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  #1   IP: 50.29.99.57
Old 04-17-2015, 01:14 PM
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Prop talk - final obsessive moment

Ok, time to pull the trigger.

As you might recall, my A4 runs like a champ, but I can only get 1400 rpms out of the old girl. I'm spinning a 13 x 8 (give or take the pitch - its been worked several times).

I race, but not as much as I used to. The shaft is marked to hide it in the aperture.

I am debating three options. I'm struggling, or should I say, obsessing on this!

option 1 - indigo
option 2 - CDI
option 3 - 12 x 7 used prop ($200)

I still plan on racing a little, but it is not as important at this stage. If racing were finished, I'd go indigo in a heartbeat.

Final thoughts before I pull the trigger would be appreciated

Thanks

Chris
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Old 04-17-2015, 01:30 PM
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I still plan on racing a little, but it is not as important at this stage. If racing were finished, I'd go indigo in a heartbeat.
Bingo. Follow the path....
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  #3   IP: 71.118.13.238
Old 04-17-2015, 04:28 PM
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Chris, go with the Indigo and take the rating. The 3 blades you will be rated against are for boats with reduction units (over 90%) and the "fans" they swing are at least double the area (drag) so with the Indigo area comparable to the 12X7 area it is a gain for racing! Been there done that.

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  #4   IP: 73.55.66.163
Old 04-17-2015, 07:58 PM
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I have an Indigo and it works as well as I could expect.
I laughed when I saw how small it is.
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Old 04-17-2015, 09:40 PM
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My t30 had a 2 blade 12x9 which was to much prop. I forget how low max rpm was but I'm thinking in the 2k range.The prop has a very intimate uncounted with an anchor chain, it survived but when I hauled the boat that fall I decided it needed some work. My local prop shop and I talked about finding the sweet spot for a prop re-grind for my boat-engine. We decided that to allow proper clearance between prop and hull (1"?) The prop should be cut to 10 and the pitch altered to 8. When I picked it up it was 10x7. For whatever reason it made sense at the time. Unfortunately in was then under prop ed. Could hit 2800 but lost about a knot of under power top end.
Rather then spend anymore time and money on experiments I bought an indigo. I think there "May" be a little room for improvement but overall I am satisfied with the performance. Back when I made the switch to the indigo I saw 2400 if I pushed her in calm waters.
(On deck) Indigo has made an improvement since I bought my prop which is supposed to be that little extra tweek. But in my case any improvement would really be hard to notice.
It is a little prop but we scoot along nicely with it. With a fresh clean hull and well tuned engine we have seen, on a pond calm day, 6.8 knots. I haven't replaced my Tach in a few years so I couldn't say what my rpm was on that day
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Last edited by BadaBing; 04-18-2015 at 03:22 PM. Reason: typo and Android
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Old 04-18-2015, 08:10 AM
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Well, thanks as always.

Indigo it is.

Of course, now I'll be arguing with my handicapper at the club! The guys were already pissed at my PHRF rating.

70 plus degrees today. Finishing up the fiberglassing of my new centerboard, scrubbing the bilge, cleaning the water tank, oil change...

then go for a jog, grab a beer...ahhhh.

Somebody please explain to me again why I live in the northeast?

Chris
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Old 04-18-2015, 10:21 AM
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Chris, you have to live somewhere. Be glad you have the Sound. I left long island in the 80s, and now live in Florida. It has been 90 plus for the past two weeks, and will continue this way till November. I will be putting my boat away for the summer in two weeks.
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Old 04-18-2015, 10:45 AM
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Really?

I've often thought about moving south. Wind dies during the summer I'm guessing.

I just like being outdoors so much that the long, grey winters on the Island discourage me.
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Old 04-18-2015, 10:59 AM
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Thumbs up My new Indigo Prop

Hi Skywalker.

I've been a lurker on this forum for years and never posted anything, but have found it to be an invaluable resource and have done much much work on my A4 with the help and guidance from Moyer Marine and all the Afourians on this board, so here goes.

