Improving Boat Fuel Economy with Different Prop or Pitch....Find the "Sweet Spot" to Improve MPG 30%

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This is an experiment where I tried to see which prop was the most fuel efficient, improving boat fuel economy the most. We tried a 3 and 4 blade prop in a couple of different pitches. Motor today is a Mercury 4 stroke 250 Pro XS pushing a Bass Cat Lynx. We also discovered there are "sweet spots" on these props where you can improve MPG as much as 30% with just tiny changes to your speed.
#boatfueleconomy #outboardmpg #betterfueleconomy
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Пікірлер: 30

  • @aj06bolt12r
    @aj06bolt12rАй бұрын

    The difference between 60 and 62 is huge! I wonder what the #'s were at 65? Significantly worse?

  • @ezed3354
    @ezed3354 Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the video. I'm glad I'm not the only Geek out here. I looked at fuel economy and range way back when I would run from Diablo east ramp to Z bend on Amistad trying to manage 36 gallons on a 18'9" boat with a 2 stroke 150HP. Awesome insight. Again, thank you Ken!

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Yeah, with bigger boats and tanks we don’t pay as much attention as we more “seasoned” guys once did

  • @MJ_Bass
    @MJ_Bass Жыл бұрын

    Only a bass boat guy would have a 100k bass boat and use a stack of $800 props to try to figure out how to save on fuel 😂 That, appreciate the effort and research Ken! Considering buying another prop myself for my 2020 nitro with a 250. Currently my summer/loaded prop is a 24p tempest and winter prop is a 24p fury. Considering trying a 4 blade for a summer / loaded prop

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    You mean like a guy that’ll spend $1000 to go 2 mph faster but won’t take the 80 lbs of tackle out of the front of the boat???

  • @lesforrestfishing
    @lesforrestfishing Жыл бұрын

    Great information. Thank you sir! How was the hole shot between the 23 and 25.5?

  • @troysummers7675
    @troysummers7675 Жыл бұрын

    Good content on the props Ken. I am always look for ways to improve my rig and it performance!

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanks Troy!

  • @mikecollett8513
    @mikecollett8513 Жыл бұрын

    Good stuff Mr. Smith. Love the accountant mind coming out in your bass fisherman videos. I'm a "do the math kinda person" so your videos talk my language. All the best and continued success

  • @thebasswicker6294
    @thebasswicker62943 ай бұрын

    How’s everyone store their extra prop in the boat so it doesn’t get damaged. I heard there is some type of prop bracket/mount you can buy

  • @randycooper2046
    @randycooper2046 Жыл бұрын

    Ken, I've had the NMEA connected to my Evinrude and Lowrance for over 2 years now. Evinrude has the NMEA built in and all I had to do was buy the proper connector. I really haven't used my analog gauges since. Plus you get all the additional information like total runtime, gallons/hour, etc. Highly recommend everyone doing that!

  • @tomrieger27

    @tomrieger27

    Жыл бұрын

    NMEA

  • @randycooper2046

    @randycooper2046

    Жыл бұрын

    @@tomrieger27 just a mistake. I do know that.

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Yep, same with the Mercury, it’s just the wiring harness thingy

  • @turner773
    @turner773 Жыл бұрын

    I was trying to find the video that you had made about the boots an gloves for winter

  • @stevecox6104
    @stevecox6104 Жыл бұрын

    Did you raise the jack plate with the Bravo1? Bravo1 needs to be out of the water more vs. Fury 3 blade... I run Bravo1 jack plate at 8 vs. Fury at 3 on gauge.

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    About an inch higher seemed to be where it ran best

  • @FishOn1
    @FishOn1 Жыл бұрын

    Good data. I wonder how accurate the fuel flow meter is. From gallons consumed and filling the tanks, I’d say mine has a 10% error. As for running less gas in your tank, realize that air volume results in more condensation, i.e. water in your gas.

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Good thought

  • @stevecox6104
    @stevecox6104 Жыл бұрын

    Hole shot is also better with 4 blade. If you're starting and stopping a lot without long runs, then 4 blade may be better on fuel.

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Definitely if your hole hopping the hole shot seems like it would make a big difference

  • @jeffreywolff7864
    @jeffreywolff7864 Жыл бұрын

    Mr. Smith I greatly appreciate the insights with props/fuel economy. Any insights on what type/size of prop would maximize my fuel efficiency at slow trolling speeds at 5 to 15 mph? Thank you!

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Jeffrey it's a great question, I'll look into it

  • @robertjacobsfishing
    @robertjacobsfishing Жыл бұрын

    Great video Ken. Wonder if my older carb V6 200 Yamaha can get hooked up to all this fancy stuff!

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    That’s a great question

  • @capt_perez
    @capt_perezАй бұрын

    I see you're getting the fuel calculations by dividing MPH/Fuel Flow to get the the MPG. In your Garmin settings is your instant fuel economy accurate to get those readings or do you always have to do these calculations? On my Garmin unit under instant fuel economy it never matches or comes anywhere near close to the simple math equation you did to get the MPGs. I hope I explained myself clear enough to understand.

  • @MudgettsGuideService
    @MudgettsGuideService Жыл бұрын

    I think your comment about RPM's not being related to mpg when you're comparing the 23 fury vs the 24 comes down to the engine not being under as much of a load. We're used to mpg in vehicles, but vehicles have transmissions that change the gear ratio at each shift where outboards don't. Take the example of driving up an incline in 5th gear in a vehicle and it's locked into that gear and won't down shift, going up that incline you might have your foot pedal to the floor just to maintain speed, the engine has to generate a lot of torque to keep you moving. Now if you are able to downshift to say 3rd, you're running higher RPM's to maintain the same speed but you're able to do so with let's say 1/2 throttle. The fuel consumption is down because there is less load on the engine and the fuel demand isn't as high. With the boat, the only thing changing the overall gear ratio is the prop, so smaller and easier to turn should load the motor less

  • @chadclark5204
    @chadclark5204 Жыл бұрын

    I think if you ran a 4 blade fury you might find it even better. I have 2015 puma with a 2020 300 pro XS and the 4 blade fury lifts the bow much better at speeds below WOT than the 3 blade fury does

  • @KenSmithFishing

    @KenSmithFishing

    Жыл бұрын

    Chad if I can get one I’d like to try, I think you are right that it’s the life at lower speeds that gives the mpg boost

  • @chadclark5204

    @chadclark5204

    Жыл бұрын

    @@KenSmithFishing if you decide you want to run a fury I would let you run my 26 pitch fury 4. I bought the Puma used about a little over a year ago and have run four different props trying to find the sweet spot, but still don’t think I am there. I love the Basscat, but propping them is not like any other boat I have run and I worked part-time at a boat dealership for over 10 years

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