best prop on Gladiator
 

Prop blade busted of this past weekend and was just wondering before i put back on what was there if i buy something else this time. Any one have any thoughts on what works the best, fastest on a 36' Gladiator with staggered Merc 525's with XR's and sportmasters. Currently running 4 bladed bravo's 34 pitch.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

I ran some 34 four blades and did not like the way the boat got on plane.They were good for top end though. I am now running 30 six bladed Herings and while top end suffers slightly (90 MPH, fresh water), the overall performance of these props are outstanding. I know of another 525 staggered Glad running 5 bladed Herings that actually went 95 MPH.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

yeah, the 4 bladed 34's are not great for getting on plane, sucks a lot of air. your top end is about the same as mine with your props. 91 in frsh water. How much those 6 bladed herrings cost? Any idea what kind of pitch the 5 bladed herrings were? Thanks

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

I'm running Bravo 4 blades that have been worked over pretty hard. Once you get the hang of getting on plane, they aren't that bad. I would like to try some a pair of Herings though for comparisons.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

The guys at Cigarette are trying to get me to go with the new 5 bladed maximus that merc is making in 32 pitch. I doubt anyone out there has any opinion on those yet???

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

I spent hours talking to Mercury and they suggested using their 5 blades. I have the part #s at work.( I will post them tommorrow.) I was going to try them, but decided to stick with the Herings. The Herings cost approx $4K, but they are real smooth and well balanced. Also, with the six blades, you can stay on plane at a much lower RPM, which is good where I boat, because there are times when you must maintain a slower speed for a period of time....You have to remember that Phil reccomends the six blades, and that he has sold and serviced more Gladiators than anyone else.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Yes, i talked to Phil yesterday actualy. He said don't go with the maximus it will kill top end and the herring 6 blade is very efficient. But if i am running 91 now i am concerned how much i will drop on top end if i use the herring. gaining 5-7mph through the mid range speeds does sound pretty appealing though. extra 2k for the set too... not sure what to do.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

drop tsunamiracing a PM...he's done some extensive testing not only with props but also with drive heights, spacers etc...

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

another one to get in touch with is TRES MARTIN or Brett @ BBLADES...just have your x dimension prior to phone call for proper selection. Tsunamiracing is running side by side massaged 575's mated to XR's and ITS's

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

If you want to try the 5 blade Mercs, here are the reccomended part #s .

L-48-889970L64
R-48-889971L64

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

I tried the maximus 5-blade 32p, it didn't work for me I couldn't spin them, best rpm 5100 and lost 6 mph. I just recently tried 5 blade hydro P5X 29p, a little to small. My boat runs about the same with the Hydro P5X, bravo 4-blade 32 and bravo 4-blade labbed 34. Future props I will be testing are Maximus labbed 30p, hydro P5X 30p and 31p. I keep you all posted as I get to try the other props. I bought a set of Herring 5-blade 30p, no real data to report except the kept cracking, started at 3 hours. I have a friend with a big power TG and he replaced Herring with Hydro P5X and they ran identical at half the price.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

This is great info. I had never heard of Hydro before. I guess there are a few more options out there. This also confirms what Phil at lip-ship said about the maximus, that it would kill your top end. Also interesting to hear that your herrings kept cracking. I will interested on your tests of the hydro p5x 30p and 31p, seems like you should get better performance out of a slightly large prop.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Thanks for this, i think i am going to pass on the maximus, think there is enough data out there that says no to these.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Hydromotive are the props I was referring about.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

The maximus prop will work they just need alot of work the other prop are better out of the box. I know a few people using the maximus, the need to lab finished, the difusser ring must be removed and possibly even cut down in diameter. I top gun 39 went from bravo 4-blade 32p to a set of maximus labbed 30p and picked up 2.5 mph. I'll let you know if I find out more these are one of the props I'd like to test.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

I have an 01 Top Gun with 500efi and Vor Techs,it runs 99mph with the 5 blade Maximus 32s labbed and cut to 15 and a quarter diameter,gets on plane very well,just a little too tall,turning only 5000rpm,should be at 5400.Has Imco shorty lowers.The props I run everyday are Hydro PX5s,29s,not labbed,but defuser cut,and they struggle more to get on plane,but run well thru cruise range,top out at 95 on the limiter,5700rpm.Those Maximus props are fast,they were cupped a little differently than the way Merc is currently doing them Im told,they are the best props by far that Sunsation has found for the new 43 F4 with 600s,they still have mine now.I dont know if I should have them tweaked or get another set of 30s to get in the right rpm range,more to come there I guess.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Cigarette told me to use the maximus 15.25 32p lab's. But who could do the additional work on the prop for me? Interesting that you actualy picked up top speed with the maximus. Thats first time i have heard that, although it looks like the post above also has picked up top speed with the maximus. Maybe its not too bad of an option if someone can get it worked over right. In the mean time i just got another bravo 34p lab to use while i figure out what to change too. Thanks guys for the feedback.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Save your money and go with the 32 p Maximus...
Regards

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

i would like to but whats all this talk about having them cut further down in diameter and cutting the diffuser??? No one has a gladiator with 525's and sportmasters that can give me exact performance numbers especially if it sounds like they have to be tweaked in addition to being labbed.

Re: best prop on Gladiator
 

Mine were cut down from 15 5/8. .My defuser ring is not cut on the Maximus.I think you can buy them at 15 1/4. Its a hell of a prop for the money!

Anyone still have their gladiator and tried the new max 5 mercury props? Seems they are a better verison of the maximus. Im turning merc 4 blades 5800+ with my stag 700's. I know phil likes the hering 6 blades but im thinking they might cut the life down on xr's drastically. Maybe they wont because they are soo much more refined in terms of balance and build quality?

Absolutely no prop slip while planing with the 6 blades, pops up like a 12 year old on a wake board.

I had tried the old 5 blade Maximus and didn't like them (handling-wise). I also have 6 blade Herings and the boat jumps on plane very easily.

Ass end of the boat move around with 5s?

Yes and handled cross wakes awfully. Didn't feel planted or hooked up like the Herings.

Im running the 6 blade herrings and yea it jumps up on plane very easy.

Bahhhh you guys going to make me drop some coin.... ugh

Your boats bad ass, what's a little more coin Kid?

Lol I like my cash reserves bountiful not depleted...

Buddy has some p5x 31's I can try. More dor bow lift than stern lift. Anyone tried them? What should i expect compared to bravo 4 blade 32s?