OK guys, enough of you have convinced me it may be time to start looking at new props. Mine isn't in terrible shape, but it has some knicks in it, and maybe even a slight bend or two. I need to know what diameter and pitch I should go with. I have no idea about props, but I can tell you I'm running a 1980 21'8" Checkmate Entertainer. The outdrive is original, and it has the Mercruiser 260 hp 350 in it. The current prop is an aluminum 3 blade. I will be using the boat for fun going fast, but I don't want to sacrifice performance when it comes to pulling skiers, wakeboards, etc. What is the best pitch/diameter? Should I stick with Aluminum, or go Stainless (does it make enough difference to justify the price with Stainless?) Should I stick with the 3 blade prop, or go to a 4 blade?
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Prop Question
- Thread starter Jamey
- Start date
Chris E
Well-known member
what is on it currently? if you look at the prop you should see some number starting with 48- and ending with 19P (for example) could be 21 or 23 or something else. stainless doesn't flex which is a benefit at high speed, anything over say 55mph. aluminum will flex at that speed causing the prop not to work as well. Merc makes a bunch of different kinds of stainless props and expect to pay for it. it is money well spent as you will see benefits in speed and handling. go to a merc dealer and see if you can test some props. they will probably let you try 3 or 4 for free and see which works best - then buy the one you like from the dealer.
Chris E
Well-known member
so its a standard merc prop. so go to your local dealer see if he can bring in a few props to try and see which works best. 4 blades are usually slower top end and deliver a better bottom end push. however, i've seen some 4 blades out perform 3 blades on all fronts. that's why you need to try as many as you can to find the one that works best. i think you'll find stainless to be your best bet.
Jamey...
Merc makes two good 3-blade choices... The Laser II and the Mirage. I have run about everything... the Lasers work good on a light hull, but the Mirage tend to run better on the I/O's. I personally would run a Merc Mirage 21p. It will be the best handling and best mph prop for that hull. The 4 blade props will give you a bit more mid-range fuel efficency, but you will loose about 3-4 mph on the top end. Everything is a compromise!
FYI: I probably have BOTH available... 21p Mirage or Laser II ($225 shipped).
Other new or mint props and pitches too... JIM
Merc makes two good 3-blade choices... The Laser II and the Mirage. I have run about everything... the Lasers work good on a light hull, but the Mirage tend to run better on the I/O's. I personally would run a Merc Mirage 21p. It will be the best handling and best mph prop for that hull. The 4 blade props will give you a bit more mid-range fuel efficency, but you will loose about 3-4 mph on the top end. Everything is a compromise!
FYI: I probably have BOTH available... 21p Mirage or Laser II ($225 shipped).
Other new or mint props and pitches too... JIM
captainmorgan
Active member
4 gave more control same speed
i went from 24 chopper to 4 blade cleaver and it was like another world. ive tried every combo w/my setup and the 4 blade is like im in another boat. im not sure of what pitch it is , but the 4 holds my rig solid, any chop and slick cam. i miss the chine. my speeds are always different and vary by +or- 5mph depending on our conditions, but its funny to watch my friends shake their boat asses at about 65 and and i hold my drink in one hand, and wave with the other at 70+ in a 1.5 chop. priceless. im ready to try another prop now. dont need no more horsepower till somebody beats my 75-4stroke. anybody got a 4 blade chopper? might jack er up an inch.
i went from 24 chopper to 4 blade cleaver and it was like another world. ive tried every combo w/my setup and the 4 blade is like im in another boat. im not sure of what pitch it is , but the 4 holds my rig solid, any chop and slick cam. i miss the chine. my speeds are always different and vary by +or- 5mph depending on our conditions, but its funny to watch my friends shake their boat asses at about 65 and and i hold my drink in one hand, and wave with the other at 70+ in a 1.5 chop. priceless. im ready to try another prop now. dont need no more horsepower till somebody beats my 75-4stroke. anybody got a 4 blade chopper? might jack er up an inch.
JIMProp Size
I am running a 1987 Enchanter with the Merc 260 hp 350 Alpha one, my boat is stock with the exception of a Land & Sea stern jack and Stainless Marine SBC headers. I am running a Mirage 23' at 4800 rpm I am getting 65.1 GPS. I belive the Entertainer was a bit heavy but try a Mirage 23' I am sure it will work out..
