The 13" prop on a Cuda

I finally got a chance to try the 540 that didn't work on my Tique on a Barracuda hull. The cuda's just like the Tique came with 12" props and for those of you who don't remember the Tique results I'll mention it again. The prop (540 is a 13" dia.) being so close to the hull, vibrated and produced a hull buzz that was so bad that I didn't run it for over about 15 minutes. The rule of thumb is that hull clearance should be about 10% of the prop dia. otherwise you will get cavitation at that area. It can be severe enough to erode the hull. It's called "hull rash" or "prop burn".

I got over to Charlie's boat house just as he had lowered the boat into the water with the 540 on it so I didn't get a chance to see the install. We took it out and the performance was quite impressive for the old 318. Absolutely no hull buzz or vibration. Regretfully his tach isn't working but I'd have to say it would crank up to around 41 or 4200. (his shop tach was out too!) We got the boat back and hauled up to put his old prop back on.

Here's the 540:


Take a look at the length of the prop shaft!! It's past the strut I'd say 3" from where it should be and the reason the 13" ran with a hull clearance of 1&1/4". Plenty of room and it's my opinion it's the reason it ran without the prop to hull cavitation.

We put the old prop back on which is stamped 12" x 16" but I feel that it has been re pitched because no way would the old 318 pull the 16" The hole shot was about twice the time and it would only crank up to about 3800 I'd say.

The old prop back on the Cuda:


The old prop cleared the hull by 1&5/8" Well the end result is he needs to get his tack fixed and or buy a new shop tach to tweak in the WOT with a prop.

BTW Reid, That's not Inca Gold!!!

BuffaloBFN wrote: Well howdy then! I thought that was you in the straw hat on the reunion thread.

Greg, No, I'm the one with the gray/white hair. Jbear and I stand out in the group due to our hair. The first thing John said to me when he made his "surprise" visit on Friday evening was "nice hair"!! At least we still have it!

Greg he is easy to spot in any photo,he be the the one that looks smart.
All the rest of us are just trying..........

8122pbrainard wrote: BTW Reid, That's not Inca Gold!!!

Are you really sure? I can't really see enough to tell what it might be. So what color is it then, since you got my attention? We now know, according to Ken Meloon, that Tim's and Phil's boats are indeed the mysterious IG.

8122pbrainard wrote: reidp wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: BTW Reid, That's not Inca Gold!!! Are you really sure? I can't really see enough to tell what it might be. So what color is it then, since you got my attention? We now know, according to Ken Meloon, that Tim's and Phil's boats are indeed the mysterious IG. Charlie feels the Cuda is a 69 or 70 so I believe that was after the Inca Gold days. We really don't know!!

Pete, I cant tell what color that is from those pics- but my Skier is a '71 or '72, so they were still offering IG at that point.

Good info Larry- you inspired me to give Dave Hendricks a call, which Ive been meaning to do for some time. He told me that the build date was 5/17/71, so its a '71. Thats what I was always told, but I began to doubt it when I saw the white/black plastic emblems (some '71's used the metal ones) and saw a build date of 6/71 for the trailer. That settles that!

I'd love to see more photos of Charlie's Barracuda. Is he in the Diaries?

BTW - great to see all of you at Green Lake

This topic got me to thinking about the differences between the early 16'6" Classic and Barracuda hulls ('65 and earlier) vs the longer 17'1" Barracuda hulls.

I do not have the clearance between the strut and prop and rudder as shown on Charlie's boat. I certainly would not be able to put a 13" prop on mine (the 12" has 1" clearance) or a longer shaft.

I wonder if the older Classic/Cuda hulls were lengthened in the back in this area which would allow him to run the 13" prop?