26X prop help please.....

[bbenkert26x]

Hello everyone! I have went from a 1981 33ft Hunter to a 2000 26X Mac and loving it! I am new at the motor boating part of things, but learning quickly! I have a 2000 Mercury 50hp four stroke Bigfoot, tachs out at 5,000 rpm WOT but will only go 9-10 knots per GPS speed, she feels like she is just about to get up on plane, but there isn't anything left except letting out the water ballast and I'd rather not go there! I have two props, one on the motor and one with the boat, both of them I can't identify............ I would like to know what size and pitch to use without guessing, and I have read all the threads, and that confuses me even more. So, can someone please tell me what pitch and size to use please........... we go in and out of the Gulf of Mexico on a regualar basis at Stump's Pass (Englewood) so we have to deal with the tides, waves and weather as well........or is that all's she got Scotty? Thank you all in advance! Capt. B.

[dlandersson]

First off, why are you reluctant to let out your water ballast?

I have a 1997 Mercury 50HP (non-bigfoot) and that's the way I get max speed.

What is your cargo size (# of people, etc.)

Hello everyone! I have went from a 1981 33ft Hunter to a 2000 26X Mac and loving it! I am new at the motor boating part of things, but learning quickly! I have a 2000 Mercury 50hp four stroke Bigfoot, tachs out at 5,000 rpm WOT but will only go 9-10 knots per GPS speed, she feels like she is just about to get up on plane, but there isn't anything left except letting out the water ballast and I'd rather not go there! I have two props, one on the motor and one with the boat, both of them I can't identify............ I would like to know what size and pitch to use without guessing, and I have read all the threads, and that confuses me even more. So, can someone please tell me what pitch and size to use please........... we go in and out of the Gulf of Mexico on a regualar basis at Stump's Pass (Englewood) so we have to deal with the tides, waves and weather as well........or is that all's she got Scotty? Thank you all in advance! Capt. B.

[dlandersson]

I have a 1997 x with a 1998 50 HP Merc - non-bigfoot. A 12.5 8 or 12.5 x 9 should be your best best.

Having said that - my best speed - w/o ballast - is 15 knots. I'm happy with that.

More to the point, your best ROI for fuel/speed is probably around 6 - 6.3 knots

Hello everyone! I have went from a 1981 33ft Hunter to a 2000 26X Mac and loving it! I am new at the motor boating part of things, but learning quickly! I have a 2000 Mercury 50hp four stroke Bigfoot, tachs out at 5,000 rpm WOT but will only go 9-10 knots per GPS speed, she feels like she is just about to get up on plane, but there isn't anything left except letting out the water ballast and I'd rather not go there! I have two props, one on the motor and one with the boat, both of them I can't identify............ I would like to know what size and pitch to use without guessing, and I have read all the threads, and that confuses me even more. So, can someone please tell me what pitch and size to use please........... we go in and out of the Gulf of Mexico on a regualar basis at Stump's Pass (Englewood) so we have to deal with the tides, waves and weather as well........or is that all's she got Scotty? Thank you all in advance! Capt. B.

[Tomfoolery]

First off, why are you reluctant to let out your water ballast?

Same here. What's wrong with running under power without ballast? Just follow the rules, i.e. keep passengers in the cockpit, centerboard and rudders up, and use common sense in a seaway.

[bbenkert26x]

Running without ballast in the I.C. (Intercoastal) is not a problem, but out in the Gulf is another story. I have only had the X for two weeks, still getting used to it. I am curious about the salt water and what the inside of the ballast tank will look like after time? Macgregor claims that the 26X with ballast will get on plane and go 20-22 mph? It is just me and my wife with 16 gallons of fuel and a cooler full of adult beverages, lol...

[dlandersson]

For a non-stripped down , I wouldn't hold my breath about getting 20-22 mph.

Invest $80 in a good prop.

Running without ballast in the I.C. (Intercoastal) is not a problem, but out in the Gulf is another story. I have only had the X for two weeks, still getting used to it. I am curious about the salt water and what the inside of the ballast tank will look like after time? Macgregor claims that the 26X with ballast will get on plane and go 20-22 mph? It is just me and my wife with 16 gallons of fuel and a cooler full of adult beverages, lol...

[darrenj]

I thought the claim was 22 mph without ballast.

