Replacing stock prop on VR5

[Capboatclub1]

Hi folks - I have a 2017 VR5 with a J1415P 3 blade prop on it right now. 4.3L Mercruiser MPI Alpha.

The thing is terrible at acceleration. With 2 people on board, it takes 7-10 seconds to plane out. With 6 or 7 people on board, it's 20+ seconds.

I called Bayliner support and they verified that this is the correct prop from the factory. They couldn't say whether a different prop would improve these habits.

I'm wondering if replacing it with a prop with a different pitch would improve time to plane/acceleration. Or a 4 blade or a stainless steel prop? I'm relatively new to boat ownership so apologies in advance if this is a stupid question. I've just been having a helluva time finding anyone who knows the answer.

[crtidefan]

Same issue! Following....

[freechip]

My 2017 VR5 with the Merc 4.5L 200hp come with Merc. BlackMax 19p

After trying a 23p and a 21p I'm went back to the stock 19p. Fully loaded with gear, full of fuel and 4 adults 3 kids it would take similar times you mentioned to get on plane. I now have a Merc. Spitfire 4 blade 19P prop which marine shop says should improve time to plane and little loss in top end.

[Guest]

I went with a 4 blade Mercury Alpha 4 (20p) for my 185. However this spring I changed back to the stock 3 blade and I can't believe the difference. Feels like we are dragging an anchor around now. Changing back asap. Use the online Mercury Prop selector, its pretty good.

[Guest]

I also had major problems with my dealer installed prop on my new VR5 150hp OB. Was a spitfire that wouldn't even get up on plane at all. Local Mercury dealer put on a Enertia 18p SS and at least it now gets on plane but does take abit of time. My steering is also quite stiff (especially when turning left). Would love to hear of any props that anyone is having a good experience with on the VR5.

[RobMick]

I think the switch to a 4-blade prop makes a ton of sense. I would also consider adding Smart Tabs...in all posts I have seen on this forum as well as the Internet as a whole, not one complaint I recall. The only con to the tabs would be as someone stated if you plan on wakeboarding...... it with that being said, if you are "hardcore" into wakeboarding you wouldn't have bought a Bayliner....

[rhythmpoetdonut]

My 642 really pushes to get on plane with the stock Black Max 19p 14.5" three blade aluminum prop. Also, cavitates easily and so I can't hardly trim. Dealer recommended going with an 18p Alpha 4 (four blade). Looks like they don't make these anymore and now it's just Spitfire, a 17p 4-blade that was developed for pontoons.

I think solution is ultimately a 17p 4-blade stainless, but does anyone have experience with Spitfires? I don't mind alum, as I may spin one occasionally in shallow waters.

Bottom line, I don't think I'll need smart tabs with the right prop. Or, at least I'm definitely starting at the prop first!! It's amazing the difference a prop makes. Never knew!!!

[freechip]

I've had Spitfire 14" 19P 4 blade prop on for several hours. Difference in torque vs stock Blackmax 14.5" 19P 3 blade is noticeable. Still able to get top speeds above 40mph which is what I wanted.

Full fuel, full gear 7 people on board and gets on plane in reasonable time. Going with it for the rest of the season but might get a Blackmax 17P next year for those rare times I may be 8 onboard and tubing or wakeboarding.

[Waterdowg]

I have been trying to decide on which is the best prop for myself. I have the same prop size as you. From what i read on Mercury's site if my RPM are with in the correct range and I want a spitfire prop I should use the 14x19p Spitfire.

[pir6es]

This hull need a 4 blade prop, as the 4 blade prop makes more push up for the back of the boat. I have a VR5 OB and we tryed direferent propelers, and the best is with a 4 blade

[pir6es]

Changing propeler on a bayliner VR5

[STEWARTVR5]

What Pitch?

[pir6es]

4x15x19 is what i m using

[freechip]

2017 season coming to a end soon for me and pretty much 80hrs with my Spitfire 19x14 (4blade) I've decided I'll be getting something smaller for next season as in 17p (4 blade or 3)

Full fuel, large number of people onboard she did struggle to get on plane and that is not even talking about when doing watersports.

[lcbrandt]

Long time without any new messages here, but I'd like to add something...

I was having the same problem with my Blackmax 19p that came with my VR5, very long time to plane. After reading the messages here, I have bought a Spitfire 19p (4 blades). Before testing it, my Bayliner dealer that was aware of the problem sent me a new propeller saying that this was more adapted to my boat: A Mercury Enertia 15P (yes, 15P...). When I first saw it, I thought that he had made a mistake and even tried to call and tell him it, but he was busy at that moment and I was going to the lake...

As I had the propeller, I decided to test, just to make sure that this 15P would not fit my boat, but... what a surprise! Acceleration is insane and it planes very easily, which was expected with a low pitch propeller, but in the other extreme it did also very, very well! I had a top sped of 68.6kmh (compared to 63 with the Blackmax) at 5800RPM, it did not exceed the maximum rotation of the engine as I was expecting. I did only a first test yesterday but up to know I am very satisfied with the propeller, let's see over the weekend how it will behave.