I am running a 1987 Enchanter with the Merc 260 hp 350 Alpha one, my boat is stock with the exception of a Land & Sea stern jack and Stainless Marine SBC headers. I am running a Mirage 23' at 4800 rpm I am getting 65.1 GPS. I belive the Entertainer was a bit heavy but try a Mirage 23' I am sure it will work out..
captainmorgan
Active member
what pitch 4 blade to try
ill let you know what pitch my cleaver is, and maybe ill know what to try in a 4-chopper. all i know is that i was turning a 3-24 chopper 7200rpm and the 4 cleaver at 7400 little more speed and lots more control. my 10" jack is manual and ive got it where my 85 enchanter 21 sits flat, hardly any rooster, as was the 3 chopper. dont know what a chopper would do, but ide hate to spend a whole lot without getting a little more speed. merkman and i have lots of props if interested. also someone was looking for motors, and weve got anything 150-200 merks older ones, and merkman aka superdave is grinding out my 3litre right now. send me an email at smilemaker@dmv.com
ill let you know what pitch my cleaver is, and maybe ill know what to try in a 4-chopper. all i know is that i was turning a 3-24 chopper 7200rpm and the 4 cleaver at 7400 little more speed and lots more control. my 10" jack is manual and ive got it where my 85 enchanter 21 sits flat, hardly any rooster, as was the 3 chopper. dont know what a chopper would do, but ide hate to spend a whole lot without getting a little more speed. merkman and i have lots of props if interested. also someone was looking for motors, and weve got anything 150-200 merks older ones, and merkman aka superdave is grinding out my 3litre right now. send me an email at smilemaker@dmv.com
rascalsrv
New member
prop size
My 2 cents
I am a new Checkmate owner, long time performance boater but this is my first CM. I just bought a 1987 entertainer with the 260 MC alpha 1.
The boat currently has a 23 pitch 3 blade. Took the boat out this weekend and would run about 4200 top end. Speed was a hair over 64, I ran against my son in our Donzi 16 and we know it runs 64, I was able to pull away slightly.
Sunday, I pulled the flame arrestor and found it to be plugged up. Cleaned it and RPM pulled to 4400, did not verify the speed though.
All in all, I am very pleased with the way the boat handles. The hull is somewhat noisier than the Donzi or Searay but it handles the chop well
Bob
My 2 cents
I am a new Checkmate owner, long time performance boater but this is my first CM. I just bought a 1987 entertainer with the 260 MC alpha 1.
The boat currently has a 23 pitch 3 blade. Took the boat out this weekend and would run about 4200 top end. Speed was a hair over 64, I ran against my son in our Donzi 16 and we know it runs 64, I was able to pull away slightly.
Sunday, I pulled the flame arrestor and found it to be plugged up. Cleaned it and RPM pulled to 4400, did not verify the speed though.
All in all, I am very pleased with the way the boat handles. The hull is somewhat noisier than the Donzi or Searay but it handles the chop well
Bob
I saw that boat on Ebay. Nice boat.
rascalsrv...
Check your timing first... if it's all in spec, try a 21p Mirage or 21p Mirage Plus... It should put you into the sweet spot with your rpm.... should see 65 with great all-around performance too.
OR better yet..., the 350/260hp really wakes up with an Edlebrock RPM aluminum intake swap (dual plane for stock Q-jet carb) as long as you can take the extra 2" higher manifold under the lid... it will net you a good 15-20 hp over the stock heavy iron low-riser and be able to pull the higher rpm with your existing 23p prop! You should see upper 60's easily.
Check your timing first... if it's all in spec, try a 21p Mirage or 21p Mirage Plus... It should put you into the sweet spot with your rpm.... should see 65 with great all-around performance too.
OR better yet..., the 350/260hp really wakes up with an Edlebrock RPM aluminum intake swap (dual plane for stock Q-jet carb) as long as you can take the extra 2" higher manifold under the lid... it will net you a good 15-20 hp over the stock heavy iron low-riser and be able to pull the higher rpm with your existing 23p prop! You should see upper 60's easily.
Bob, I saw that boat on Ebay as well! It is almost identical to my '80 Entertainer. The one thing I noticed about it that I really liked was the elevated ski tow ring. I called Mike at Checkmate to ask if I could mount one of those on mine, and he said the ones they used went below the deck and mounted to the transom? All the aftermarket models I have seen are a U-bolt design, so I thought about using one of those with a steel plate underneath the deck to reinforce it.
rascalsrv
New member
Yes, it does mount under the deck. It also is reversible. That is one thing I noticed when it was on ebay, it appeared to be backwards than any others Ive had. He said he just put the loop over the eye and then pulled it back through. Makes sense I guess. The boat is in pristine condition for its age, I have the lower off to replace the impeller kit. Someone told him he needed a water pump and he bought a circ pump which is not what he needed. I pulled the lower down last night and found the impeller not in bad shape but the upper seal was gone. Thats why at idle most of the water flow was wasted and caused it to overheat. At 1500 or above , it was fine. Ordered a new kit today.
Bob
Bob
If you get a minute, go to the forum "Member Introductions" and look on page 2 for a post titled "try try again ..." (I was frustrated at first figuring out how to post pictures) and I have some pictures of my 80 Entertainer from when I finished restoring it. I keep it on Logan Martin lake.