Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Sabre FTD Merc 4-stroke prop…
RazorCat.
Was looking for some feedback/advice on the best all around wheel for this combo. My initial thoughts is a tempest, but wonder if a trophy would allow a better holeshot without sacrificing top end or can it swing a fury?
I ran a 23 Tempest Plus on mine. I was very satisfied with the performance.Dan
My rig is just the Sabre with the Merc 4 stroke so hopefully my info will help you. My boat came with a 23 Tempest that hit the limiter pretty easily, but ran 63.5 mph gps. I sent the prop to Mark Croxton and had it bent to a 24″ and balanced and blueprinted. It runs 65 mph gps with my normal load, and with just me in the boat. It also just touches the limiter. I have a 23 Trophy that Ive ran, and it will hit 62.5 mph HARD on the limiter. I am either going to send it to Croxton and have it bent to a 24″, or just buy a new 24. It seems to have a little better holeshot than the Tempest, but not by a huge amount and it handles a little better. I dont think it will run as fast as the Tempest on top, but will be pretty close and will handle better. I havent ran a Fury on my rig yet, so I have no info on that. I also have a Hill Marine SL4 that was originally a 24″ and got reworked to a 25 because it was hitting the limiter just barely, and I think I liked it better before it got reworked even with it hitting the limiter. Its supposed to be a copy of a Bravo 1. I can tell you my worked Tempest will out run it now from holeshot to top end, but the SL4 handles better. My next 2 props will be either my 23 Trophy bent to a 24, or just buy a 24, and possibly a Bravo1. I do have a 25 Tempest a member on this forum loaned me to try, but I havent ran it yet. I really think it would do great on top end, but would be a turd on holeshot. Thats what seems a little odd on these 4 strokes, is that they dont have a killer holeshot but they will pull good on the top end. I personally think you need to prop the 4 stroke so it just bumps the limiter for the best all around performance, or your holeshot will suffer. I should also note I have a Hyd. jackplate and 2 powerpoles on my boat.
I had a Sabre FTD and I never hit the limiter with my 23p Tempest Plus.Dan
Dan, was yours a 4 stroke or 2 stroke? The 2 strokes have a slightly higher gear ratio than the 4 strokes and that WILL make a difference. Heck I have no problem hitting it on my 23 turned into a 24 tempest or that SL4 that was a 24 before it got bent to a 25. My Trophy that is a 23 hits it hard. The gear ratios are like a 1.87 for the 2 stroke, and 1.92 for the 4 stroke. Also the extra weight on the FTD will have an effect on hitting the limiter. Now my SL4 that is now a 25 will only turn 5900, and doesnt hit the limiter. Also my prop to pad is from 3 to 2 1/2 under pad depending on which prop.
xpress spanky wrote:Dan, was yours a 4 stroke or 2 stroke? The 2 strokes have a slightly higher gear ratio than the 4 strokes and that WILL make a difference. Heck I have no problem hitting it on my 23 turned into a 24 tempest or that SL4 that was a 24 before it got bent to a 25. My Trophy that is a 23 hits it hard. The gear ratios are like a 1.87 for the 2 stroke, and 1.92 for the 4 stroke. Also the extra weight on the FTD will have an effect on hitting the limiter. Now my SL4 that is now a 25 will only turn 5900, and doesnt hit the limiter. Also my prop to pad is from 3 to 2 1/2 under pad depending on which prop.4 stroke. I had a friend that tried to turn a 24p a Tempest I believe and he said it was too much wheel and went back to the 23p. OP also has an FTD.DanLast edited by MeanV2 on November 3rd, 2015, 1:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
xpress spanky wrote:My rig is just the Sabre with the Merc 4 stroke so hopefully my info will help you. My boat came with a 23 Tempest that hit the limiter pretty easily, but ran 63.5 mph gps. I sent the prop to Mark Croxton and had it bent to a 24″ and balanced and blueprinted. It runs 65 mph gps with my normal load, and with just me in the boat. It also just touches the limiter. I have a 23 Trophy that Ive ran, and it will hit 62.5 mph HARD on the limiter. I am either going to send it to Croxton and have it bent to a 24″, or just buy a new 24. It seems to have a little better holeshot than the Tempest, but not by a huge amount and it handles a little better. I dont think it will run as fast as the Tempest on top, but will be pretty close and will handle better. I havent ran a Fury on my rig yet, so I have no info on that. I also have a Hill Marine SL4 that was originally a 24″ and got reworked to a 25 because it was hitting the limiter just barely, and I think I liked it better before it got reworked even with it hitting the limiter. Its supposed to be a copy of a Bravo 1. I can tell you my worked Tempest will out run it now from holeshot to top end, but the SL4 handles better. My next 2 props will be either my 23 Trophy bent to a 24, or just buy a 24, and possibly a Bravo1. I do have a 25 Tempest a member on this forum loaned me to try, but I havent ran it yet. I really think it would do great on top end, but would be a turd on holeshot. Thats what seems a little odd on these 4 strokes, is that they dont have a killer holeshot but they will pull good on the top end. I personally think you need to prop the 4 stroke so it just bumps the limiter for the best all around performance, or your holeshot will suffer. I should also note I have a Hyd. jackplate and 2 powerpoles on my boat.I appreciate all the info from everyone, was leaning towards a 24″ trophy as a 4-blade really helped the softer holeshot on a smaller 4-stroke I have experience with compared to the 3-blade and didnt really give up any topend. Plus had good luck with it on Classic though that was older hull design with fuel tank in rear and w/o a jackplate, curious if you ran the engine heights considerably different between the trophy and tempest?Also does anyone know what prop was on the boat on the website by chance?Last edited by Wheelman on November 3rd, 2015, 1:08 pm, edited 2 times in total.
How about the Bravo 1 or Rev 4?
Im at about 500 above sea level and not a big boy nor do I carry a ton of tackle, rarely tournament fish and doubt Ill ever need to fill the gas tank over half way with this engine. So Id say my load is generally light, just dont want to be on the limiter all the time.
MeanV2 wrote:I had a Sabre FTD and I never hit the limiter with my 23p Tempest Plus.DanSame here. Sabre FTD, 150 Opti, 23 Tempeest.63-64 MPH @ 5400 RPM. Have never hit the limiter.
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