A 2" shortie may be your ticket better speeds...6 blades like to ride high out of the water, hence the rooster tails... planing may be sacrificed a little, though.

I definately don't want it any harder to plane. I also don't want to loose rudder. I'll be satisfied with the speed for a couple years (I hope), then maybe try -2's. I wonder if planing could be improved with the -2. The -2 would put the prop 1" closer to the cav plate on the IMCO upper. Any thoughts/experience?

Hering has done a hub extension in some cases for the Fountains with the real high X's. Have you checked into this at all?

Yes, they are extended. Not as smooth as I would've thought where they welded it on though.

Where is your X from the factory? The crazy high chit was not the norm when your boat was built, so you should be fine at -1 or -2. what does your factory build sheet show?

Don't think the weld job would make much difference, the props have had the water and are done with it when it gets to that point. Have heard they do cause a little drag but help to get it up and out.

Factory X is 19.5, semi stagger. I doubt I'll be trying -2's anytime soon but I am curious how it'd work. Does anyone have a drive test program like props? ha ha

I read that Herring will work with you on props to find the right combo if you need to change out for different sizes, etc.

I don't think they have any test props. I'm 40 minutes away from them and had to wait 2 weeks for guess props to be made...that worked well. Now that I have some numbers I'm hoping to take my boat up North to try some different props with Ben on board (from Hering) but I'm sure he has way too many hours testing props to have the desire to do that. We'll see. As of now, they're discussing props to try.

Up north as in coming up to Harrison Lake Poker Run this year?? BBlades has a prop demo program...

You already have a high x. -2 shorties might be too much. They worked on mine but I had my drives buried from the factory.