evaluex

I'm currently running a bravo 1 4 blade 24 P on my 2003 28 heat with standard 496 HO (425 HP)/ bravo 1 X. Stepped hull. Speed is between 62 à 65 MPH (GPS) on salt water and at sea level 1/2 fuel 2 persons. What about the famous P 5 X? Someone already tried it? What about the Maximus 5 blade? I already read a lot of comments on these props but most of the time for higher horsepower or modificated engine applications. My boat is factory original! Thx for any comments and suggestions!! As I live in europe (I have the first NORDIC ever exported in EUROPE!!) we don't have all the facilities to try different props as they are not avalaible!! I also tried a bravo 1 / 4 blade 26 P better cruising but only 63 at 4900-5000 RPM. Best buy ? a P 5 X or Maximus?

Indy

I had the exact same boat/power and got tired of wasting my time and money trying to make it go faster. I tried a stock 24 Bravo, a 24 Bravo re-pitched to a 25 & labbed, a 26 Bravo labbed. The 26 gave the best cruise but couldn't push it past 4700-4800, the 25 got sent back twice for corrections and never really performed that well, the best prop was the stock 24 Bravo. Got a best of 67 and the person I sold it to got a best of 68 with it. I tested in ALL conditions too!! Cold weather, hot, calm, light chop, rough, with the tide and current, against the tide and current, with and against wind. Basically I got fed up with all the bs, it's a sub-70 mph boat and nothing is going to change that. Knowing what I know now, I'd just send a stock 24 to somebody for balancing, and maybe sharpen the leading edge...do not change the cup!! Enjoy your boat, IMHO this speed thing is not worth the expense/hassle/time on a low powered boat like this. I spent most of my time at 3500-4000 and that speed was more important to me than 1 mph at the top end which I would run maybe 5 times a year for short bursts. However, I never tried the newer 5 blades, maybe Nordic Gary can provide some insight...good luck.

Steve Zuckerman

Nordic Pete:
Welcome from across the pond. So Nordic has a dealer(s) in Europe? Or did you buy your boat here and have it shipped over yourself?
Anyway, welcome to the Nordic Forum.
Indy had the same exact hull and power as you do, so I would say he's got the best information/database. I don't know if he ever tried the P5-X, but I am pleased with mine. It's back at Throttle Up for blueprinting now.
My boat has more HP, and generally that means propping is more critical than lower HP applications. I would talk to Matt @ Throttle Up (877-842-6855) and see what he thinks. He's very knowledgeable.
Regards,
Steve

evaluex

Thx reply guys!
No, NORDIC didn't had any dealers in europe. I bought mine at the LA show 2003 and after a demo run by the boat brokers at lake havasu. I also visited the nordic factory and was very impressed. At this time I became a nordic dealer for europe and will be presenting the boat at our (belgian) boat show in the month of februrari. Almost 2 years it took to have the CE attestation / approval. I save you all the details but is was awfull to had all those test, calculations, approvals, paper documents etc. Europe isn't USA!!
I've been selling boats (second hands) for over 15 years right now but the fastests we have in europe would be a baja or a formula. Cigarette exists but far too expensive, my opinion not worth the money!!
By the way, the day I did the demo run (not my futur boat but exactly the same / stepped hull / 496 HO / Bravo 1 X / 24P bravo 1 4 blade the speedo showed 70 MPH on a brand new boat less than 2 hours!! I never got those figures om my speedo!!
Still interested how a maximus or a p5 X would run!!!

Indy

My speedo regularly showed 70+ You can't compare speedos with any accuracy. The tube could be partially plugged, kinked, routed improperly etc. All my speeds above are GPS numbers.

evaluex

No one ever tried the maximus or the p5X?

39 Unlimited

I agree with with Indy. You can spend a lot of $'s trying to squeeze 1 - 2 MPH out of your boat. I had a non-stepped 28 gave up on the prop thing and installed a 420 Mega Blower. I hit my speed expectations but lost reliability.

I did try the new Merc 5 blades on a Nordic 35. Loved the feel and acceleration but lost top end. Props are now for sale.

Indy

Gary's on the right track...go faster by modifying your engine, but be careful, you don't want to spend more time in the shop than on the water. You 496HO is a great engine for what it is...decent power, super reliable, easy to winterize, AND STARTS AND RUNS EVERY TIME. Mess with it and you could have tons of headaches. Put your money into a savings account and buy a bigger engine some day. Have fun with your Nordic...it's a fine boat!!

bobl

The 28 loves the P5X, but you will not gain any top speed over a Bravo 1. It will perform MUCH better in every other aspect. According to Throttle-up there may be some speed gains with a lab finsihed P5X, but no one has tried it yet.

Indy

bobl...specifically what aspects does the prop perform better and is that with the 496HO? I'm just curious because I never had any issues with blow-out, getting on plane, ventilation, etc. Maybe it was a better cruise? I cruised 41mph (gps) at 3500.