 16x16 will absolutely get it done very very well. Lowered my RPMs ~500ish, saves 1-2gph, and increased 0-11.6 hole shot. Zero doubt on that.

[kodiak]

Kodiak- 16x15 for you. Absolutely.

Sounds good are they available now? Prices?

[JoeA]

What ballast set up are you running? And how much did the 16x15.5 affect the takeoff?

Maybe I am a power junky so keep that in consideration here. I ran full stock ballast plus 400# lead up front this weekend for surfing at 11.4 MPH. Take off is respectable but I was expecting it to be even stronger than the stock prop given the extra diameter. I'm not ruling out the 16x15.5 but I'd like to try the 16x15 before I make a final decision.

[ironj32]

For those who've been wanting to hear the results of running significant weight @ 24mph. The 16x16 and 16x15 still leave quite a bit to be desired. You certainly run quite a few less rpm's, but it takes just as long, or longer to get out of the hole and up to speed:
*With the 16x16 you are at about 800 rpms less out of the hole, and 350 rpms less at 24 mph, but it takes about 10 more seconds to get to speed.
*With the 16x15 you are 250 less rpms than factory, and the launch time to 24 is right about the same as the factory prop.

They are going to take a little more pitch out and send me another one to try.

[JoeA]

Irony,

What are the specs on the next one you plan to test?

[xrichard]

@nyryan--thanks for posting all this info including the detailed fuel log. Those are great numbers. Though this isn't a fuel consumption thread, for those interested in comparisons and to see how good nyryan's number are: I'm averaging right at 8 gph running a 409 at 400' elevation. I only have 22 hours...I'll keep tracking.

Our use is almost entirely wakeboarding with full ballast plus 300lbs of lead placed in the rear 1/2 of the boat and running anywhere from 23 to 24.5 mph depending on rider preference. However, I have one 30 min tube set and one 15-20 min fully loaded surf set in there. The only other meaningful use is running to the back of the lake when we wakeboard...typically a 10-15 minute commute. So I'd call it 8 or 9 out of 10 heavy use on your scale.

[nyryan2001]

Richard- your use would be a 6-7 max on mine, medium use as I'd characterize it, more like a 5-6. OEM 2850lbs ballast +2000lbs+ at 24mph gets into 8-10 on my scale.

I think what we are seeing here is that the 16x16 is great for surfing and OEM ballast for wakeboard speeds. If you are going to go bonkers on ballast above OEM 2850 at 24mph... 16x16 isn't for you.