Stock vs aftermarket impeller

[wiser]

Hi everybody, I have a 2002 GTI 720 that needs an impeller replacement due to damage. I have a few choices and wondering if there is much difference. The main reason I ask is because I can get a used or refurbished OEM for much cheaper then a Solas or Skat Trak.

However, if the Solas or Skat Trak offers a noticeable improvement over the OEM then I don't mind spending a little extra.

From what I gather, my stock prop is either a 10/20 or 11/20. Both Solas and Skat Trak offer a 10/16 as a replacement. Based on just the numbers that would equal a slower top end, 16 vs 20, but maybe their blade design is very different.

Anyone have any experience with these props in a GTI 720 and able to compare them?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Coastiejoe]

Though I do not know about the 720 specifically, here is the general rule...

Unless you change the performance and or Max RPMs of the engine, putting anything on that is a larger or smaller step will cost you on one end or the other.

So,,, if you get a prop to go faster, you will normally lose bottom end thrust as well as low end performance.
The opposite is true, if you get a low end prop, meaning that will get you out of the hole quicker, you will lolse top end speed based on the RPM limiter.

One exception seems to be the Skat impeller. It MAY increase top end, but it generally improves your normal over-all range. A skat will normally help a bit on the bottom hole shots and it will normally help across the range from low to high speed by a slight increase in performance.

Let a 2-stroke guy hop in here and either confirm this or make a specific suggestion based on experience.

 

[mikidymac]

I suggest sending your stock impeller to Skat-Trak for repair. It will look and perform like new for less money.

 

[howie099]

In the aftermarket you can't go by their indexing/pitch since there is no standard and everyones is different from manufacture. When you pick out the impeller you choose from like topend, more traction, lowend. The manufactures have a chart you go by for what model and what level your ski is at(stock, Modified, blah, blah). When you choose like a topend one you will loose usually on the take off, lowend ones you loose on topend. Some make a swirl design to better hookup and chopping up vegitation and that. The stock ones are set for like all around use good through all the ranges. You choose on your riding style and conditions you are mostly in.

 

[mikidymac]

For a stock GTI 720 your best bet is with the stock impeller.

 

[wiser]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I noticed that with aftermarket, like Solas, they offer different props based on your engine performance, with stock being an option. I have a fair bit of experience propping boats, just never propped a pwc before. I know with boats, with stock engine, there are huge differences to be made with prop selection. manufactures, aluminum vs stainless, 3 blade vs 4 blade, etc. I tried a combination of props on my pontoon boat this year with a 115hp Mercury. I had top speed range from 29mph - 38mph just by playing with props. These props were all close in specs but the #'s showed major differences in performance. I assumed pwc's would behave similar with impellers base on manufacture, pitch, # of blades, etc.

Solas claims there 10/16 is designed for the stock 720 and that is will be an overall improvement over the stock prop. If this is true I don't mind spending the extra coin since I need one anyway. Now if my stock impeller wasn't damaged I wouldn't change to a Solas just for hopes of a little better performance, but considering I have to replace my stock one, do I take this opportunity to "upgrade" or find a good used or refurb OEM?

I could probably save $100 buying a used or refurb OEM, probably even more if I get the one I have rebuilt. But if there's a little more performance to be had I don't mind paying for the Solas. I was hoping someone may chime in that has switched over from an OEM to an aftermarket with a stock engine and share the results.

Thanks again!

 

[mikidymac]

Seadoo is very good at picking a good stock impeller. They are not the junk aluminum ones that some of the Japanese companies used back in the day.

Like I said, the 720 GTI is not a performance ski and the engine is working pretty hard in a three seater. In that particular ski seadoo did a good job with the stock prop covering everything from a single rider to towing a tube. You will not notice much improvement on that particular ski with an aftermarket impeller.