Gear

Photos: Select the right prop for your aluminum boat

Aluminum bass boats are less expensive to buy and operate, they're more durable, cheaper to tow, come with lower insurance premiums and can handle shallow and hazardous waters better.

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Aluminum bass boats have many advantages over their fiberglass counterparts, many of which appeal to the average working-man basser: They're less expensive to buy and operate, they're more durable, cheaper to tow, come with lower insurance premiums and can handle shallow and hazardous waters better. The one downside? Speed. However, if you balance your aluminum rig properly and get it dialed in with the right prop, you won't be sacrificing too much in that department.
Aluminum bass boats have many advantages over their fiberglass counterparts, many of which appeal to the average working-man basser: They’re less expensive to buy and operate, they’re more durable, cheaper to tow, come with lower insurance premiums and can handle shallow and hazardous waters better. The one downside? Speed. However, if you balance your aluminum rig properly and get it dialed in with the right prop, you won’t be sacrificing too much in that department.
Here is one of the test rigs, the author's Triton X18 with a 115-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS. Sure, it looks small, but it's 18'8
Here is one of the test rigs, the author’s Triton X18 with a 115-horse Mercury Optimax ProXS. Sure, it looks small, but it’s 18’8″ long and has a beam as wide as that of 21-foot fiberglass rigs: 92 inches. Plus, the author’s 6’5″ stature makes the boat look dainty.
The other mule is B.A.S.S. Tournament Manager Chuck Harbin's 2008 Bass Tracker Pro Team 190 with a 90-horse Mercury Optimax. Harbin runs with a notoriously heavy load, most of it being Helicopter Lures and Banjo Minnows. Or so I'm told.
The other mule is B.A.S.S. Tournament Manager Chuck Harbin’s 2008 Bass Tracker Pro Team 190 with a 90-horse Mercury Optimax. Harbin runs with a notoriously heavy load, most of it being Helicopter Lures and Banjo Minnows. Or so I’m told.
At right, you'll see what happens when an aluminum prop meets a submerged hardwood. The prop at left is a 22-pitch Mercury Laser II.
At right, you’ll see what happens when an aluminum prop meets a submerged hardwood. The prop at left is a 22-pitch Mercury Laser II.
A closeup of the carnage.
A closeup of the carnage.
The Laser II is recommended as a performance prop for smaller horsepower outboards.
The Laser II is recommended as a performance prop for smaller horsepower outboards.
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The “22P” denotes the pitch, which is 22 inches. This prop performed best on both aluminum boats.
There are lots of factors that come into play when dealing with boats: load, ambient temperature, prop, motor alignment in relation to the hull, conditions and, of course, the driver. If any one of these and other variables is tweaked, your boat will run differently. The goal in dialing in a bass boat should be one of all-around performance while operating within safe parameters. Also, there is no silver bullet for props; don't get too wrapped up in half MPH increments; in reality, it just doesn't matter. Create a setup that runs good and enjoy your boat and time on the water.
There are lots of factors that come into play when dealing with boats: load, ambient temperature, prop, motor alignment in relation to the hull, conditions and, of course, the driver. If any one of these and other variables is tweaked, your boat will run differently. The goal in dialing in a bass boat should be one of all-around performance while operating within safe parameters. Also, there is no silver bullet for props; don’t get too wrapped up in half MPH increments; in reality, it just doesn’t matter. Create a setup that runs good and enjoy your boat and time on the water.

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