I recently purchased an Indigo prop for my Newport 27 and love the way it pushes my boat with so little vibration. A while back my diver notified me that the 12x8 two blade prop on my boat was pitted and had a few small chunks missing from the leading edges that was likely causing some vibration. Electrolysis damage was the official diagnosis. We won't discuss how this same diving service has been cleaning my bottom monthly and changing zincs for the past seven years Anyway, this being my first boat, I had no idea that all that rattling and shaking under power was not normal, I expect it got gradually worse over the years I've owned this boat. So I put the prop on my to do list and started looking for a new one. I spoke to a guy at a local prop shop who told me I would have a tough time finding a new or used replacement to fit my boat/motor but that he could build me a new one for about $500!!! A few searches through this forum's threads on prop's and the Indigo site convinced me to pay Tom's now reasonable price and give it a try.

When I hauled out for bottom paint last month, I tackled a new rear main seal on my A4 (thanks Don for the video on this job!), and also replaced the 12x8 2 blade with Indigo's 10x7.4 3 blade prop. When splashed, I found Tom's claims about performance of his new blade to be true. In flat water with little to no wind, the boat now zips along at 6.2 + knots at 2400 or so RPM, where before, I would do well to get 1900 RPM and 5.5 or so knots.

About the only thing I have noted that is a bit of a challenge is that the Indigo prop puts a lot more pressure on the spade rudder, so that hanging on to the wheel can be a struggle at wide open throttle. That said, I am very pleased with the Indigo prop and would encourage you to go ahead with it.
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Old 04-18-2015, 12:12 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by romantic comedy View Post
Chris, you have to live somewhere. Be glad you have the Sound. I left long island in the 80s, and now live in Florida. It has been 90 plus for the past two weeks, and will continue this way till November. I will be putting my boat away for the summer in two weeks.
You could cruise on up here for the summer with the snow birds.
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Old 04-18-2015, 03:27 PM
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[QUOTE=Borrowed Time;90477]Hi Skywalker.

I've been a lurker on this forum for years and never posted anything, but have found it to be an invaluable resource and have done much much work on my A4 with the help and guidance from Moyer Marine and all the Afourians on this board, so here goes.

QUOTE]

Welcome to the other side of communication
WE look forward to hearing more from you.
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  #12   IP: 69.118.187.105
Old 04-18-2015, 07:31 PM
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Thanks to all you lurkers!!

I guess I just needed that final push to no worry about the fractional increase in drag.

One of my favorite movies is Scent of a Woman with Pacino. I love the final scene when he says something like "I always knew the right thing to do, without exception I knew, but I never took it, because it was too damned hard!"

Thanks

Chris
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Old 04-18-2015, 09:28 PM
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Skywalker, in the summer the wind is light mostly, except when it is thunder and lightning. Come to florida in the summer, and see how you like it. Many people love the heat. I went sailing today. Great day, 15 knots S SW, 90 degrees and mostly sunny.

Hanley, I keep threatening to go North every summer. Wife works, and I am retired. Feel to guilty to go. I do sail with a buddy on the Chesapeake sometimes.
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  #14   IP: 69.118.187.105
Old 04-19-2015, 06:51 AM
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I think I would like the heat. I've always enjoyed those "dog days of summer".

Long Island Sound has light summer winds. We struggle through most of August to get our club's Thursday night races off. 5 -10 kts is typical.

Maybe it's time for a summer vacation in the Sunshine State.

Chris
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Old 04-19-2015, 11:27 AM
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Chris, it also depends on where you live in Fl. It is very hot all summer, but in the winter it gets cooler in the Northern parts. I live in SW florida, and it stays hot.

