The Boating Forum - Mercury Mirage Plus Vs. Mercury Offshore Props

Has anyone here compared both these props? I understand that they have similar lifting characteristics . . . . I'm trying to find a prop that will give me the most economical cruising speed for long runs.

The tempest plus is a much better off shore prop than the mirage - I have tested both:
3 gph better for twins at cruise than the mirage
no blow out - mirage blows out big time...
better WOT too - almost 3 mph better...

As they just discovred that by making a CR in the tempest line - it is just started to make offshore inroads...it's their best 3 blade prop unitl the Enertia become avail, IMO...

try here...

http://appcenter.mercurymarine.com/propSelector/home.do;jsessionid=750857fcf6264a64acb7eb3671fe047 e.n6XIsAyIpkjMmQPvqAzIngTxpQOUaN0Ka3D3lN4RawSMaMSK-x8L-x8Kn6bycgTAn38Lb65Abx4M-wOSa30K8Nzta5WN-AfJpBDD-APzqAbHml9DpAiImQXH8N4PbxyTa2bCpQPz8QvJpkixn6jAmlj Gr5XDqQLvpAe_

The tempest plus is a much better off shore prop than the mirage - I have tested both:
3 gph better for twins at cruise than the mirage
no blow out - mirage blows out big time...
better WOT too - almost 3 mph better...

As they just discovred that by making a CR in the tempest line - it is just started to make offshore inroads...it's their best 3 blade prop unitl the Enertia become avail, IMO...

Glen E - Thanks for the info on the tempest. After trying several props . . . I am amazed at the difference prop choice makes in the ride, economy, and overall performance of your boat. I'm convinced that by finding the right prop will add serveral MPH to your cruise speed, save you $$ at the pump, and keep you a little drier.

The difference in handling and performance b/w the props below was enough to convince me.

Stock Yamaha Aluminum prop 19pitch (5800rpm) 48.5mph (nice level ride with sligh bow lift)
Rapture 17 (5400 rpm) (42.5mph) (way too much bow lift for my boat, bow was way too light)
Highfive 17 (6400rpm) (47.5mph) (great overall lift . . . the whole boat seemed to ride a bit higher in the water)
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I can vouch for the Tempest. It is very good in single engine deep V applications. Much better than the Viper on my Etec 250/McKee 22 outfit. Holds plane at much lower speed and almost impossible to blow out (at least in my experience).

I have a 23' Concept with a 200hp Merc. 3,000 pounds dry weight.
19 pitch Mirage plus = 55-5600rpm at 49mph
21 pitch Offshore = 55-5600 rpm at 53mph but engine sounds a bit labored at lower speeds. Above 4000 rpm it comes to life and carries the boat nice.

Suprisd that I could pull the same rpm with a bgger four blade but that Mirage plus has so much cup and more diameter than the Ofshore.

I just mounted up a 21 pitch LaserII that I think will be the winner. I have run it at low and cruising speeds but didint get to run it out but it feels like it will pull more rpm than the other two. It looks like the same blade design as the Offshore but a 3 blade instead.

The laser seemed to blow out in rough water. It has a small diameter and only 3 blades.

I ran a 21 pitch Mirage Plus and 21 pitch Offshore on a 175 HP HPDI in a lightweight 19-foot aluminum fishing boat. The offshore produced 55 mph @ 5,500 rpm with 6% slip. The Mirage produced 55 mph @ 5,400 rpm with 4% slip. In my application, both props handled very similarly. In comparison, a 14 x 23 pitch aluminum Mercury Black Max produced 53.5 mph @ 5200 rpm with 12% slip.

On a side note, I called Powertech with this information and asked for a prop recommendation. I couldn't believe it when the salesman said, "buy the Merc Offshore. We can't do you any better."

Mr. D. - I just compared the 21 offshore to a mirage plus 19 this past weekend.
I could turn the 19 mirage plus 5800 rpm => 50.8mph, but couldn't spin the 21 offshore past 5100rpm . . . even trimmed out.

the enertia is all that is is cracked up to be... sevral mph faster at WOT than anyything else I have had, with as good hole shot and better handling... - search for enertia test under my name for a full grid of prop tests...

Glen E - Looks like you could go to 21's and still turn 5800.
500 rpm gain compared to mirage plus 19's is huge!
21's would give you big fuel savings @ cruise too.

Any idea what those props run?

I still really like the lifting characterisitcs of the Mirage Plus with my hull.

BigShrimpin - 5/31/2006 3:48 PM

Glen E - Looks like you could go to 21's and still turn 5800.
500 rpm gain compared to mirage plus 19's is huge!
21's would give you big fuel savings @ cruise too.

Any idea what those props run?

I still really like the lifting characterisitcs of the Mirage Plus with my hull.





I don't like 5800 - too low for my tastes and I think at lower rpm's the engones make a little oil - enertia's are $600 and the tempests, rev 4 and the enertia's all lift better than the mirage...

Enertias run about 500 clams shipped from SIM.. Not quite available yet..

http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=103774

I am in the market for a tempest,or rev 4. 17P LH. To be used on an LF225 If someone has one they would like to sell. Please email me at "[email protected]" Thanks in advance,Jeff

Jeff,

I may buy an Enertia (18") when they come out and test it. Depending upon if I like the rev4 (17") I have now or the enertia better, one of them will be for sale.

Greg

I just ordered the Rev4 19's. I had planned on getting the 21's since that seems to be the right pitch in a 3 blade for my boat, but I let them talk me into trying the 19's to attempt to hit the high end of the RPM range. I also asked about the Enertia's and the dealer said that he didn't think their backing performance was satifactory.

I'll post numbers on the Rev4's once I get them on the boat (and I get the fricking E-tec fixed again). I'm hoping they'll help stay hooked up better in the rough chop we encounter down here in Houston.

