The first time it threw a blade, the drives were all the way in. We were starting out and getting up on plane. The second time it threw a blade, we were running a nice, clean run, and the drives were trimmed at 3. Is 3 too far up?

Jimmy... stop beating yourself up for "running the boat wrong". It seems that in the 05, 06, 07 period Fountain got VERY aggressive with rigging these boats high. It nets a great number on the top end, but it's my personal opinion that it's pushing the limits of what a Bravo style setup and prop was EVER intended to do. Running these props and drives in a semi-surfacing application is simply pushing the envelope I feel. I know a bunch of people that have had the exact same problem as you. You have to remember that semi-surfacing applications CONTINUALLY load and unload components, including prop shafts and props. It's almost the equivalent of someone airing a Bravo boat out w/o pulling out of the sticks... that never lasts long. Inevitably the continual loading and unloading of the prop begins to fatigue the stainless, and eventually, sooner or later, there she goes.

I think your only options are to find a prop manufacturer (perhaps Herring) that's willing to understand that you are semi-surfacing this prop, and work with you on tailoring a set of props to meet your needs, or bury your drives another 1" or so and see what that helps.

Either way you split it... unload or slip a 5 blade prop on a Bravo/XR and eventually it's going to hook back up, and when it does the days are numbered for those prop shafts and blades.

Jimmy... all this is my opinion, and I'm sure someone in the "know" will step in, but it's a setup problem I've heard of on many of the later Fountains, straight from the factory it seems.

Thank you. We are perplexed at why these boats would come out of the factory with this setup knowing that is an issue. It's a little disappointing. So far since May we have replaced one sheared prop shaft and there is prop at the bottom of the Bay. Now we have two trashed Maximus 5 Blade props and still scratching our heads at the expenses this first year of owning the boat.

We are trying to figure out if we should change out the -2Shorties for -2 Sportmasters and move to a 4 Blade Bravo 1 and go through the uppers and make sure they are ok. It just seems that we would now be paying more money to downgrade the performance package on the boat. Or should we stick with the Shorties, add a 1" spacer and change out the prop shafts on both, fix the upper on the starboard side and go to Herrings. Just not sure what to do yet. I'm ok with losing top end mph. . . but I really don't want to loose cruising speed.

The performance, reputation, ride and speed of this boat is exactly why we purchased it. And now it seems that the only way to fix the problem, is to settle for less.

Jimmy, I may not be the man to ask, but I wonder how the boat would run if you buried the drive a bit and went to a 4 blade Bravo. You may give up some MPH on top, but deeper X and the fact that the 4 blade is far more forgiving may just equate to something sensible.

Should be pretty easy to try. I've always wondered how stock Bravos/XRs lived with 5 blades period.

I would talk to Reggie jr and then talk to Jeff at Hering , Hering does cast thicker blade based props for more durability and have a warranty .

+1....

Fountains DO NOT like to have drives run deep..they are not set up and engineered that way. The only reason why I know this is that Lil R and Reggie Sr. beat into my head when I was there. I agree with all that was said about you having the wrong props for the semi surfacing application you are running. However, I honestly think RF can fix your dilemma. There are dozens of FTNs running around with -2 shorties and Bravo XR's that are NOT smoking blades and shearing prop shafts...I would wager to say that the fix to your problem would be a pretty easy one..assuming you have someone look at it that knows how to rig boats. Good Luck!!

Had and outboard cat the was throwing blades like crazy, went through Mazco, Mercury and a very thick cleaver from Ron Hill.....bought a Hydromotive Quad 4 prop, it had a 1 year guarentee thought why not give it a try......prop ran for 4 years....no problems!