Proper Prop for 50HP Honda

[Captain Jim]

DaveB and Ivan Awfulitch,
Nice work , I am planning on putting a 11.8 x 9 - 4 blade prop on my shortly. So, your testing is of great interest to me. I will be curious to here your results with the prop pitched to 10, as well as cupped. Please continue to pass on the details of your testing. This direction seems to co-inside with my needs. I am looking for greater contol while docking in the wind as well as low speed perfromance.

Great job guys, keep up the good work!

Smooth sailing,
Jim
S/V BOLD VENTURE

[Ivan Awfulitch]

DaveB and Ivan Awfulitch,
Nice work , I am planning on putting a 11.8 x 9 - 4 blade prop on my shortly. So, your testing is of great interest to me. I will be curious to here your results with the prop pitched to 10, as well as cupped. Please continue to pass on the details of your testing. This direction seems to co-inside with my needs. I am looking for greater contol while docking in the wind as well as low speed perfromance.

Great job guys, keep up the good work!

Unfortunately, my test location is still completely frozen over so I'll be a while before I can check things out again. I have found that control while docking is best with both rudders down and about 3 inches of keel line released. When I pulled out last fall, I was waiting for the trailer to show at the ramp and was in a very narrow inlet doing figure 8's, and had several people come to me once on the trailer trying to figure out how a boat that large could maneuver so well. On the M that docks next to us, they put the rudders down and about 1/3 to 1/2 the dagger board.

[Ivan Awfulitch]

Ivan, another concern is by puting that 1/4 washer in front of the propella hub it seems to me when the boat is forward it puts pressure on that washer and could result in fatigue. I would think a sealed bearing washer would be the answer, the friction must be great from forward prop. movement.
Others that have the correct hub for the Alcup 4, please let us know the correct hub and washers that need to be in place to avoid friction.
I also might add, once the 1/4 washer leaves the spline it becomes loose on the shaft and very little play between the spline and free turn.
Dave

Actually, the hub I got was a Solas hub and the paperwork said it was specifically for the Alcup. I put the parts on exactly as they were with the factory prop because the instructions with the hub said not to use the supplied washer with Honda outboards. I did dry fit with the parts in the hub kit and indeed they were too short and I couldn't tighten things as they should be. With the parts in the same position as with the factory prop everything looks and feels like it did. I'll have to look when the boat comes out of storage, as I never really gave it any thought. It said to use the new parts on a Yamaha outboard.

[NiceAft]

Jim,
When it comes to docking in the wind, the prop will not make a difference

The best thing to do is put down the rudders, drop a little daggerboard, and if you have enough depth, keep the ballast full. If you are going into a slip, then back it in. You will find that doing it in reverse is easier.
No matter what, the high free board of your M will make docking in the wind a b*tch

Your low speed (higher than docking speed) performance is another story. Do whatever you wish with the prop,but don't fool yourself into thinking that a prop will make a difference when docking in the wind. You still may find yourself suddenly giving full throttle at times when Maria (Ma-rye-ah) comes a calling.

Ray

[DaveB]

Ivan, I have the Solas Alcup Propeller assembly instructions, there is 1)bush 2)Propeller 3)torsion rod 4)spacer 5)nut 6)washer 7)shaft nut and 8)spring clip retainer (not used).
It doesn't mention anything about Honda and my feeling is the Bush is not long enough as the propeller jambs up against the outboard and can not turn, why I put the original 1/4 thick washer thats used in original honda Prop between the bush and outboard and now spins freely.
The propeller when forward puts pressure on that washer and may even spin it why I am getting a squel sound around 4 mph.
The company that sold me the propellers was out of stock on the Hub that fits the Honda but found one on another prop. and put it on the one he shipped me.
I am wondering if it is the right Hub that should be YC-KT (Yamaha).
Dave

Ivan, another concern is by puting that 1/4 washer in front of the propella hub it seems to me when the boat is forward it puts pressure on that washer and could result in fatigue. I would think a sealed bearing washer would be the answer, the friction must be great from forward prop. movement.
Others that have the correct hub for the Alcup 4, please let us know the correct hub and washers that need to be in place to avoid friction.
I also might add, once the 1/4 washer leaves the spline it becomes loose on the shaft and very little play between the spline and free turn.
Dave

Actually, the hub I got was a Solas hub and the paperwork said it was specifically for the Alcup. I put the parts on exactly as they were with the factory prop because the instructions with the hub said not to use the supplied washer with Honda outboards. I did dry fit with the parts in the hub kit and indeed they were too short and I couldn't tighten things as they should be. With the parts in the same position as with the factory prop everything looks and feels like it did. I'll have to look when the boat comes out of storage, as I never really gave it any thought. It said to use the new parts on a Yamaha outboard.