Author Topic: Gil Six Gun Propeller (Read 11816 times)

dorelse · « **on:** June 15, 2012, 06:27:03 PM »

Just picked this prop up as a cheap spare. Composite...but, it was priced right...couldn't order 2 pizza's for what I paid.

Supposed to be an excellent prop for tubing, skiing, etc, but not at all good for top end performance, so we'll see...if that's what its good at, it'll be great for vacation over the 4th.

Rich_V174SS · « **Reply #1 on:** June 15, 2012, 06:32:50 PM »

I suppose if it doesn't work as intended you can use it as a fan on a hot summer day and get refreshed with a nice breeze and some water spray from the hose while sitting behind the boat in your driveway.

WetRaider · « **Reply #2 on:** June 15, 2012, 06:35:52 PM »

That's hilarious, Rich.
I had a neighbor with an aluminum fishing boat while I was growing up in the El Paso desert. On hot summer days, he'd fill it with water and two 20# bags of ice and sit in it like his own pool. As a kid, we had fun getting in, too, and thought he was a genius for it.

Doran, looks like a nice prop. You always seem to score something on the economical end ... we need to hang out more often.

dorelse · « **Reply #3 on:** June 15, 2012, 06:39:38 PM »

Well, I'm honestly taking a bit of a risk with it...figure if nothing else, it'll get me home if my main prop breaks.

They aren't made anymore, so that ought to tell ya something about how they did in the market...should be interesting anyway.

Hyperacme · « **Reply #4 on:** June 15, 2012, 08:23:18 PM »

" ...figure if nothing else, it'll get me home if my main prop breaks. "

Composite prop for sale on local CL for about $35 ... I thought the same thing ... Has to be light and easy to store in boat.
Hope it works out ...

kert0307 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 18, 2012, 12:10:21 PM »

My father in law had a composite prop on his 18ft Larson when it was new in the mid nineties. He said the 2nd time he took it out he was pulling a skier and it literally threw a fin off up and out of the water. He's run aluminum and stainless ever since...

dorelse · « **Reply #6 on:** June 18, 2012, 01:16:19 PM »

Quote from: kert0307 on June 18, 2012, 12:10:21 PM

My father in law had a composite prop on his 18ft Larson when it was new in the mid nineties. He said the 2nd time he took it out he was pulling a skier and it literally threw a fin off up and out of the water. He's run aluminum and stainless ever since...

Yeah, that's the old composites. The newer style Piranha props are actually stronger than aluminum props. I ran them on 2 different boats and never had a problem.

I loved that I could buy a different set of pitch blades for $45.00 and keep tuning in the performance, or if I dinged 1, I could insert a new $15.00 replacement blade and be good as new.

However, nothing beats stainless.

Jason · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2012, 02:10:46 PM »

Composites can be much stronger than you might think. If used with fibers within the composite it can be stronger than steel. Similar to carbon fiber. Lightweight. Will not corrode. NO POLISHING REQUIRED! The leaf springs in my Chevy Astro van are composite. Just one singe leaf and they have survived 2 demolition derbies now. High end performance cars are beginning to use struts made out of composite.

It's all fun and games till we run out of petroleum!

dorelse · « **Reply #8 on:** June 18, 2012, 02:21:12 PM »

Not that this is a huge reason to go composite...but...b/c they disassemble, the storage required is less as well. No hub, just blades...

I have found that you do have to dial the pitch in on the boat, a 23p 3 Blades Stainless won't equate to a 23P 3 Blade Piranha...

Eventually, I'll get a 4-Blade Piranha and 3 different pitched blade sets and dial it in.

dorelse · « **Reply #9 on:** June 20, 2012, 06:29:47 PM »

Prop arrived today. Took me all of 3 seconds to find out that its a 17P prop. Not sure what that'll mean for a 6 bladed prop, but...we'll find out!

Hyperacme · « **Reply #10 on:** June 20, 2012, 06:42:39 PM »

I have found that the " Rule of thumb " with props ...
Ya don't know until ya try it !
Props that were said to do "This" did "That", 200 rpm increase was a 400 rpm increase, etc. etc.
Hope it works, if not ... it's a light weight back up ...

dorelse · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2012, 02:15:27 PM »

Fits...but doesn't.

Apparently they're designed for Alpha outdrives...which must have a longer prop shaft than I do? It fits the splines, but there's not enough room to get the prop nut and washers on, etc.

Too bad...I was looking forward to trying it!

WetRaider · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2012, 02:30:30 PM »

I got your Facebook post. That's too bad, Doran. When deals like that come around, they're fun to try out. Looks cool on the drive, though. I finally got that two-blade bronze polished up. It's been sitting around the living room looking pretty. Maybe I ought to order my new washers and get it put on.

dorelse · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2012, 02:44:55 PM »

yeah, I was hoping the 17P blades would like the engine spin up quicker for waterskiing/kneeboarding, but alas...denied!

Its a lot lighter than the aluminium one! Didn't realize they weren't interchangeable.

Eh...I've spent $39 on worse things. Anyone need a cheap/easy to store spare prop?

CVX Fever · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:32:29 PM »

Doran - Anything that fits on an Alpha drive should work on your drive. The High 5 I had on my first boat with an Alpha fit perfectly on my CVX18. Maybe you need a different bushing/thrust washer on the front of the prop hub.

I also think you will be way under propped with a 17P. Those small blades allow the motor to spin up a lot faster than say a 3 blade prop. My boat over-revs with a 19P High 5.

Jason · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2012, 04:49:54 PM »

I agree. I think you have the wrong spacer on the back. I have alpha props on my pre-alpha and v6 outboard.

dorelse · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2012, 04:58:23 PM »

Hmm...k...I thought so too!

I'll examine further...

I do think it'll allow it to rev to high too Kip...but I'd like to find out!

dorelse · « **Reply #17 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:55:52 PM »

Well... here's how it fits with no washer. Just looks like I'm out of real estate:

dorelse · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2012, 06:40:23 PM »

Yeah, I might need a different thrust washer...good call, and possibly a different prop nut. I'm seeing 2 styles online...

dorelse · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2012, 08:48:52 PM »

Weird...if I take the spacer off, I get a little room, but if the spacer is on, there's no room at all: