Originally Posted by Ran-Dom 32

Just for the record, I did try several different sets of 4 Blades (5 blades may have yielded better results) but I did try 28's 30's & 32's both labbed & stock, all bravo 1's 4 blades, I ended up with 30P labbed by Bblades. If your goal is to run over 100 I would move on to a cat, you will get there with way less HP

Originally Posted by 29scarab10

Couple of things and everyone remember I am not picking on anyone or trying to start a fight just stating what has been posted here (in this post and others)

Ran-Dom 32 appears to have bought his drives in late 2008 and then got a cat in early 2009, I highly doubt he did anything other than bolt his drives on and put his existing props on and go run the boat. I am implying not much testing of props due to new boat.

Indy 27 already had nose cones on his drives (this would help). He put shorties on tried one set of propellers and then sold lowers and props. See his post dated 9-22-08. I am again implying not much testing.

Paradise Island appears to have a non stepped boat being a 1990 and it appears also that he may have had something to do with a newer staggered 35 with 525 that ran 103 MPH with 6 people in the boat that already had shorties on it (speedmasters)

What I am trying to show above is they just bolted something together and expected it to work. They have not done extensive testing.

Now on to Economics 101
You should be able to buy housing and shaft and use your existing gears and have some put together for around $4500.00 for the pair. using a 4 mph gain as suggested above results in $1125.00/MPH
You should be able to buy new 2 shorties complete for $7000.00 for the pair which would result in a cost of $1750.00/MPH
remember this is using 4 MPH gain if you gain 6 or 8 mph this cost considerable less.

Someone is going to say that I have not figured in the cost of props and the reason I have done this because if you change to say supercharged engines you will occur the same expense.

Know you can supercharge your engines. To buy new supercharges and due upgrades necessary to make it live (head gaskets and fuel system) you are looking at spending $30,000+ (this is including labor as most cannot put on a supercharger themselves). Most say the have seen 12 - 15 mph increase on 35 fountains. Using 15 mph this is a cost of $2,000.00/ MPH.


So speedchangesyou if you are determined to make your faster you need to determine your goals and you budget. If you are looking for a couple of mph the shorties should do it for you. If you are looking for between 12 and 15 mph supercharges should do it (as long as you do not intend to run over 100 mph). If you are interested in running over 100 it will take both to get you there.

Originally Posted by INDY27

29scarab10, You have NO idea what kind of testing I have done with my 35...you are ASSuming things from one post and like the old goes! To set the record straight I started out with stock lowers and then went with a new pair of drives that had nosecones, and then went to the shorties. I tested stock Bravo 32's, labbed Bravo 32's, stock Hydromotive Q4 30's and also Hydromotive P5 29's. I spent a lot of time and money testing and when all was said and done the "best bang for the buck" for MY BOAT was the combo of standard lowers with nosecones and stock Bravo 32's. I was far enough off the limiters with that some minor prop tweaking would have pushed me over 100. I sold the shorties and props that didn't make the grade to recoup some of my money and wound up saving quite a bit in the process.

Originally Posted by 29scarab10

Know you can supercharge your engines. To buy new supercharges and due upgrades necessary to make it live (head gaskets and fuel system) you are looking at spending $30,000+ (this is including labor as most cannot put on a supercharger themselves). Most say the have seen 12 - 15 mph increase on 35 fountains. Using 15 mph this is a cost of $2,000.00/ MPH.

Originally Posted by INDY27

What blower package for 30k+? For most Mercury EFI engines you can buy a complete bolt on Pro Charger setup for 5k ea. or a complete Whipple kit for 7-8k ea. that will be trouble free using stock head gaskets.