Actually, mine are bravo cases with Imco innerds and Imco shorty lowers...dont know if that helps but so far they are bullet proof!

are the bravos better than the hydromotives? I'm turning 26 hydro's on a 32 with 502's. GPS 78

I have both for my 35, 28 Lab Bravos and 26 Non-lab Hydros. Both sets run very close to the same speeds. The Bravos are better in terms of general boating, they plane at a lower RPM and have a higher cruise speed due to more blade area. The Hydros work ok overall, give up a little in the cruise range, but on the high end I prefer them, the boat needs less trim and runs flatter at the same top end speed. I just like the way they "feel" better, the boat doesn't move around as much, especially in rougher water. On a good day they might be 1 MPH faster, very little difference.

I also like the Hydromotives over the Bravos. I've never tried a labbed Bravo, but I did try a stock Bravo. It seemed that I lost some on top with the Bravos and didn't "feel" the same. I've heard that a labbed Bravo makes a world of difference. I have to make a decision next year also, as I was borrowing a set of hydromotives. I wonder if the hydromotives will work the same if I used shorties?

Fountains usually like the 4 Blade Hydromotives for top end. They will not get on plane like a B1, in the midrange they slip more than a B1. I have been told that a Lab finished B1 is as fast as a Hydromotive on the top end. Dont know that to be absolute fact. I run Maximus 5 blades on a 38 Fountain.

Are the Maximus' worth the money?

My set up with Bravo shorties makes it nessasary to run 5 blades. Again it is what you are looking for. If you are running standard length drives, the Maximus will be slower on the top end, but will not slip as much in the mid-range so you would pick up mph their.