Props - Solas Amita 3 vs. Black Max

[Doctordeere]

New 'toon, came severely underpropped. It's a 20' Bentley two-tube with a 50hp Bigfoot 4stroke. Was rigged with a 14x9 which dramatically over revs. Merc's prop selector suggests a 14x11 and maybe even a 14x13. Would just take the prop back to the dealer and swap, but we've had the boat out four times and the prop has already gotten a ding or two. Which really whizzes me off since I've always beached my boats (for potty breaks and dining) and have NEVER dinged a prop... until now.

My question is Solas vs. Black Max? I've never used a Solas prop but they're around 40-60 less than the Merc prop.

Opinions?

Thanks (in advance)!

[gramps]

Look on ebay they have some good deals on props.

[kryptonite]

The merc prop is better quality and has a replaceable hub.

I run a merc (14x11p) as my main prop, solas (13.75 x 13p) as a backup.

I have a 75hp four stroke, the 11p is good for heavy loads, the 13p is about right for just 2 people on board.

With only a 50hp I'd say go with the 11p.

[rancherlee]

I concur, 14x11 should put you somewhere in your RPM range. Should drop anywhere from 600-1000rpm off your current WOT RPM. 14x13 is going to be to big even for a "bigfoot". My 70hp Johnson has a slightly beefier gear ratio at 2.42 vs 2.33 and a 14x13 is perfect for my rig. If a 14x11 spins too high for you then you have a setup issue and it's slipping too much, it's perfect for a pontoon that's expected to run 17-20mph with ~ 20% slip.

[Doctordeere]

Thanks folks.
I had decided on the 14x11, just trying to figure if the Solas is a decent prop considering the considerable price break. In my decades of boating I've never strayed from the OEM props (with the exception of my tournament bass rigs) so I've never used Solas... and neither has any of my boating pals.

[rancherlee]

I personally haven't run a Solas but I've never really heard anything bad about them. I luck out and find all the OEM props I could ask for at rummage sales as there were a LOT of Evinrude/Johnson V4 gearcase engines out there and they pop up all the time, except the elusive 13.5x15 I've been looking to try. I have 4 spare 14x13's on the wall and never payed more than 20$ for one, I like to run them on unfamiliar lakes instead of my Turbo Stainless.

[hinklecrew]

ive got the solas on my yammie , but im not getting the max rpms i thought i would get. i should have went up one more degree on the pitch. other than that, no problems. it tops at 4800 with me, the wife and our 4 young kids in it. shoul be turnin closer to 5500. should have looked for a 12 instead of the 13 i got.

[homey]

I have the 11P on my new boat with the 50HP Big foot. Just breaking in new motor now so can't verify if it gets me to WOT. If you go to Mercury marine's site there is an area where it shows tests they have done on pontoons with various props. Here is one for a Mercury OEM 11P:

http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/en ... 8463214402

[ArkieBoater]

I have a Solas on my Etec 150HP , going on 3 years now with no problems. When I used to have jetskiis , Solas was a big name in the impellers used in them.

[Drago]

For the 4 years we have had the boat, I run a Solas 14.25x17 on the 225F Yammi and run WOT at 6200rpm. I've wondered many times if I could step up in pitch if I switched to a really high end prop. I've noticed all the higher end props appear slightly thinner and sharper on the edges - some almost like a knife blade.