IcyDuck
17-08-2014, 12:36 AM
Just thought I'd post a mention of the recent great service I received from Solas at the Sunshine Coast.
We purchased a new Baysport 545 with a Yamaha F100 about 10 months ago. I just went with the standard Yamaha alloy 17" pitch prop. The dealer said it would be a good allround prop for what we needed. After running the motor in I found we were only getting a touch under 32 knots at wot. Revs were a little high at 6100rpm also. I raised the motor up 1 hole to get the cav plate out of the water but it made little difference to speed or revs (I had expected the revs to go up at least). Was getting about 23 knots at 4500rpm.
Had a word to the dealer but they didn't seem very interested. I've read a few previous recommendations for Solas so gave them a call. I spoke to Shane who seemed to know what he was talking about. He suggested going to a SS 16" pitch 3 blade. He also said that if it didn't work we could swap it to another size until we were happy. I gave it some thought over a few days then decided to go ahead. It was delivered the day after I ordered it. Gave it a try later that week. Revs at wot were about the same - maybe a bit higher at 6150rpm. However seemed to have a lot more response and max speed up to nearly 35 knots. This was all with an average load in the boat.
Spoke to Solas again the next day and suggested I try a SS 17" pitch. Arrived at my door the next day before I had even sent the previous one back to them. Gave that a try a few days later. WOT was now right down to 5600rpm with max speed back down to under 32knots.
Gave Shane from Solas another call. Like me he was quite surprised by the large drop in revs going from the 16" to the 17". The Baysport is a pretty light hull so that might have something to do with it. He said he would therefore cup a 16" and send it to me. Two days later I received that. Gave it a try and bingo - 5900rpm and a touch under 36 knots. Best cruise seemed to be about 4300rpm giving 25knots and 2.6klms per litre (based on fuel flow from the Garmin interfaced to the Yamaha). Really happy with the improvement and those figures.
I know I could have bought a lot cheaper online from the states but would have not got such great service. For someone with very little experience in this area I reckon that is well and truly worth the extra cost.
Cheers Phil
We purchased a new Baysport 545 with a Yamaha F100 about 10 months ago. I just went with the standard Yamaha alloy 17" pitch prop. The dealer said it would be a good allround prop for what we needed. After running the motor in I found we were only getting a touch under 32 knots at wot. Revs were a little high at 6100rpm also. I raised the motor up 1 hole to get the cav plate out of the water but it made little difference to speed or revs (I had expected the revs to go up at least). Was getting about 23 knots at 4500rpm.
Had a word to the dealer but they didn't seem very interested. I've read a few previous recommendations for Solas so gave them a call. I spoke to Shane who seemed to know what he was talking about. He suggested going to a SS 16" pitch 3 blade. He also said that if it didn't work we could swap it to another size until we were happy. I gave it some thought over a few days then decided to go ahead. It was delivered the day after I ordered it. Gave it a try later that week. Revs at wot were about the same - maybe a bit higher at 6150rpm. However seemed to have a lot more response and max speed up to nearly 35 knots. This was all with an average load in the boat.
Spoke to Solas again the next day and suggested I try a SS 17" pitch. Arrived at my door the next day before I had even sent the previous one back to them. Gave that a try a few days later. WOT was now right down to 5600rpm with max speed back down to under 32knots.
Gave Shane from Solas another call. Like me he was quite surprised by the large drop in revs going from the 16" to the 17". The Baysport is a pretty light hull so that might have something to do with it. He said he would therefore cup a 16" and send it to me. Two days later I received that. Gave it a try and bingo - 5900rpm and a touch under 36 knots. Best cruise seemed to be about 4300rpm giving 25knots and 2.6klms per litre (based on fuel flow from the Garmin interfaced to the Yamaha). Really happy with the improvement and those figures.
I know I could have bought a lot cheaper online from the states but would have not got such great service. For someone with very little experience in this area I reckon that is well and truly worth the extra cost.
Cheers Phil