38 full staggered hard to plane! ?? spacers?
 

07 38 lightning 525's xr's sportmaster its gimbals. Drives are little higher for top end- having hard time getting up on plane -running 7 blade herrings- i did just have botttom of boat waxed- on board 4 guys w/average weight of 225 pounds and 3/4 tanks of fuel. any suggestions?? i was told that spacers are going to kill top end! how much? thank you

When you say a hard time, are you blowing the props and cavatating or having trouble getting rpms out of those 7 blades out of the hole?

yes-blowing props and cavitating!

Higher X = sacrificing hole shot. A 1/2" spacer would help....but more than likely will affect top end by a few MPH. How far is center of propshaft above/below bottom of boat?

Maybe R3 will chime in here..

according to test run x-dimension is 22 1/4 x 18 1/2 - is that info any help?-i have no problem sacrificing 3-5 mph to help get up on plane test sheet =97mph.

getting on plane is a little differant than a side by side, once you've done it a couple times you get used to it.

what size spacers should i use? i was out for first time-got it to plane once but after that could not get it again-any suggestions on where to purchase??size??

you could put extended hubs on the props that you have now. or you could try a different set of props like some 5 blade maximus if you're not concerned about the top in number being a few miles per hour slower

props that have been used in the past have thrown blades-because of high x dimension! these 7 bladers are the only ones that stay together. What size spacer? brand?

Did you try this:

1. Drives tucked and tabs at 5.5-6
2. Run boat up to approx 3200-3500 rpm's...it should still be hooking and gaining speed and beginning to try to plane.
3. As boat picks up speed (17-19MPH) gradually start bump up tabs till it breaks over....gradually apply throttle to about 4000rpms till it fully breaks over and hooks.

It takes our 42 a LONG time to get up on plane...lol.

shove everyone into the cabin until it breaks over...

thanks for that suggestion! Lol actually did make 3 guys go up to cabin and that still did not work! prior owner says let it cavitate and blow out and will start to grab!

I would think that one of the prop supporting vendors would have a solution for you. Sounds like a beautiful boat but who needs the drama every time you want to get under way?

Thanks for replies! yes-boat was actually set-up to race f-2 class-i was told that they actually made it lighter then other 38's raised the x to give it more top end. also here is a thought how about changing the shorties back to standard?

Try a 1" spacer that should help you to get on plane will loose about 2 or 3 mph. The bad thing about your setup is you are always going to be a blade thrower with the high x dim. Bravo's can't handle surfacing had the same setup with 600's and lost about 9 or 10 blades.

I think all the newer ones are like this, my boat has same x and that's what I do, takes a little getting used to but after few times it like riding a bike.

prior owner(Braxton) has been so helpful! he also claims he lost a bunch of blades-he had herring build 7 bladders and have been perfect! putting on 1" spacers will that put too much load on drives w/this set-up? Brian from fountain said best would be to go to standard lowers instead of shorties -that would be a 2" drop.

I never had 7's broke a lot of 6's couple 5's Herings, Throttle ups and hydro's a lot of people said to run maxim they will last but never tried them. Somebody lent me a set of 32's bravos 4 blade (broke in the middle of a run in the gulf) never thought I would get on plane but the boat was like a rocket ship out of the hole. Just for the hell of it try a set 34 might be surprised. Good luck

i think 1" spacers -see what speed loss? then shop a prop-just talked to reggie and he agreed that he liked the maxim props.

What 5 blade maxims are equivalent to 6 blade herring 34's? also big dif., if maxims are labbed or not.

what does drive down in the tabs up do. put it at 3 grand -3200 just let it eat. my **** has surface props and planes off with 7 people like nothing. it just takes a little bit sometimes. I have heard that stock maximus 5 blade last pretty long as you don't **** with them. 32 maximus should be the same is 32 6 blade hering according to jeff. I will be able to let you know for sure if I can ever test my boat have not been able to test because my ****ing drive is still broke. didn't even get a full tank of fuel through it some drive guy ****ed it up

ps my boat won't plane with the tabs down

+1

I don't use them at all to get on plane, IMO it just makes it take longer.

Well I suppose the way that Reggie Sr showed both TRL505 and myself how to plane a boat two weeks ago with high X-dimensions was wrong then....you guys should probably call him and give him some advice...Im sure it will be well received.

