Wel yesterday I ordered the 23hp Vanguard engine to replace my 10hp Briggs and it will be here on Monday! I'm pretty pumped to say the least. With that being said my current prop is what MB set it up with for a 9hp Robin engine...so I know I can benefit greatly from a new and larger prop, but I'm not sure what to get or whos to get. My boat isn't a aluminum boat like most everyone else on here is running so I may require a different pitch.

The boat is 15 feet long and 60" wide, BUT it tapers down to 42 or so at the rear of the boat. It doesn't really ride on the 60" when up and running. The boat with no gear, no nothing weighs 250 lbs and drafts 4-5" of water. Then I have to factor in 2 people..not heavy set, a battery, trolling motor, 23hp Longtail, gas tank, fishing poles and fishing gear. Im guessing all weighs around 700ish lbs.

With that being said what size prop do yall think would suit me best? Run in relatively deep water on the way to my fishing areas, so that may be a factor.

Pictures of the boat are here if interested.

http://s347.photobucket.com/albums/p449 ... RiverHawk/

I would like to order the prop next week, so any help is appreciated!!!

That boat looks bad ass. Who builds that, and do you plan to mod your engine any?

I may would go up a inch in pitch since the boat is lighter... as long as you dont load it down too much.

Id go 9x7, especially if you plan on some light mods.

Where did you get the motor, how much?

What all came with it?

The motor won't be pushing as large of a load as in an aluminum hull, so it has more power to turn a bigger prop.

The more pitch it has though it may load up and not perform well in thick mud and vegetation.

Yeah, that's one thing that sucks about this boat, no one has any experience with mud motors on them... I guess im testing uncharted waters.....

When I get the engine installed I'll see what kinda RPMs its turning with this worn prop and I guess go from there.

Does anyone else have any input?? We've got one vote for a 9x7.

I would ask to test drive them. Start with a 9x7 but might need to go down.

Call hopkins propeller they can fix you right up great props well worth the money and they will tell you exactly what you need

a longtail on a gheenoe has got to be a badass boat!
what is the pipe on your grab bar for?

DISAPPOINTMENT!!!!!!!

Took the boat for a test with the new engine on. 10mph. Absolutly no gain in speed. I couldnt and still can't belive it. It would touch 11mph everyonce in a while. It runs the exact same as my 10hp did.

10mph - 3420 to 3480 RPMS

7-8mph 3000 RPM

Boat load = one person, 3 gallons of gas, one trolling battery, one lawnmower battery, 2 rods, meduim size tackle box, trolling motor and 2 life vests.

Is my prop that shatty? For the amount of money spent I'm extremely disappointed.

Help?

Do you have the bigger prop on it yet?

A prop is all about rpm's and pitch, if the old motor and new motor both spin it at the same rpm the speed will be the same.

The bigger motor has more power to push the bigger prop, moving more water.

What are you out of water rpm's with the new motor? You may have the gov set too low...

you probably have a 8 x 4 prop on there now thats what my old 9 hp had and you said it measured at 7 3/4 so its got some wear going up to the 9 x 6 will be a big improvement i upgraded my 9hp to a 16hp and with the old prop i gained 3 mph but then i got a hopkins 8 3/4 x 5 prop and gained another 3 mph and now im at 19 mph on a 1436 jon with just me good luck with it let us know how it works out for ya

I have a brand new MB 9x7 prop. Its got about 1 minute of run time. thats all it took to see that it was too much prop for my heavy ass boat. I think it would be about right for yours since your boat is soo much lighter. If you are interested in the prop let me know and I will make you a good deal on it.

Im no expert on 23 vans, but that sounds kinda low.

Set your out of water around 4200 and take it back out on the water.

There should be a screw somewhere on the throttle linkage that adjusts the gov. I don't know exactly where it's located on the 23, but it should not be too hard to find. It is not directly on the carb, so don't mess with anything there.

No other screws except the idle. There are 3 springs and one is wrap around what looks to be the throttle linkage.?

EDIT:

I did find this thanks to deadbird8. It seems like this is my governor adjustment. The 23s apparently are setup different than the Big Blocks. If this is in correct some one chime in please.

Called Hopkins and he recommend a 8.75x6 because he said my boat was heavy. Has anyone ever bought and used a prop from Hill Marine in California?

I'm tryin to order today so it will be here by Thursday.

Ok, well mud buddy recommended a 9x5. He said that he didnt think it could turn a 9x6. I still havent order anything yet.

Does anyone have any input?

I just don't know what pitch to get, 5" or 6". I run a lot of open water and vegetation

I have the 8 3/4 x 5 on the 16hp so i would think you need at least the 6 maybe a 7 pushing with a 23 hp

Hopkins knows what he doing and he will repitch if not happy

And I drive a pd and approve this message

Well the new Hopkins 8.75x6 prop is ON! Much much better! The only problem I have now is the dern thing wont stay in the water at all!! Anything past half throttle and it pops out of the water. I tried bending the small plate/tab on the end of the cavitation plate, but it didn't help at all. This thing is a bear. Any way to fix this??? Is it because of my boat?

mine jumps up too in shallow water but i just run it like that i gain a few mph when its surface driving i thought it was a lil squirrelly at first but i like it like that now btw how much of a gain did you get with the new prop

Mine jumps out of water immediatly once past half throttle. It doesn't matter if it's shallow water or deep. I have to use two hands to hold the thing down. It is not enjoyable to drive at all. I need to find a solution or everything is going on craigslist.

I gained about 8mph. Top speed is around 18.

give glen a call and see what he says and if your cav plate is bent up and its still doing it you might have to maybe weld a small piece of plate on the top of the cav plate pointing up to create more down force