Stainless vs aluminum prop?

[Animal House]

Engine: 2014 Verado 200 HP
Vessel: Premier Tritoon 24'
Current prop: Black Diamond 16 x 16 3 blade
Top RPM: 6,200
Top speed: 34 MPH (3 adults/47 gal fuel)
Stainless or aluminum?
3 or 4 blade?

[pond tuuunes]

SS, 4 blade

[Bamaman]

You're running a little slow for the engine. But rpm's are about right.

Prop? Stainless Mercury Enertia prop is the standard of the industry for your boat. It's also available every 1" pitch--which is great.

[RcgTexas]

Personally on a pontoon I like an aluminum prop. It will destroy its self rather than your prop shaft. If you want total efficiency get a bass boat IMHO

[Bamaman]

I used to use aluminum props on my inboard outboard ski boat, and I'd go through a prop a year--crunching them in the rocks. Fortunately, Jim's Prop Shop is owned by a cousin and he fixed them cheap.

When I got a new boat, I switched to a stainless propeller. In 11 years, I scarcely scratched that propeller.

I just prefer a stainless prop, especially when getting above 115 hp.

[Scott1]

Stainless all the way, 3 blade all the way. Aluminum will work, but you will get less slip and more grip with the stainless. I used to run Aluminum on by ski boat because I was afraid of ruining my lower unit if I hit something. I started with Aluminum on my Pontoon, but went to stainless and performance was much better. The Merc props have the flo torque hubs that break away. I have hit a rock and a log with my prop, no damage to speak off, Aluminum prop would have been destroyed.

[rancherlee]

Stainless all the way, especially on ANY engine over 115hp IMO. Stick with a LARGE diameter 3 blade unless you can't find a 3 blade that gets good hookup for your conditions. That said, 34mph DOES sound a bit slow for your combo and a stainless would be good for 2-3mph on your setup but that's not enough to make up for the 6-7mph your missing UNLESS its just a straight up tritoon with no strakes instead of a PTX or Straked tritoon. I'd expect top speed north of 40mph with a 200 on a straked or PTX Premier. I took a Used 24' Premier Castaway straked tritoon for a test ride with a 140 Suzuki on the back and seen 36mph GPS with Owner, my Wife, and Me aboard.

Edit. I just ran your numbers and it looks like you are seeing over 30% slip!, not good on a Tritoon, should be easy to get under 15% slip with good prop. I'd stick with 15 or 16 pitch props for testing.

[Spoiledrotten]

Personally on a pontoon I like an aluminum prop. It will destroy its self rather than your prop shaft. If you want total efficiency get a bass boat IMHO

With my first aluminum prop, I hit a below surface log, and destroyed my aluminum prop and bent the prop shaft, so it can still happen with aluminum. I now have a SS 4 blade.