I have a 1998 boat and motor (nissan) and like others here, it tops out at around 16mph without ballast.

If I recall correctly it gets to 10 mph or so with ballast.

I never run more than 6 knots with ballast as the fuel milage is horrible above 6.

[Tomfoolery]

I thought the claim was 22 mph without ballast.

I have a 1998 boat and motor (nissan) and like others here, it tops out at around 16mph without ballast.

That may have been the claim, but nobody gets that with the recommended maximum of 50 hp. I pull a wakeboarder with mine, but it certainly could use more power. Like 90 hp.

Oh, and I too top out at about 16 mph with a 3-blade 11-3/4" x 10" pitch prop on the Honda BF50. I use an 11.8" x 9" pitch 4-blade for wakeboarding, though, as it seems to pop the wakeboarder up quicker (better hole shot, I believe the term is).

To the OP: The proper prop depends on the engine and final drive ratio, so don't go by what works for me since you have a different engine. That Big Foot will swing a larger diameter prop (very good for a slow powerboat like the ), at a little lower rotational speed, so a bigger similarly pitched prop is likely to be what works for you. Go by the experiences of folks here who have that engine, and search the archives, as this has been discussed a lot just since I've been here.

Also, you want the engine speed at WOT to be within the design speed range. If you're always going to run with ballast in, then a prop that's right for zipping along without ballast will be too much when you run with ballast in, and the engine won't get up to speed. You'll go faster with ballast in if you use a prop that allows the engine to get into it's design speed range, though with ballast out you risk overspeeding the engine. Which you can control by not giving it as much throttle, but it's something to be aware of. And there's nothing wrong with having different props for different jobs - like wakeboarding vs speed runs.

[dlandersson]

And that's a really good point - changing propellers is no big deal.

And there's nothing wrong with having different props for different jobs - like wakeboarding vs speed runs.

[Tomfoolery]

And that's a really good point - changing propellers is no big deal.

And there's nothing wrong with having different props for different jobs - like wakeboarding vs speed runs.

Just keep a spare nut, washer(s), and cotters, sized to fit (can't get it into the nut if it's too long - DAMHIKT ), if changing over water. On land, takes me less than a minute.

[dlandersson]

I've got a rubber raft I use (tie it off behind the ) to swap out propellers in the marina.

And that's a really good point - changing propellers is no big deal.

And there's nothing wrong with having different props for different jobs - like wakeboarding vs speed runs.

Just keep a spare nut, washer(s), and cotters, sized to fit (can't get it into the nut if it's too long - DAMHIKT ), if changing over water. On land, takes me less than a minute.

[JotaErre]

I have a '98 26X with a 50 HP Yamaha Four Stroke and I get 13 knots with the ballast tank full (this is almost 15 mph). That's the maximum speed, with the engine reaching almost 5000 RPM, which is its redline. ¿Do you have a rev counter? If the engine does not reach the maximum RPM (have a look at the engine specifications), maybe you need another propeller...

[wcole]

I have a 2000 26X with a Mercury 50 HP Bigfoot engine. I have the 14" diameter 10" pitch 3 blade prop. Be sure to get the one with the rubber hub. My replacement doesn't and it chatters at idle speeds (in gear). I don't have my notes handy, but the engine rpm goes to within a few hundred rpm of the red line (5500?) and the speed close to what others report.

Bill

[bbenkert26x]

O.K., thank you everyone for your input! I will be going with a 14/10 and let you all know how it works out down here in the south! Thanks again! Capt. B.

[DaveB]

I installed a 2013 50hp Big Foot on my 3500 lb 1997 MacX with the 14x10 triple cup prop. Gets 18.5 mph, no ballest in calm waters at 5100 rpms. (5500-6000 rpms is what it's rated for). If you do a lot of higher speeds than I would sujest the 14x9 and you will get to the 5500 rpm range on a little less weight. (I am fully loaded with frig.,3 batteries 3 anchors ect.)
Prop is the Merc. Silver.
I am satisfied with the 14x10 triple cup as I only go wide open if I need/want to. Expect 17mph in a headwind with a 2 ft. chop.
Dave

O.K., thank you everyone for your input! I will be going with a 14/10 and let you all know how it works out down here in the south! Thanks again! Capt. B.