Indigo prop causes less power in reverse?

[theredboat]

After finally getting my boat in the water for the season I had a chance to test out my newly installed indigo prop and new prop shaft. In forwards the results are quite amazing -- at least 1.5knots faster and the engine just sounds better running with it. In reverse I'm noticing the opposite, the power is reduced substantially, so much so that now I can barely use reverse to stop the boat against a current or tailwind.

Is this common with this prop or is it possible I need to adjust the reverse gear as a result of the new prop and shaft?

[Dave Neptune]

Ok?

therdeboat, I have found that the biggest differance was in reverse. Stopping power a bit better but far better control in reverse, that is the reason I went to it. It does work better in forward and the engine is far happier with the additional RPM's.
My prop is in the open, is yours behind deadwood or an aperature?
Also remember it takes 30% more RPM in reverse due to the reduction, are you using those RPM's?

Dave Neptune

[sastanley]

I love the chance to get the revs up in reverse...if we are not in a rush, I always drift a couple hundred yards past the slip, so I can get her up to 2,500-2,700 RPM and really let her scream!

TRB - I have not had the same experience as you either. I shifted from a two-blade 12" x 7 prop to the Indigo last summer..I've found that no matter what prop you have, you must get the revs up in reverse and get the boat moving so the foils will work and override the prop wash...then you can throttle down & "coast" in reverse.

[theredboat]

Interesting...

I haven't really tried revving it higher than I used to. I'll give that a shot and see how goes...

thanks!

[sastanley]

Don't forget to lean on the shifter a little bit since there is no detent in reverse so the reversing gear band is doing its job properly. Somewhere on this forum I have a picture of my hairy leg in my patented 'lean on the shifter in reverse with my calf while the ankle nudges the throttle up' technique.

YMMV depending on your shifter location...mine is sticking out the side of the cockpit.

[67c&ccorv]

My Indigo prop greatly improved the boats ability to manuvere in reverse...check that the transmission is adjusted properly.

Cheers!

[jhwelch]

I just put on an Indigo propeller and the other morning in fairly calm conditions I updated my RPM/speed chart. Since my previous 2-bladed propeller was an 8x10 my rpm range has not changed but at cruising rpm, 1,800, I now go 5.8 knots instead of 5.2 and with the throttle thrown way up will go 6.2 knots at 2,000rpm. Time will tell what change there is in gallons/hour fuel consumption. I've never had much need for a strong reverse so haven't tested that yet.

-Jonathan

[Cool Beans]

ha! I have a 2 bladed folding prop. . .I don't want to hear any complaints about reverse I wanted to switch to the 3 blade maybe next haul out so I might actually be able to get some kind of meaningful reverse

need to get the motor running right though