www.iFourWinns.com

I even bit the bullet and bought the good grease for the splines. I am using the "special tool" for the inner nut, but I just used a good 30mm socket for the outer. So far so good.

I'm still not sure about the F5 vs the F6....

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

What do you have on there now? I've got a set of F6's I'll be getting rid of when I pickup my boat in April.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

What is the difference between the F5 and F6? Is there a number stamped on the props? And I just ordered the 828250 Grease.

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2006 300 Sundancer
2007 Trailblazer LT V8
2004 Grand Prix GTP Comp G (For Sale)
Previous Boats:
2006 255 Sundowner 5.7GXI-G
2000 CrownLine 202BR
1994 Baja 180 Islander
1980 Galaxy 18' BR

The number should be stamped on both props right after the item #. My 225 came with F6's, and your 255 should have had F6's also, if you got the Gi it would have had F5's according to the past product info on FW's site.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225

Interesting how they changed the standard prop sizes during the production run despite the engine/ hull remaining unchanged;

Sundowner 245 ( =255)
5.7GXI; F5 to 2005, F6 2006 on
8.1 : F6 to 2005, F7 2006 on

My'04 5.7 GXi one came with F6s, the dealer changed them to F5s as they were "wrong" according to the specs! Main difference I remember was that the "hole shot" appeared better with the F5s, but that top speed didn't change much. The 225 I had with the 5.7GSi/ F6 props was a lot faster ( but a lot less capable in rough water).

Graham

I have a set of both F5 and F6. When I got the boat, the F6 were on it. I liked them, but wasn't getting max RPM (falling about 400-600 short) so I switched to the F5 and got my WOT RPM where I wanted them (4800-5000 per the book) but seemed to loose a bit of the "seat of the pants" performance at cruising speed. I need to do a same day comparison with a clean hull in the spring to see which ones I want to keep on full time. I don't run WOT that offen, but I do like to see 50MPH + on the GPS to show off.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

I've long believed that the 22-24' boats with small blocks are borderline between needing F5's and F6's.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Marc, have you put any thought into trying an F5 set this season? I'm hoping I can get a same day/ same condition comparision this spring to see if I like one better than the other.

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

Dave

I have been looking for a set but have yet to come across some. I will take an F6 or F5 set since they are just my spares. I know the local prop shop has a set but they want $1200 +taxes so way too rich in my opinion. I am considering putting my boat up for sale so right now I just want work on all the necessary itemsbut it won't come out of the storage barn until atleast Easter.

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Marc, Kathlin & Nathalie


'89 Chaparral Laser 32

'93 Vista 245, 5.8L w/ King Cobra

Former Boats
'01 H260, 7.4 VP Duoprop
'98 H200, 5.0 GL w/VP SX drive

I do them about once a year here in Florida salt and have had no problem. I do grease the splines very well.

Now for the BIG QUESTION --- Did you TIME your props properly ---

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DaleG -- West Palm Beach FL
2003 240Horizon -- 5.7Gi -Duoprop

Is there a specific way to do this? I put one on and made sure the second prop had the blades in a different location. What's the story?

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2001 Horizon 260 - 7.4 Volvo GSI DP

That, in of itself, will do nothing because they are counter rotating and so they will pass through an entire range of their paths with every rotation. So, it makes no difference where you start at when you put them on the shaft. But there is school of thought that suggests that putting the props on in such a way that will keep both props from overlapping a blade when they meet in the same vertical plane as the outdrive casing will cause it to loose less bit. I highly doubt there is any scientific proof to support this but I suppose it can't hurt.

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Former owner of:
1996 Four Winns Horizon 200 5.8L VP
2006 Four Winns Horizon 260 8.1L VP
2007 Sea Ray 290 Sundancer

Current boat
2004 Sea Ray 290 Sun Sport Twin 350 Mags

FWIW, I tried it both ways, and could detect no difference.

I still time them, since it's no more trouble to do so, but I wouldn't recommend losing sleep over it.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Same here, one year when the water temperature around here got to within a few degrees of not being painful, I got in the water and took the props off refitted them "timed", I couldn't notice any difference at all. As Mike wrote, it doesn't really take that much more effort to "time" them, so there's no harm in doing it I suppose.

Graham