Lycoming GO 480 prop choices

[Butterbean]

I have a GO480 on a 13'6" Laser. Currently running a 79" 3 blade R. The boat runs very well but was just curious if anyone has ever tried running a 2 blade S series. I believe the sweet spot on these r blades is 2800 and 2300 on the S blades. With the gear reduction and maintaining 3500 engine rpms your prop rpms is real close to 2300

[getpickeled]

Super curious on the response you get, I'm building a GO480 rite now. I have been running my 480 without the box for 2 years and currently in the build reinstalling it. How does yours run?!

[Butterbean]

Runs good, I've been really happy with my boat. It has performed well and most times I have the whole family with me. Just curious to see if I would get a little more push with some S blades. Hopefully I will get some responses from someone out there who has tried it.

[Whitebear]

Butterbean, I moved this over to Prop Talk from Site Related for you. Site related is about how the functions of the forum work & etc..

[farmboy]

I have a GO480 on a 13'6" Laser. Currently running a 79" 3 blade R. The boat runs very well but was just curious if anyone has ever tried running a 2 blade S series. I believe the sweet spot on these r blades is 2800 and 2300 on the S blades. With the gear reduction and maintaining 3500 engine rpms your prop rpms is real close to 2300

What pitch mark are you running with the 3-bld? And rpm?

[Butterbean]

1 1/4 / 3400 rpm on the trailer.

[farmboy]

I know the GO is a whole other beast. But from all the testing I've done with the R's I've done on the GSO's with the stock gear no matter how long the prop is to me 2 1/2 mark seems to be the sweet spot on those blades. I'm my opinion... Since your talking about going to a 2 blade why don't you try making it into a 2-blade with the R's? Then that would put you about there in pitch... I've never seen a GO with a 2-blade SuperWide to say they run good or not but I do know the superwide's do rob some power. Then again who knows it could work the best on your setup for the riding you do...

[DAGWOOD0520]

Most boats will run a 2 blade 78-80" R series with a few out there running 3 blades, I believe the 3 blade guys are running higher rated hp engines or holding the max rpm down around 3200 instead of 3400. I would say the main downfall to putting a superwide on the engine would be the gearbox noise through the prop, most of those that have tried the S ended up going back to the R because the bigger blade with the larger internal hollow chambers will give off a sound like something is beating itself to death, especially at idle speed.

I would suggest trying it as a 2 blade R and see what you think about that before trying anything else.

Thanks

[ptr34]

I hated the 2 blade u get more torque roll with it and u have to run harder on hill. 3 blade is the best all around prop i have ran on my go480. Superwides u probably wont even be on pitch mark one. i have 270 hours on a 275hp go480 with bunch of different prop and 3 blade wins all day long

[Butterbean]

Thanks everyone for all the feedback.

[TIGO541]

Super curious on the response you get, I'm building a GO480 rite now. I have been running my 480 without the box for 2 years and currently in the build reinstalling it. How does yours run?!

I'm Building a GO480 boat myself and I'm gonna try the 78inch 3bld Whirlwind Stump Puller. I think it's gonna be a great prop for the GO480 because they are 12in wide blades (Rs are 13in wide). I think the 78in 3bld NGQ would be a perfect prop too

[Butterbean]

I believe I'll try some NGR's. There only a few miles from me and the customer service is great.

[TIGO541]

The NGR needs a little more pitch per HP compared to the R so you should be fine. Terry Farkas loves his on his GO480

[ChuckP]

I'm in the process of building a GO480 boat now and I have a 2 blade S to go on it. I can tell ya how it does in a couple of months.