New '05 26M Owner - Hoping for some guidance.

[Frank C]

Good advice from normo. However, this much difference of opinion ...

The difference between a screaming 50 at 16 mph versus a quiet cruise at 20 mph ? . . . takes more than a 70, for sure, minimum 90 hp, IMO.

The Suzuki 70 can give a quiet cruise of 14 mph at 3500 rpms - nice cruising, but not 20 mph. That's where you need a nice, BIG 4 stroke. That's where the brutally (quiet) torque of a big displacement Suzuki, say a 90 or 115 will be appreciated. Yes they weigh in at 400 #, and yes, they'll deliver a nice quiet cruise speed of ~20 mph. Even then, I'm betting it will be more than a quiet 3500 cruise.

Also, I think the later model Mac can easily carry a 350-pound motor and still sail just fine ... mine sails at 7+ knots upwind in a brisk Bay breeze. If my 26X was any faster under sail ... it would only be with blue hull!

I've read the stories that the high-tech 2-strokes are quiet & fuel efficient, but I'll need a ride to compare.

• - I'm gonna look up Rolf & his 90-TLDI when I get to SoCal!
  - then I'll look up Mark & his DF-115 when I get to the Great Lakes!
  - then I'll look up Billy & his DF-140 when I get to the East Coast!
  - and THEN I'll have my answer for sure!

(Five years ago, people wanted to look up my DF-60, but it's small potatoes now)! -
. . . . There's no substitute for cubic inches!

[tidalwave]

I looked at the Cal-Neva website for a cylindrical prop protector (minus the hydrofoil option) for my 14 inch Bigfoot Merc Prop. Is it worth putting on (about $100). The site states that the antitorque tab has to be removed.
I know that there was some research on airboats which had 'ducted-fans' to help reduce tip vortex shedding and an increase in thrust.
Anyone on this site ever seen a Mac with a prop-protector? I am on a lake with rock reefs...wondered if this would help keep blades from being chipped.

[Dimitri-2000X-Tampa]

I have a different idea for when I repower....and I'll be painting my hull a metalic black...

That's the idea behind a different propulsion system called "scramjet," or Supersonic Combustion Ramjet: The oxygen needed by the engine to combust is taken from the atmosphere passing through the vehicle, instead of from a tank onboard. The craft becomes smaller, lighter and faster.

I'm hoping to hit 15 times the speed of sound but still have a boat that sails well.

[Moe]

A "prop guard" will transfer the shock of hitting a rock into the antiventilation plate and possibly break the lower unit. Lower unit repair or replacement is a LOT more expensive than aluminum prop replacement.

The BigFoot prop (the silver ones) has a very soft rubber hub designed to slip and protect the drivetrain in a prop impact. Further, a soft aluminum prop (versus a hard stainless one) will absorb some of the energy by deforming.

That's why you should carry a spare prop, floating prop wrench, and in case you drop one while changing it, a spare thrust washer, tab washer, and nut.

Probably the first thing that will get bent, chipped, cracked, or broken off in a rocky area is the skeg. It can be repaired for less than the rest of the lower unit. Some use a SkegGard for protection. Others install them after part of the skeg is broken off (to hide the fact?)

--
Moe

[Frank C]

I looked at the Cal-Neva website for a cylindrical prop protector (minus the hydrofoil option) for my 14 inch Bigfoot Merc Prop.

Moe's advice makes lots of sense. Besides, those tubular baffles enhance low speed handling and power at the expense of mid and top range operation. Think it's mainly a tug boat solution.

One windy afternoon I was blown crosswise at our launch ramp while trying to clear another boat (who seemed to be rebuilding their carbs ). I had drifted too close to the adjacent rock retaining wall, goosed the throttle to get clear, and experienced my first (and only ?) prop strike. The motor instantly went chuga-chuga wobbly, so turned the key off, felt the face flushing, tossed a line to a kind dock-soul who pulled us back for R&R!!

It happens that I had a Piranha prop mounted at that time, so the only damage was that one blade sheared in half. All Piranha props are composites, a hub with three removeable blades. I removed the prop, slipped 2.5 blades out of their slots, replaced with three other blades, motored out for some afternoon fun. If I'd had the matching spare blade, would have only changed one blade.

. . . . . .

BTW, the downside is that composites usually deliver somewhat lower top speeds, even if you get the optimum pitch. In my case it was about 1 mph slower at WOT. For your lake . . . sounds like a perfect application. Piranha Propellers was great to work with. They will send you three choices of prop blades for testing, and let you return the blades you don't want. Lots of performance differences among blades, so count on spending a whole weekend - fill the gas tanks, tie the prop wrench to your belt, and have fun, and Good luck!