4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

Anybody running 4 blade wheels on a older formula with the conventional v-bottom? If so, what brand? Hydromotives, Bravos? I know all the new stepped Formulas run 4's (or 5's on the newbies) but curious to know what effects they have on the older bottom boats. I've got a '89 311 w/bravo 1's. I've heard hole-shot and cruise speed increase dramatically (which is what I'm more interested in anyway) but top end may drop by 2-3mph. I'm spinning the crap out of my Mirage 23 3-blades (5500-5600) with some "lightly" massaged NA 461's but it is responsive as hell! :D

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

Might try searching this forum. There was somebody around here that is running hydromotive stern lifting props (4 blades)and reported a 5-7 mph top end increase.

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

I'm running bravo 4 blades on my 89 311, 26 pitch, dead nutz on out of the hole, pulls great!

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

I am running labbed 24 pitch bravo 4 blades on my 1991 311 with 502's. Works well though I would like to try a pair of 5 blades sometime soon.

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

26P bravos on my 85 302 with TRS drives. Huge improvement in hole and mid-range. I went from 23P marages that the warmed 468's would spin easily to 52-5300+ (never took it past that), to about 46-4700 now. Top speed is similar, but that is seldom a concern or I'd have gotten a different boat.

I'd love to try hydromotives to see how they affect the boat, but either way, I'm not going back to the mariges. If you do try hydromotives, I understand there is about a 3" difference in pitch, so try about 3" lower than a bravo's pitch to get similar performance.

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

Spinning 22 pitch Bravo four blades on my 40 with about 450 per side. Gets out of the hole with virtually no bow liftand stays well hooked up in turns and in the rough. Top speed is probably about 2 mph down from the Mirage 23 3 blades, but driveability is great.

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

Swapping to Hydromitive Quad IV's was the best thing I ever did for my , 89' 311 with 454 Mags, well maybe tied with the exhaust swapover.

The Quad IV's are stern lifting props and the 311 are real azz heavy boats. Getting the stern out of the water reduces drag drastically therefore the better peformance.

I got about 6/7 mph increase at "cruising" rpms, and 3 on the top end with the 24" Quad IV's vs. the 23" Mirage props that came on the boat.

I have a thread about this way back, probably at least a year ago. If you spend the time and look far enough back in the Formula forum you will see exactly what I got. Good luck.

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

I ran 26" Bravo's and 26" Hydromotive QIV both worked very well on my 311, the bravo will carry the nose a little higher. The QIV tends to keep the boat a little flatter giving a better ride. I sold the boat but still have the QIV's and will sell them. Jeff

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

Wags382: Did you have Bravo or TRS drives?

Re: 4 - Blades on Older Formulas
 

I also run the 23 Hydromotives and have been happy with them .. mine are stock and might get em tuned up at Throttle Up .....

My 311"s slightly quicker than "Outlaw" do to the special Tuned Silent Thunder Exhaust System ..... :evilb: