i/o wake

how can i get a decent wake from an I/O

what length boat, what motor?

20' mer cruiser engine

what kind of boat and how big of a motor?

Merc what? 4.3L, 5.7L, 350 Mag, etc.

Power has a bearing on how much ballast you can haul.

What year/brand is your boat? Hull design also plays a factor. (E.G: some bass boats are I/O).



(Message edited by wakecord on August 02, 2004)

I added an ballast system from Rival Industrys
http://www.rivalindustry.com/download.htm

Helped wake X2

i think its a merc 5.7 its a 95 marlin

4 or 5 blade prop, perfect pass, add ballast, and trim to the middle

oh yea the prop needs to be of a lower pitch then what the manufacturer would recommend to get the best hole shot but dont go full throttle or youll toast the motor

thanks bob

I have a 19 -21 on my IO and I had a dealer tell me that a lower pitch would solve all my problems. He suggested a 19 -19 and my boat did have a better low end but would cavitate really bad on turns. I would have to lower the trim all the way down to stop and then of course there was no wake then.

so what pitch should i get

If you have a 5.7L, redline is 4200-4600 RPM. Pitch will not effect your wake, only the hole-shot and upper rpms. A lot depends on the gearing for your outdrive, too.

I'm assuming you have an Alpha 1 Gen 2. I run a 23 pitch, high-five Merc prop. on a 350 Mag (4bbl version of the 5.7L) Mercrusier/Alpha 1 G2.

This pulls me (225#) out on a wakeboard with no problem and I still can top out a 55 mph (not while I'm back there). I don't slalom anymore and the 23 has plenty of pul for the wife (slalom) and kids (boards).


Bob is right, a 4 or five blade is the way to go, AND you need stainless steel. Aluminum flexes too much (I don't hink I've ever seen any 4-5 blade aluminum props anyway). Don't forget a cavitation plate 'tail' and a tube-sac (400-500#) in the ski locker.

To answer your question with a WAG: I'd say 19 or 21. A new 4-blade will set you back about $350-400 a high-5 about $500 (Internet pricing) a dealer will try to get about $600. Try some out at your local prop shop.

Scott: What is a 19-21?
More blades=less cavitation.


(Message edited by wakecord on August 02, 2004)

what does the cavitation plate do
i heard that the leadheadz are better cause they cost less and weigh more for there size

(Message edited by wakewil on August 02, 2004)

I'm not sure or know enough to tell anyone what pitch.
What one needs is a place to let you test-drive a prop for an hour or so to see how it reacts to your boat!
However I think the next one I will get will be a four blade SS. the same size as was on my boat to start 21 - 19. My thoughts are the four blades will grip the water better and the Stainless we not flex like aluminum does. I hopping this will not cavitate.

Good luck Will

thanks scott
youre right there should be a place to test out props for reactions on your boat

merc used to have a test prop program a year or two ago, im running a merc high 5 19" pitch and it is on a boat with a stock weight of 3400 lbs without the bags full, with the bags, people, fuel and extra tower weight i figure we are around 5000 lbs (which we normally dont fill all or we would be up near 5750)

Oh yea there is an aluminum 4 blade on the market maybe two, merc has one and im still up in the air about how much they flex they have but we wakeboarders do alot of start stop so it doesnt hurt to have the extra stiffness.