If you're trying to get your boat to jump out of the hole without sacrificing too much top-end speed, you've probably heard someone mention the trophy plus propeller. It's one of those legendary pieces of hardware in the boating world, specifically among the bass boat and flats boat crowds. While there are a million different props on the market, this specific four-blade stainless steel beauty from Mercury Marine has carved out a niche for itself that's hard to beat.
The thing about props is that they are basically the "tires" of your boat. You can have a massive engine with all the horsepower in the world, but if you're running the wrong prop, you're just wasting fuel and leaving performance on the table. The trophy plus propeller is designed to bridge the gap between raw acceleration and high-speed stability, and for a lot of mid-sized outboards, it really hits the sweet spot.
Why Four Blades Instead of Three?
Most people start out with a standard three-blade prop because they're cheap, simple, and generally offer the highest top-end speed in a vacuum. However, once you start adding gear, passengers, and livewells full of water, those three-blade props can struggle to get the boat "on plane" quickly.
That's where the four-blade design of the trophy plus propeller comes into play. Having that extra blade means more surface area pushing against the water. This gives you a much better "hole shot"—meaning your boat pops up and starts leveling out much faster. It also helps the boat stay on plane at lower speeds, which is a lifesaver when you're navigating choppy water and don't want to be constantly slamming into waves at full tilt.
The Magic of Bow Lift
One of the biggest selling points of the trophy plus propeller is its ability to provide incredible bow lift. If you've ever felt like your boat is "plowing" through the water or feels heavy at the front, you need more lift.
Because the Trophy Plus has a smaller diameter than some other four-blade props (like the Bravo series), it lets the engine rev up quickly while the blade geometry works to pull the nose of the boat up. When the bow lifts, there's less hull in the water. Less hull in the water means less friction, and less friction means more speed. It's a win-win. It makes the boat feel lighter, more "airy," and much more responsive to trim adjustments.
Understanding the PVS System
If you look at a trophy plus propeller, you'll notice some little holes near the base of the blades. This is Mercury's Performance Vent System, or PVS. It's a deceptively simple idea that makes a world of difference in how your boat handles.
The idea is to allow a bit of exhaust gas to escape through those holes and "ventilate" the blades right when you hit the gas. This intentionally causes the blades to slip a little bit, which allows the engine to get up into its power band faster. It's almost like slipping the clutch on a manual car to get a better launch.
The cool part? You can swap out the PVS plugs for different sizes. If your boat is sluggish off the line, you can use larger holes. If the prop is spinning out too much, you can plug them up. It's a way to custom-tune the trophy plus propeller to your specific boat and load without needing a professional shop to rework the metal.
Over-the-Hub Exhaust Design
Unlike a lot of "through-hub" props where all the exhaust goes through the middle of the propeller, the Trophy Plus is an "over-and-through" design. It has a smaller hub diameter. This allows some exhaust to go over the outside of the hub as well. This design is specifically tailored for smaller to mid-range outboards (usually in the 75hp to 225hp range) that need that extra bit of "spin" to get moving.
Is It the Right Choice for Your Boat?
Not every prop works for every boat, and the trophy plus propeller isn't a magic wand for everyone. It's generally at its best on high-performance hulls that are already somewhat fast.
- Bass Boats: This is the bread and butter for this prop. If you're running a 17- to 20-foot bass boat with a 115hp to 200hp motor, the Trophy Plus is often the go-to recommendation. It handles the weight of the batteries and tackle while keeping the speed up.
- Flats/Bay Boats: For those who fish in shallow water, the four-blade design helps you get up on plane in a hurry before you run out of depth.
- Aluminum Boats: If you have a high-horsepower aluminum rig, switching from an aluminum prop to a stainless trophy plus propeller can feel like you just bought a whole new engine.
However, if you have a very heavy offshore boat or a massive pontoon, the Trophy Plus might be a bit too small. Those boats usually need more "blade meat" to move the mass, and you might be better off looking at something like a Revolution 4 or an Enertia.
Choosing the Right Pitch
When you go to buy a trophy plus propeller, the most important decision you'll make is the pitch. Pitch is basically how many inches the boat would move forward in one ideal revolution of the prop.
If you pick a pitch that's too high (like a 26-pitch), your engine won't be able to turn it fast enough, and you'll feel like you're trying to start a car in fifth gear. If you pick a pitch that's too low (like a 19-pitch), you'll have a crazy fast hole shot, but you'll hit the "rev limiter" on your engine before you reach a decent top speed.
The goal is to find a pitch that lets your engine reach the manufacturer's recommended Wide Open Throttle (WOT) RPM range with your normal load. For most modern outboards, that's somewhere between 5,000 and 6,000 RPM. If you're currently running a three-blade prop and want to switch to a trophy plus propeller, a common rule of thumb is to stay with the same pitch or go up one inch, but every boat behaves a bit differently.
Durability and Maintenance
Since the trophy plus propeller is made of Mercury's proprietary "X7" alloy (a fancy type of stainless steel), it's incredibly strong. Stainless is much more durable than aluminum. If you nick a bit of sand or a small branch, a stainless prop will usually just shrug it off, whereas an aluminum one would look like a piece of chewed-up gum.
That said, because it's stiffer and heavier, you really don't want to hit anything solid like a rock or a stump. The prop won't give, which means the force of the impact goes straight into your lower unit gears. It's always a good idea to check your prop shaft for fishing line and grease the splines once a season. It's a simple five-minute job that saves you from a seized prop down the road.
The "Feel" of a Four-Blade
Beyond just the numbers on a GPS or a tachometer, there's a certain feeling you get with a trophy plus propeller. Four-blade props generally offer better "bite" in the turns. If you've ever had your prop "blow out" or lose grip when you're making a sharp turn at speed, you know how annoying (and potentially dangerous) that can be.
The Trophy Plus stays hooked up. It tracks straighter and gives the driver a lot more confidence. It also helps with "porpoising"—that annoying bouncing motion the bow makes when you're trying to cruise at mid-speeds. By providing that constant lift and grip, it smooths out the ride significantly.
Final Thoughts
Upgrading your boat often starts with big, expensive ideas like new electronics or engine tuning, but honestly, changing your prop is usually the most cost-effective way to change how your boat performs. The trophy plus propeller has been around for a long time for a reason. It's a versatile, tough, and high-performing piece of kit that solves a lot of the common problems boaters face.
Whether you're trying to beat your buddies to the first fishing spot of the morning or you just want a smoother, more controlled ride back to the ramp when the wind picks up, this prop is worth a look. It's not just about going fast; it's about making the boat do exactly what you want it to do, the moment you push the throttle forward. If you get the pitch right and dial in those PVS plugs, the trophy plus propeller might just be the best investment you make in your boat this year.