which prop?

[dantheman]

I have a 2003 ski 196 - I use it for slalom. I know there have been alot of topics on props, but I wanted everyones honest opinion on the best prop for this boat.

I currently have a acme 668 which is the factory prop I do believe. I want to wake the boat up as much as possible - especially for the hole shot. I have read good things aboout the acme 470, but I have also heard there is not that much noticable differance. Is there another prop out there that will do the job better than stock - better than the 470????

[NCH2oSki]

RE: which prop?

I have an Acme 422 on mine, its a 4 blade. Are the new boats coming with 3 blades now or are they still 4 blades?

[dantheman]

yes the new nautiques are coming with 4 blade prop

[NCH2oSki]

Send Acme and OJ an email and see what they suggest. Delta props has a great deal for planet nautique members. Its the best deal around on Acme's. Skier to Skier has about the best deal, and excellent service on the OJ's. Both companies make great CNC'd props.

[TRBenj]

Danman, refresh my memory- the 668 is the 12.5x15 4-blade? Ive never heard of that being the stock prop for your boat, I thought they all came with the 422 (12.5x15.5). If youve searched this site, then many of the positive comments about the 470 were from me- I love the prop on my '90 and it performs very well on my dad's '03 196 (excalibur) as well. He ran my prop for a few weeks and finally switched back this weekend. I drove the boat back to back to get some final WOT numbers (conditions = calm, driver + observer = ~300lbs, all readings taken from PerfectPass): The 470 ran 49.3 MPH @ 5080 RPM, and the 422 ran 49.1 @ 4880 RPM. Subjectively, the 470 is a touch louder and has a little better holeshot when pulling a skier/barefooter (due to turning more RPM). Unloaded, the boat ran dead even with another '02 196 Ex (470 vs 422). So basically, the 470 may be a *little* better, but theyre pretty darn close.

[NigelC]

My boat originally had an OJ (14x16) as factory fit. I changed last year to an Acme 422. I am very happy with the Acme and would personally choose to stick with this prop. I am not sure exactly when CC changed from OJ to Acme but I believe the Acme has now been the standard prop for several years on the 196.
Can't comment on a CNC OJ.

[NCH2oSki]

I swapped out my prop today, just out of curiosity. I tried out my old OJ 14 x 16 and then ran the amce 422 (13.5 x 15.5 I think are the deminsions). I did not notice any seat of the pants difference. Both had great hole shot, and skied almost identical to me. I think on my boat you would be splitting hairs to tell the diffence.

If either of these props dont offer the hole shot your after, then maybe more cup is what you need. The oj is offered from the factory with 3 different cup configs, and I am sure the acme is available with difference cup. A good prop shop can also add cup to your prop. But I still might suggest contacting the manufacturers and asking their opinion.

Let us know the outcome, in the mean time come to east tn and I'll be glad to give you a pull so you could compare.

Jeff

[TRBenj]

Youre the 2nd person now that Ive heard that hasnt noticed a difference going from the OJ to 422 (12.5x15.5, btw). I have to say Im surprised, as we noticed significant improvements on both our '92 and my '90 making the switch.

I am certainly not a prop expert, but I was under the impression that adding cup would give similar effects as increasing the pitch- lowering RPM throughout the powerband, and possibly giving more top speed if the motor can turn it.

When I was searching for a prop I originally wanted the Acme 612 (12.5x15.25 3-blade)- but they discontinued it for 2006. I went with the 470 instead (12.5x15 3-blade), but Acme told me that I could have some cup added to make it perform just as a 612 would. I know Delta Prop can add cup to the Acmes, FWIW. I would call Acme and tell them exactly what you can do with the prop now, and tell them what you want to do. Bill will come up with a great recommendation.

