Catto vs Sensenich

Flybuddy2 · #1 12-21-2009, 02:09 PM

Has anyone flown the same plane with both props??
I've got my Catto prop currently with Craig Catto getting a refurb done. Overall they are good props and IMO they get better performance, are smoother running and a bunch lighter. Conversely, the Sensenich is a bolt on and forget prop, no worries about heavy rain or retorquing. I've dabbled with putting the Catto up for trade on the classified section when it comes back but I'm undecided. I'm fairly new to the RV group, what's the consensus?? thx Tom

N941WR · #2 12-21-2009, 03:23 PM

No comment on the comparison but please make sure you check with your FSDO when doing the prop change. Our FSDO requires a five hour test period for such a change.

Jamie · #3 12-21-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

No comment on the comparison but please make sure you check with your FSDO when doing the prop change. Our FSDO requires a five hour test period for such a change.

It's all about the oplims for the plane. Older oplims do not have the major change notification requirement while newer ones do.

Noel Simmons · #4 12-21-2009, 05:07 PM

I like the Catto better

n144sh · #5 12-21-2009, 05:13 PM

Having just done a very similar switch on my RV-4 I can give you my data:

I did lose a bit of speed, but its an apples/oranges comparison. I had a combo pitched Sensenich and the Catto is a climb pitch.

The climb performance is astonishingly different. It feels like a new plane. Cruise was 2600RPM limit on the Sensenich vs I can easily overrun the 2700 RPM on the Catto. Speed difference is maybe 3-5MPH. The lighter prop is faster to spin up and respond, it feels much more sporty.

I bought the Catto (2 blade) used. I sent it back to Craig to get refinished and repitched 50RPM lower - he nailed it.

After flying the Catto just once, I immediately sold the Sensenich. The Catto is SO smooth. In my case, doing some aerobatics, puttering around and not really doing much cross country, the tradeoff is very easy. If you are doing a lot of cross country travel, then maybe the Sensenich is more efficient/faster - but the dang thing was always so rough, even after dynamic balancing I just always hated it.

Anyway, thats my experience!
Steve Harris
N144SH
2001 RV-4

Christopher Murphy · #6 12-21-2009, 06:53 PM

I had the Sensenich 70cm81 inch pitch on my RV-4 160hp 0-320 for about the first 350 hours and I was very pleased with the prop. I switched to the Catto prop so I could turn more than 2600 rpm. My Sens prop ran very smooth. The Catto prop is not any smoother in my opinon. A wood prop feels different than a metal prop that is true. The power pulses feel different but I would not call it smoothness. My Catto is a 68dia 65 in pitch which I sent back because it was underpitched. Craig reworked it and the only difference I could tell was that he increased the cord out farther from the hub.

The Sensi was 5 kts faster at 2600rpm than the Catto in the same conditions.

The Catto has an 11lb crush plate on it to retain the cg. 11lbs located 4inches fwd of the crank flange.

My max speed for racing is faster with the catto prop but for everyday flying I wish I had the Sensi back on it. IF it did not have that rpm limit it would be hands down the best prop out there.

Chris Murphy RACE34 RV-4

n5lp · #7 12-21-2009, 07:19 PM

Bear in mind that it is much more difficult to compare the performance of fixed pitch props than it is with constant speeds, at least as to speed. With the CS you can just set the same power (RPM-MP-DA) and compare. With fixed pitch this may well not be possible.

This is a factor that contributed to a Van's factory prop comparison, a number of years ago, where some fixed pitches (Sensenich) were faster than the CSs. The fixed pitch was pitched so that it turned over 2700 RPM, thus more power and more speed.

My prop (Sensenich 72FM8-83) is pretty fast wide open but I can rarely run wide open throttle in level flight without exceeding 2700 RPM. When I can run wide-open up above 13,000 feet or so it is quite fast. That being said, I don't know if the Catto is faster or slower.

apkp777 · #8 12-21-2009, 08:27 PM

I am trying to decide between the two props as well.

Here's my deal, I have a tailwheel, ADAHRS mounted near the aft deck, light on avionics. My concern is that the Catto, will result in an AFT CG. The Sensenich being heavier, will probably be better in my application.

Does that make sense?

Christopher Murphy · #9 12-21-2009, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apkp777

I am trying to decide between the two props as well.

Here's my deal, I have a tailwheel, ADAHRS mounted near the aft deck, light on avionics. My concern is that the Catto, will result in an AFT CG. The Sensenich being heavier, will probably be better in my application.

Does that make sense?

If you check it out you may find that with the spacer and heavy crush plate the whole assy with the catto prop is about the same as the metal prop.

CM

N941WR · #10 12-21-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apkp777

I am trying to decide between the two props as well.

Here's my deal, I have a tailwheel, ADAHRS mounted near the aft deck, light on avionics. My concern is that the Catto, will result in an AFT CG. The Sensenich being heavier, will probably be better in my application.

Does that make sense?

Tony, better to build light and add the weight where you need than end up with a heavy plane and have to remove weight.