Take a trip here and see if you like it. East coast vs West coast? Then there is the Keys.
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Old 04-22-2015, 06:19 PM
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What you might find interesting about this whole moving south thing is that I already own a house in Pensacola. As the story goes, back in 05 my in laws wanted to do the snowbird thing. My wife and I had a house we rented in NY, we sold it, and I flew to Pensacola and built a house. I really like the place. It's about 1750 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, across the street from the ICW.

But if you recall, 05 was a bitch of a year for hurricanes, so my in laws changed their minds. At the time, we debated selling it, but we kept it and have rented to military since. It's been paying for itself.

My central issue is my wife's reluctance to go south. She graduated from LSU in 1980 and remembers the south in negative tones. She also has an issue with the summer heat. My counter arguments are, firstly, 35 years ago is an eternity, and secondly, a couple of months of oppressive heat are virtually the same as a couple of months of cold and misery.

But I am a persistent man, and I will not let go of this !

Oh, and btw, my Indigo prop arrived today. And, boy, it is small!

Chris
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Old 04-22-2015, 10:49 PM
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Chris, now you can understand the rating plus.

Dave Neptune
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Old 04-23-2015, 07:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skywalker View Post
What you might find interesting about this whole moving south thing is that I already own a house in Pensacola. As the story goes, back in 05 my in laws wanted to do the snowbird thing. My wife and I had a house we rented in NY, we sold it, and I flew to Pensacola and built a house. I really like the place. It's about 1750 sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, across the street from the ICW.

But if you recall, 05 was a bitch of a year for hurricanes, so my in laws changed their minds. At the time, we debated selling it, but we kept it and have rented to military since. It's been paying for itself.

My central issue is my wife's reluctance to go south. She graduated from LSU in 1980 and remembers the south in negative tones. She also has an issue with the summer heat. My counter arguments are, firstly, 35 years ago is an eternity, and secondly, a couple of months of oppressive heat are virtually the same as a couple of months of cold and misery.

But I am a persistent man, and I will not let go of this !

Oh, and btw, my Indigo prop arrived today. And, boy, it is small!

Chris

So was this guy!

Don't worry - you will love it...more importantly you will love what it can do.
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Old 05-22-2015, 08:14 AM
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Last night was my first sail, and first race, of the season. Winds out of the south in the mid teens. Reef in the main, 160...fast and fun. And successful.

After the race, I'm motoring back at a nice 5.5 kts, 1400 RPMs.

I am struck by how quiet and smooth she is. Really sweet.

I'm by myself, have time to think. Why are my RPMs so low? Wasn't one of the goals of the Indigo to get my RPMs up? Obviously, yes. But I'm being pushed along nicely at this level. My old two blade 13 x 8 did this, but was noisy as hell and vibrated.

I decided to push it a bit, see how many RPMs I could get. I'm damn near hull speed, so there isn't much room to play.

Well, not much was left in the tank.

So now I'm thinking I should double check my timing. I should be able to get a little more. She starts great, runs great, pressure at 40, temp at 165 or so. If I did not have a tach, I probably would just pour some rum and smile with peace and contentment.

Should I be chasing some more RPMs?

Chris
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Old 05-22-2015, 08:46 AM
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Chris, my ole engine is very tired and I get 2200 at 7" of vac when clean.

Are you sure the tach is correct?

The smooth and quiet are definitely something I "recognize" with the Indigo.

Were you happy with the "drag" of the prop?

Dave Neptune
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  #21   IP: 107.188.21.127
Old 05-22-2015, 10:21 AM
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Drag? What drag?

The tack was new ISSPRO from MMI last season. Maybe I'll see about checking it with a different tach.

Chris
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Old 05-22-2015, 04:34 PM
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Does the tach have a 4~6~8 switch? If so you may be on 6 cyl.

Dave Neptune
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  #23   IP: 107.188.24.199
Old 05-23-2015, 08:21 AM
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I'll check today.

Question, though.

The tach reads about 600-700 at idle. Would it do this if the setting was wrong?

Last edited by Skywalker; 05-23-2015 at 08:26 AM.
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