[M3Fan]

Danman, refresh my memory- the 668 is the 12.5x15 4-blade? Ive never heard of that being the stock prop for your boat, I thought they all came with the 422 (12.5x15.5). If youve searched this site, then many of the positive comments about the 470 were from me- I love the prop on my '90 and it performs very well on my dad's '03 196 (excalibur) as well. He ran my prop for a few weeks and finally switched back this weekend. I drove the boat back to back to get some final WOT numbers (conditions = calm, driver + observer = ~300lbs, all readings taken from PerfectPass): The 470 ran 49.3 MPH @ 5080 RPM, and the 422 ran 49.1 @ 4880 RPM. Subjectively, the 470 is a touch louder and has a little better holeshot when pulling a skier/barefooter (due to turning more RPM). Unloaded, the boat ran dead even with another '02 196 Ex (470 vs 422). So basically, the 470 may be a *little* better, but theyre pretty darn close.

Tim- your dad's boat runs 50MPH? Isn't that a little fast for a 196 with with an EX330 engine? Any mods on that thing?

EDIT- just noticed that you used PP for the measurements of speed- is the paddlewheel calibrated?

[TRBenj]

From what Ive read in magazines, 50MPH does seem fast for a 196 with the Excalibur. PP has been calibrated on the slalom course at 30 and 32 MPH, so I would assume it would be within reason throughout the range.

I know that the PP speedo is definitely right at skiing speeds, and when we timed my boat against his our speedos were within 1 MPH @ 30. Not sure if the PP skews the speed at WOT or not, but its consistent with another '02 196 with the Excalibur on our lake. It could be that the Chevies just have more top end than the Fords. Id be curious to get it on GPS though.

[dantheman]

TRBenj- My boat probably came stock with a 422, but when I bought it used it had a 668 on it. This prop is used on the 196/206 with the 6.0L engine. I don't know why the last owner changed it....? I ordered a brand new 422 from delta props. After talking with several people that work at correct craft, and used to work at correct craft that slalom hard core. They advised me to stick with the 4 blade prop (422) over the three blade (470) They had several reasons. I hope to be able to tell some
differance from my 668 going to a 422.

Thanks for all the great input everbody!

[TRBenj]

Dan, what are the dimensions of the 668? I assume its a 4-blade?

I suppose that CC still recommends the 422 over the 470 due to the extra RPM that the the 470 turns (200). The props are very close performance-wise, with the slight edge going to the 470.

[dantheman]

both the 668 and 422 are 4 blade props, the dimmensions are identical, the cup is
differant.

I tried the 422 out last night. It was awesome! alot better acceleration than the
668. Amazing what a little bit of cup will do to a prop. Hole shot is even a tad
bit stronger. Now all I have to do is polish the rudder and the strut to match the
shiny new prop. Might as well do the tracking fins while I'm under there.

[mdboats]

which prop

You are asking very technical questions. I have to ask what you really want this prop to do. Do you really want hole shot? If you do the Acme 470 3 blade or OJ 14 X 16 Force 4 blades is your answer. If you ski the course you do not want these props. They will pull strong and your baseline rpms will go up a lot. The 470 is very noisy in tournament lake type settings. It growls loudly in hard turns. I cannot remember baselines for this prop. If you want hole shot this is the best. The OJ 14 x 16 is quieter and smoother. I recall baseline with this prop at over 3600rpms at 34.2. Do not get the OJ 13 x 16 for hole shot. I believe this prop runs 3560rpms at 34.2 on this hull. The 13 x 16 is a good slalom course prop, still pulls strong.

The two best course props for the current Nautique hull are the Acme 422 and the OJ XMP prop. Both run identical rpm baselines in course skiing. The Acme does get up and go (so a little more hole shot) the OJ is faster. If you are a short line slalom skier the OJ is your best buddy 7.14 & 9.81 and feel likes a 17.10. I went back to Acme this year since it is what you will get and feel at a tournament.

You have to ask yourself what you really want out of the prop. Your initial thoughts might be good. Just make sure you think it all the way through. If I was not a course junky I would take the stronger props. The stronger props will also work better for wakeboarding, tubing and other fun things to do behind the boat.

Mark Q