I was told…special after market props for ’54 12hp Gale

[paulfromyork]

I was told I might get "special" props for my "new"1954 12hp gale OBM. Now I’m new to OBM in general, so don’t assume I know anything! I have a 1949 ELTO 5hp Sportster running well, a 3hp Eska that sorta’ runs, and now the 12hp gale. I’m told it runs great. I also have a Sea Nymph clone (Sears) 12 ft tinny. A previously posted question indicates that a ’54 12hp Gale is not a high performance motor. Got it.
But I found a post that says somebody learned to SKI behind a 12hp Gale! I don’t know the details. Maybe 10 yrs old and 12 inch wide skis, and say 75 lbs.? 😆 I don’t know.
So are there any special props for a very mature "kid" to play with on this motor?
I’ve also been told that matching a prop, boat and OBM is pretty much trial and error.

[frankr]

That "somebody" was me. I was 19 years old and 150 pounds. 195 pounds now (sigh). Skis were regular Cypress Gardens skis and I still have them. I just measured them and they are 6-1/2" wide.

[garry-in-michigan]

This is from our Michigan wheel database. This 12 horse Elto was built by the Gale Products Devision of OMC. It is an example and would not work on a gearshift motor. . . 😉

[frankr]

A variety of optional props were offered for the 15-18hp in later years. They all will fit the 12hp Gale w/gearshift.

[auldscott]

The 12 hp Gale should give you 22-23 mph on your boat. As to skiing behind it, when I was younger and slimmer (OK, 90 lb instead of 200) I skied behind a 7.5 but we didn’t try to do deep-water starts. It was all beach starts or dock starts. I’d say, try it from a dock with two skis, and use the old square-tail type. I’ve seen pics of two skiers behind a Merc 10 hp but no way they were pulled out of deep water.

[olcah]

Waterskied behind a QD-14 10 HP. But besides lighter weight, back then you could ski with only one person in the boat. Now a second person is required to watch the skier.

[1946zephyr]

quote FrankR:

A variety of optional props were offered for the 15-18hp in later years. They all will fit the 12hp Gale w/gearshift.

Just as Frank says. The full shift lower unit on these, is the same basic lower unit that was used on the QD and Fastwins 😀

[paulfromyork]

Guys, I doubt that I could still ski at all. At least not until I drop some weight. And I never did a beach or dock start. I only meant to say that this 12hp Gale must be something special. Common knowledge around here says you need 40 hp to pull a skier, but I suppose that is a deep water start. Now don’t get me wrong. I believe what you are saying is true. And I guess I’m not really interested in skiing anymore. I’m just an old "kid" who wants to play and go fast with my new toy.

[mercuryman]

Just tried out my new AJC 410 8 1/2 X 11 1/2 today, on my 1957 Sea King 12 hp and was I surprised . With standard prop I did
18 mph but today it went almost 25 MPH on smooth fresh water. Boat 11.5 foot plywood. That is the same speed I got with my Mercury KG4.

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[frankr]

That is a very impressive report. Thanks for sharing

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