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Message 5 of 5
Posted by member Keith Montgomery on Sunday 26 October 2014
Im trying to find out the optimum Propeller size for my Hardy Seawings 234. It runs on a Volvo Penta 250A, 146 hp petrol engine. At present she has a 15" x 15 pitch prop.this is the size Hardy fitted when sold to her first owner in 1991.
She revs well within her limits when not under load... 4800 to 5500. When at sea she runs well but only revs to approx 3600 rpm full throttle with an approx top speed of 10 knots. Just wondering if anybody has same set up and how their own Seawings behaves. I hope to fit a new propeller in the new year anyway so any suggestions would be grately appreciated
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Message 4 of 5
Posted by member Arion on Saturday 21 June 2014
Out of interest, what is your boat and what outboard?
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Message 3 of 5
Posted by member past time on Friday 20 June 2014
Problem solved!
My prop was way too over pitched. I have dropped down to 15" pitch and boat is transformed. 24 knots at 5000 revs but more importantly she responds in a tenth of the time.
I still intend to drop to a 13" prop to get closer to 5400 peak rpm but how the previous owner lived with a permanently bogged down boat is beyond me.
Buying a bigger outboard is pointless unless you get the right gear. I had been close to selling my dream boat as it handled like a wardrobe!
Finally i have a sea worthy hardy that suprises most quicksilver pilot boats when planing out of cardiff.
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Message 2 of 5
Posted by member Simon Kidd on Tuesday 25 March 2014
Hi.
I don't experience with both three and four bladed props on Hardy's, but I have some with 16' RIB used for rescue boats.
We have (local sailing club) a 60hp mariner using a four bladed prop to try and help with some performance issues (origionaly had a 3 blade) - the club says it worked - but franky the 4 bladed prop did little to improve performance over the old three blade item.
Mercury do (well, certainly did) sell four and five blade props for performance - the old mercury / quicksiler "Highfive" prop comes to mind. These do work it seems, though only really on a perfornace boat - with a proper performance setup and excess of power. I don't think a Hardy would quailfy for that. The four balder may improve low down thrust / tourque - but you do also do that by increasing blade area a little - and perhaps dropping a little pitch to compensate at higher speed.
At the end of the day it comes down to what boat you have and which engine. If it's a Finshing 24 with a 350hp V8 I'm sure a properly tuned four blade prop will help lift the stern early... But i doubt it'll help my navigator. The bookL "The Outboard Motor Manual" prnted by Alard Coles does have some useful info regarding this.
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Message 1 of 5
Posted by member past time on Wednesday 29 January 2014
Has anyone experienced the difference between 3 and 4 blade props on their hardy?
I have heard a 4 blade will lift the stern earlier and get on the plane fast with extra grip on water. This is of course at the expense of top speed - but how much? 1 or 2 knots?
I am runnning a 14" dia x 17" pitch and my top revs (4200) are short of power band (4500-5500).
The performance figures listed vary wildly with some boats getting 20mpg!!!
Any experience would be welcome before i buy too many props!
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