Any experiences with the Mercury Spitfire Props?

[Lestat]

I was using Mercury's online prop selector and the fairly new aluminum 4 blade Spitfire came up as a possible fit. Has anyone tried one out? It looks like it could be a low cost alternative for skiing and tubing use, although 23 pitch is the largest they make in that series. How well do aluminum props even stand up to 200-250 HP?

 

[ForbesZ]

I was using Mercury's online prop selector and the fairly new aluminum 4 blade Spitfire came up as a possible fit. Has anyone tried one out? It looks like it could be a low cost alternative for skiing and tubing use, although 23 pitch is the largest they make in that series. How well do aluminum props even stand up to 200-250 HP?

I've got no experience with the Spitfire, but with regard to any aluminum prop, you have to keep them completely underwater at all times or the blades will break. They're not strong enough for surface piercing applications and depending on how high you've got the jack plate set on your boat there's a good chance that at least part of your blade tips are piercing the water's surface while on plane. But if you keep the motor low and the prop completely submerged all the time, they'll be fine with 250 HP.

Hope that helps.

 

[Lestat]

That's what I figured. I wasn't expecting much from a web based prop selector but thought Id ask.

 

[ForbesZ]

That's what I figured. I wasn't expecting much from a web based prop selector but thought Id ask.

For sure ... asking is free but buying a prop that doesn't work for you is the opposite of free.