MY 25 Contender turned 21 Rev4s to about 5300-5400. I put the 21 Yam SS back on and it turns those to 5600-5700. (225 Yamahas)I was not impressed with the rev 4s. I'm repowering with 200s right now and might have to try the Enertia if my new 200s can't swing the 21s like I want them to. Or maybe even try the Tempests. I always wondered why Merc didn't make counter rotating outboard props. The Mirage and plus was designed for their sterndrives. They work great on outboards, but the Tempest is a outboard prop and has to be better.

Grin, I may have some 21 Enertias that I might give up. I tried them once and didn't like the way they worked for my application(31 Contender w/f225s & wedges). I put my 19 SWS back on until I can find something better for my use. I was going to try 19 Mirage Pluses but don't know if the Tempests might be better option.
For anyone else that is interested in my experience: I was trying to improve cruising speed/mpg without overpropping my engines with normal 21s. WOT increased 2-3mph and at 4600(my normal cruise) went from 38.5mph down to 37.5 while mpg went from 1.5-1.6 to 1.7. I was still able to get 5600rpms(in the ocean with 200gl fuel two people and more gear than most carry). Another positive note was that it cleaned up my prop wash when trolling.
However my slow/economical cruise went down the toilet; typically on a calm day 4000rpms = 30mph @ 1.8. My boat lost a mph anf I was reading 1.3-1.5 which is totally unacceptable for my use. It isn't until I got to the upper rpm and speed range that the economy and speed got better, but this was at the sacrifice of too much bow lift/movement and fluctuating rpms. This would never work for me in real world fishing circumstances that I encounter.
I don't know enough about props but I feel that I need more blade area to push a load. I do like the Mercury props and their hub system so now I'm looking for 19's in one of their 3 bladed props. I had Mirages on another boat and I liked them but now that I read this thread I'm not sure where to turn.
What is the diffence between the Mirage Plus and Tempest in regards to rake and cup?

Captain John - 6/20/2006 7:17 PM


What is the diffence between the Mirage Plus and Tempest in regards to rake and cup?

I would try and trade for a 19 enertia - merc themselves say that you should stay with the same size as you had when ruinning an enertia so a 19 would be interesting. I am pushing the same size boat and by far I like th enertia' s the best (19) then a 19 tempest and then the mirage. The mirage had the least hookup and the most blow out. The Tempest and Enertia do not blow out ever and hook up real fast for me.

that being said my rev 4's is much of the same as above but smoother and better around docks...lotsa choices but mirages are on the bottom for me....

It's hard to imagine the Mirage having the least hookup . . . especially at 15.25" (19 pitch). I'm excited to try an enertia.

BigShrimpin - 5/31/2006 2:56 PM

Mr. D. - I just compared the 21 offshore to a mirage plus 19 this past weekend.
I could turn the 19 mirage plus 5800 rpm => 50.8mph, but couldn't spin the 21 offshore past 5100rpm . . . even trimmed out.

Perfect example of why you need to test drive a prop before buying one. Every boat reacts different.

Why not keep the Mirage and have it labbed?

PS. I have a 19 picj Mirage Plus and a 21 Laser II that I am going to put on Ebay eventually if thats what anyone is looking for.

BigShrimpin - 6/20/2006 7:35 PM

It's hard to imagine the Mirage having the least hookup . . . especially at 15.25" (19 pitch). I'm excited to try an enertia.

the tempest has open PVS holes standard and is a bass boat prop that is known for it's hookup. They only recently made a counter rotator for the model which opened it up to offshore use. And it's worth it. The enertia has hookup for me as it has bigger ears....almost an inch more than a mirage

see my enetria test and all my stats here:


http://www.thehulltruth.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=104054&posts=54&highlight=enertia&highlightmode=1#M1047752

Thanks for the information Glen; if I were to do it over I would stick with the 19s. I did my best to calculate it out with Mercury's prop selector, reps at the Miami Boat Show and the fact that a lot of people run 21 pitch props on the same boat. There isn't anyone around here that I know of that will let you try props so I took a gamble and bought them from a dealer on Ebay(my 1st ebay purchase). I did get a good price but I had to wait 7 weeks(Mercury backlogged) and since the dealer won't respond to my emails with some questions I doubt that he would trade them out even for a profit.
I'll probably try to sell them and try the Enertia 19s. If I don't prefer them over my stock props I'll just use them as back ups rather then the aluminum ones I have.

Captain John - 6/20/2006 9:16 PM

Thanks for the information Glen; if I were to do it over I would stick with the 19s. I did my best to calculate it out with Mercury's prop selector, reps at the Miami Boat Show and the fact that a lot of people run 21 pitch props on the same boat. There isn't anyone around here that I know of that will let you try props so I took a gamble and bought them from a dealer on Ebay(my 1st ebay purchase). I did get a good price but I had to wait 7 weeks(Mercury backlogged) and since the dealer won't respond to my emails with some questions I doubt that he would trade them out even for a profit.
I'll probably try to sell them and try the Enertia 19s. If I don't prefer them over my stock props I'll just use them as back ups rather then the aluminum ones I have.

don't worry - go on the trading dock here at THT right now and post you want to doa swap. Someone will be in the same situation and need 19's...Enertias will be hot for a while so someone will trade...

Captain John,

You can test all the props you want for an hourly rate with Propgods.com. (They are a sponsor of this forum)

https://www2089.ssldomain.com/propgods/propgods/propgods/proptesting.aspx

Propgods is currently on the west coast of Florida, from St Pete to Naples. They will travel to the east coast of Florida if you can get together 3 or 4 boats that want to prop out.

finbox

Thanks finbox. I worked out a deal with Propgods and I'm sending my 21s to them for some Enertia 19s. We'll see how they work.