“Surf” prop?

[Bch53211]

I’m wondering about what some call a surf prop. I don’t care about speed just making the best wake possible. Which ones improve the wake and what is the general principle ? Do they alter gas consumption? Hard for me to imagine worse fuel efficiency, I’d say I use about 10-15 gallons per session (usually 3 hours+\- w 3-5 people on board). I have a 2019 Helix w about 4200#s extra ballast with standard prop.

[Shoebox]

I’m wondering about what some call a surf prop. I don’t care about speed just making the best wake possible. Which ones improve the wake and what is the general principle ? Do they alter gas consumption? Hard for me to imagine worse fuel efficiency, I’d say I use about 10-15 gallons per session (usually 3 hours+\- w 3-5 people on board). I have a 2019 Helix w about 4200#s extra ballast with standard prop.

If you're getting 3.5-5 gph, you should count yourself lucky and maybe do some research on what others get for fuel consumption.

That said, what prop do you have? Do you have any issues getting to surf, wake, and cruise speeds when weighted for each of those? If not, I'd say your current prop is fine.

[Hayden]

As far as I understand it, propellers don't shape the wave in any meaningful way. The larger diameter and lower pitch give you more torque to get a heavily-weighted surf boat upto speed. The drawback is that the same propeller will limit your top end cruising speed. In my experience, when we first started loading our boat up past +2500lbs, and had more than just driver/passenger in the crew, the original prop (whatever shipped default) could not go faster than 8-9mph (wot) and the wave could not form. It would run 3600-4000 rpm and be terrible on fuel. We upgraded to a high altitude surf prop (ACME 2079) and didn't have any issues after that cruising at 11mph and 3400 rpm.

[MJHSupra]

As far as I understand it, propellers don't shape the wave in any meaningful way . . . . . the original prop (whatever shipped default) could not go faster than 8-9mph (wot) and the wave could not form.

Props do affect the wave if you cannot get up to speed. In order to form the surf wave the boat needs to go a MIN speed. At 8-9 will not form vs going 10.5 to 11.5 mph. Sounds like you have your boat at 11mph and you can get a decent hole-shot?

It sounds like you upgraded the stock prop already? Common for most boat owners when they start adding extra ballast or live in a high-alt areas.

[Hayden]

Sounds like you have your boat at 11mph and you can get a decent hole-shot?

It sounds like you upgraded the stock prop already? Common for most boat owners when they start adding extra ballast or live in a high-alt areas.

Yes, indeed.

[Bch53211]

If you're getting 3.5-5 gph, you should count yourself lucky and maybe do some research on what others get for fuel consumption.

That said, what prop do you have? Do you have any issues getting to surf, wake, and cruise speeds when weighted for each of those? If not, I'd say your current prop is fine.

Thanks for the response and info. Glad to hear my fuel consumption is normal if not better than some. Prop is the standard Nibral OJ 14.25x14.5 4 blade. No issues getting up to surf speed weighted down at all and boat goes 45-50 empty. Sounds like there’s really no reason to get a different prop.

[MJHSupra]

Thanks for the response and info. Glad to hear my fuel consumption is normal if not better than some. Prop is the standard Nibral OJ 14.25x14.5 4 blade. No issues getting up to surf speed weighted down at all and boat goes 45-50 empty. Sounds like there’s really no reason to get a different prop.

Correct. Most boats come with a prop that will work with std ballast for wake boarding and surfing.

If customers are ordering a custom boat and they know they will be mostly surfing w/add'l ballast, they upgrade to surf prop. Called "surf props" b/c of ability to have the increased torq at lower speeds.

On my last 2007 Supra, once I hit around 3000# of ballast and a bigger crew, the boat would drag getting on plane and surfing. Upgraded the prop and the issue was gone.

[Bch53211]

Great to know, thanks. Absolutely loving the boat , maybe I’ll spend the $ burning a hole in my pocket on extra lighting

[jnr4817]

I've got the OJ 945 "surf" prop, I don't know the ACME equivalent.

Whats the next level up in torque? I'm running almost 5000lbs ballast in my 2018 Mojo. The prop is doing fine, but I need to buy a spare anyway.

Thanks

[larry_arizona]

Consider an ACME 2775 15x12.5


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