BB3 props

Pete McMiller

Well-known member
I while back, OK maybe last year, we talked about props for the BB3. I have a 30 hp Evinrude on my BB3 and was disappointed in the performance. I had difficulty getting up on plane and it just seemed to be a dog in the water when I had a load of decoys, dog and a buddy. I was using the 10x13 prop that came with the motor as well as a 10x13 aftermarket prop. Up until this last weekend I was even thinking of getting a 40 hp for it just to get some reserve power.

Last summer I bought a different prop from Cabelas, a 10.5x11, just to see what the effect would be. Over the past couple of weekends I had a chance to check it out under similar loads. At first, I could tell that the rpm's were up but I still had trouble getting it up on plane. Motor seemed to run better but still a dog. I had me at 210, my dog at 115, my buddy at 150, 4 dozen decoys and of course a bunch of anchors, long line wts, and gear. You don't realize it until you add it all up but there had to be in the neighborhood of 600lbs in the boat. In addition I have a 9 gallon built in gas tank just behind the forward bulkhead. We realized that most of the movable weight was ending up in the back half of the boat when underway.

We rearranged the weight and put as much forward as we could, anchors, long line wts., my buddy and dog and now the boat flies! I didn't put the gps on it so I have no idea how fast but getting up on plane, even with all the weight is no problem. I finally realize I have enough motor for the boat.

So, take heed if your boat doesn't seem as lively as you want, redistribute your weight and try again. It seems dumb to say it considering all the time I have spent in boats but I was really surprised at how much the performance increased with a little weight redistribution.

Pete
 
Pete

I use two props on my BBII depending upon load. I've got a 30 Johnson too and with a light load a 12 pitch prop moves right along. With just me it does about 28 mph. Get another guy, dog, decoys, grass, and gear and it drops down. I put an 11 pitch prop on then and she does about 23-24 mph. I think the displacement hull of the BBII is more prone to loading speed loss and there is no way it ever would get on plane with a heavy load and the stock 13 pitch prop.

One other thing. I get better performance by raising the motor pin to a higher hole. You might see if that gets you anymore without causing porpoising or caviatation.
 
Hehehe, you know, we got a lot of stories out of that trip. When you coming back for a rerun? It's time for more material for my comedy act.

My Kara hasn't seen water in at least three years now. Now that I have the BB3 and a Classic, I have no need for it for most of my hunting. Guess I'll have to find a muscle bound youngster to give it to.

Pete
 
Pete

I use two props on my BBII depending upon load. I've got a 30 Johnson too and with a light load a 12 pitch prop moves right along. With just me it does about 28 mph. Get another guy, dog, decoys, grass, and gear and it drops down. I put an 11 pitch prop on then and she does about 23-24 mph. I think the displacement hull of the BBII is more prone to loading speed loss and there is no way it ever would get on plane with a heavy load and the stock 13 pitch prop.

One other thing. I get better performance by raising the motor pin to a higher hole. You might see if that gets you anymore without causing porpoising or caviatation.


Eric,

Hmmmm, I never thought of changing the motor angle when under load, I'll have to try that. I had so much trouble getting rid of the porpoising when she first hit the water (not enough transom angle) that changing the angle back never occured to me. In fact I had taken the pin out altogether to get the motor down far enough. Come to think of it, I don't know if I can even find the pin again. Plus, I think I'd need to take the motor off to get the pin back in again.
 
Pete

To do away with the need to remove the motor to change the pin I used two clevis pins, one on each side.

 
Last edited:
Pete

To do away with the need to remove the motor to change the pin I used two clevis pins, one on each side.
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Aaaaaah Soooooo, Never thought of that. I'll pick a couple up and give them a try.
 
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