Selecting the Yamaha Propeller That’s Best for You

Are you looking to replace or upgrade your Yamaha propeller? Our “Outboard Propellers – Engineered for Performance” article covered the basic engineering characteristics of a propeller. Even a casual reading will allow you to conclude that every inch and angle—even its material—makes a difference in the way your Yamaha propeller influences your boat’s performance.

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This article dives a bit deeper into the Yamaha propeller selection process, including taking a quick look at Yamaha propeller families and their typical applications. In addition to the information included in this article, the Yamaha Propeller Selector is an invaluable tool. PartsVu carries the full line of Yamaha propellers, so after inputting all of the needed information, you can simply head back to PartsVu.com and search for the recommended Yamaha propeller part number.

Yamaha Propeller Selection

As you begin your outboard propeller selection process, think about the type of boating you do, and the aspects of your boat's performance would you like to correct or improve?

Generally speaking, boaters are trying to improve one or a combination of the following factors:

• Over-revving at Wide-Open Throttle (WOT)
• Failure to reach optimum RPM at WOT
• Hole-shot and acceleration
• Inability to reach top speed
• Fuel economy
• Ventilating or cavitating

Maximizing Horsepower, Minimizing RPM

The right propeller for your boat and engine combination is based in part on the wide-open throttle (WOT) operating range for your specific engine. This information is an intersection of horsepower and RPM and can be found in your owner's manual.

An optimal outboard propeller will maximize your boat's performance while allowing your engine to operate in the recommended RPM range. The correct propeller will prevent the engine from over-revving and facilitate maximum horsepower with minimum RPM.

An outboard engine under load should reach the manufacturer’s recommended RPM at WOT, usually expressed as an RPM range. Your optimal propeller will deliver acceptable acceleration and top speed while still allowing your Yamaha outboard to reach its recommended revs at WOT.

If you get this relationship wrong, premature engine damage is too often the result.

Outboard Propeller Considerations

Your propeller decision-making process will include the following factors: pitch, diameter, aluminum or steel, blade number, rake, cupping, and rotation.

Propeller Pitch

Pitch is a critically important factor when selecting a new propeller. Pitch is the distance the prop would travel forward after one complete rotation, assuming no resistance or slip.

Lower-pitch propellers encounter less resistance facilitating faster rotation and enabling hole-shot and acceleration. However, because each propeller revolution generates less forward travel, the ultimate top speed will be lower at WOT.

Hole-shot and acceleration will be reduced with higher pitch props because the outboard propeller encounters more resistance. This said, additional resistance reduces the motor's RPMs and top speed at WOT.

Generally speaking, increasing prop pitch lowers RPM, while decreasing prop pitch raises RPM.

If you need more speed, a higher pitch is generally the way to go. However, If you use a propeller with a too high pitch, the motor won't have enough horsepower to turn it adequately, so the revolutions per minute will drop. Referred to as over-propping, it overloads the engine and causes excessive wear. Under-propping—fitting a propeller with too low a diameter or pitch—can damage your engine through over-revving. Under-propping will also adversely affect fuel consumption.

Prop Diameter

Each outboard propeller has two numbers stamped on them – diameter and pitch. For example, a 14 x 19 propeller has a diameter of 14 inches and a pitch of 19 inches. The greater the diameter, the more resistance it will experience in the water.

A larger diameter propeller reduces the RPM and top-end speed. On the other hand, smaller diameter propellers increase RPM and top-end speed. However, smaller diameter props slip more frequently and are not good choices if hole-shot or acceleration improvement is your goal.

Aluminum or Steel

Aluminum propellers are the most common and the least expensive. Stainless steel propellers are more durable and generally perform better due to both thinner and stiffer blades.

Number of Blades

Most commonly, propellers have either three or four blades. Three-blade propellers are most common on general use recreational boats. With only three blades in the water, they encounter less resistance increasing fuel efficiency, and they generally have minimal impact on your outboard engine's RPM.

Four-blade propellers improve hole-shot acceleration; therefore, commonly used on ski boats. These props improve handling and are generally better in rough water.

Propeller Rake

Propeller rake is the angle that the blades slant backward. The higher the rake angle, the more the boat's bow lifts out of the water. A high rake angle reduces time to plane and increases top-end speed. However, if a rake is too high, the outboard motor will operate under strain and experience premature wear.

Cupping

A cupped propeller includes a curved lip to the trailing edge of propeller blades. It will get better traction in the water, reducing prop slip and ventilation, and improves hole-shot and acceleration. Cupped props allow the engine to be trimmed so the propeller is closer to the water's surface and can dramatically reduce RPM.

Propeller Rotation

Rotation is not an issue for most boaters as most outboards rotate the propeller shaft and propeller clockwise. However, a few run counter-clockwise, especially in dual outboard setups in which one motor runs clockwise, and the other runs counter-clockwise for better balance. Make sure your selected prop is designed for the correct rotation.

Yamaha Propeller Families

With a discussion of many outboard propeller characteristics covered, let’s look at Yamaha's propeller lineup by application and general boat classification.

Small & Medium Boats

Reliance

Created specifically for high-horsepower, in-line four-cylinder outboards (F150, F175, and F200). It’s faster at all RPM ranges than Yamaha’s painted stainless-steel propellers and resists ventilation. It features a new SDS design that needs no special hardware to function.

Talon SS

Smooth, quiet shifting, and trolling for F70 – F115 and T50/T60 outboards on pontoon, walleye, fiberglass, and deep-V boats. They feature an updated SDS design that requires no special hardware to function.

Aluminum

Low-cost and lightweight, it provides good overall performance for outboards 2 HP to 225 HP, and a wide variety of applications.

Family & Watersport Boats

Reliance

The Reliance family of outboard props is also great for many family boats pulling towables and boaters who participate in watersports.

Talon Pontoon

Excellent low-speed operation, providing higher thrust and control than conventional propellers on pontoons (even heavily loaded) using T50-F115 outboards. Features an SDS design that requires no special hardware to function.

Dual Thrust

Harnesses the power of Yamaha’s high-thrust outboards for pushing heavy loads such as sailboats and pontoons, and provides outstanding reverse thrust. Standard on T9.9 and T25, optional on T50 and T60.

Bass, Bay & Flat Boats

V MAX SHO

An ultra-high-performance ventless design and single-inch pitches allow you to fine-tune the performance of Yamaha’s four-stroke V MAX SHO.

Pro Series

This stainless-steel series provides high performance for single-outboard boats requiring bow lift.

Talon SS4

Stronger hole-shot than comparable 3-blade propellers. Excellent on mid-range powered flats boats or for applications requiring high engine mounting heights. Fits F70 to VF115, T50/T60 K series (4.25") gearcases. Standard Shift Dampener System (SDS).

Large Boats

Saltwater Series II

Designed for larger offshore boats, it provides more extended cruising range, superior midrange fuel efficiency, and better handling in rough seas. Features a new SDS design that requires no special hardware to function.

Saltwater Series XL

Designed for the V8 F350 four-stroke outboard, these propellers provide plenty of power-to-plane, acceleration, and top-end. The updated hub system accommodates older Yamaha F350s.

XTO OS Propellers

With diameters from 16 to 17 1/8 inches and increased blade surface, XTO OS propellers are engineered to complement the torque potential of V8 XTO Offshore outboards on 50-foot and larger boats. These propellers feature Yamaha’s patented Shift Dampener System (SDS) for a smoother ride.

If you are considering replacing or upgrading your Yamaha propeller, we hope this information helps. As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Yamaha Propeller Selector is a valuable tool that is extremely helpful.