I guess I havnt tried with the tabs up .

mine w tabs down just sits there. push the tabs up and she goes. But I have a 38.

I think I run mine about 2 planing it off

I have a stock x dim twin step 38 with standard xr lowers, I was just stating what works best for me in response to mcpro. Truely mine planes fastest with tabs up drives down and only two people in it, I have not had a boat load in the back to see if the tabs are needed. My tabs are like brakes

full staggered with shorties are completely differnt then pre-2007 38 fountains-they are notorious for taking thier time to get up on plane but are extremely fast! any one with 07 and newer experience these issues??

buddy/customer has a 2006 42

was a BEAR to get on plane,,,,,put 2 inch spacers in and it crawls right on plane now and actually gained a few mph on the top end.

also drives different, it seems like it has enough grip now to carry the bow

:lolhit: Just found out to day that my Lower took a **** and all the stuff in my upper is being replaced because of it. :lolhit: ( according to my drive guy)

Good news. he is finally working on it. And I have 2 stock lowers here for parts that will fit.

I had a an 03 38 semi-stager with 525's and stellings boxes with 2 inch shorties on it. The prop shaft was 3/4 in above the bottom of the boat. With 34 pitch bravo's on it would not get on plane. I put a 1/2 spacer in and it was like a magic wand, the boat got right up and ran great. I have also had 31 and 32 pitch 6 blade Herrings on it along with P5X props from Hydromotive. They all worked well.

Is this your same drive guy ???

My thoughts exactly . Like I said . "According to my drive guy", He also say's that 0- 1/2 inch below bottom prop cl will not work w sportmaster lowers. We both know that is wrong. It is hard on them but why do they have a lower water pickup ? Right? How many 38's came w the sportmaster set up .. ha ha. and it woked great for you w 400 more hp and bigger wheels.I gave him 2 lowers for parts today.

In his defense. I pulled the caps on the upper and the gears looke fine. Just lots of metal ( like pepper)and what apeared to be a fine aluminum powder everywhere.. :eekdrop:

Excellent get her back together .

I would try a 1" spacer and go from there. The X is set up so high on the newer Fountains that although they are fast, they are not user friendly. It doesn't matter how fast the boat runs if you can't get it on plane, and the couple of mph you may lose with spacers is well worth the comfort of knowing you can load the boat with people, gear, and fuel and still get on plane without an act of congress.

I have a pair of XR 1" spacers on my spare parts shelf (need to double check if they are 1"). I think I paid just under a $1000 for the pair after shipping,etc. I'll let them go for $600 plus the ride.

Had an 07 38' with 600's ITS shorties and 6 blade Herings for about 3 to 4 years. That was the perfect setup to throw blades and destroy uppers in 1 season. With a 22 1/2" x dim your prop shaft is about 2" above the bottom of your boat. Nobody that I found makes a bravo blade that can surface the water and stay together. I broke a lot of blades and Throttle Up was good on warranties but I did brake Herings, Hydo's also about 10 total. I think running the big blades are tough on your uppers. My suggestion to fix the problem would to put on Imco's Scx uppers and lowers with the #6 prop shaft so you can run a #6 blade and have a drive that stays together or put regular lowers maybe a spacer if needed with 4 blade bravos and enjoy your boating season with no worries. Good luck on your discission. With the Scx's you can always put Whipples on it and be fine.

Wow-alot of great responses!! Mudslide i think you got it right! prop shafts are 2"above the bottom of the boat. yeah prior owner broke no lie 8 pairs of props,however these hering 7 bladders are holding up fine! He had also broke prop shafts-he then put in titanium shafts and are now ok. took boat out today and kinda dialed in and getting up on plane-two guys 3/4 tanks. Take it up to 19 mph at 4000rpm and gradually bring tabs up. alot of work for sure-had it up to 95 mph and still climbing but hit rev. limiter so backed off. think i may just try 1" spacers and see differences?? From my heart thanks to everone for replying!!

Ratedx, the way I used to get it on plane was to tuck the drives all the way in an drop the tabs all the way bring the rpms up to 3000. When you get up into the upper teens mph then start bring up your tabs and your speed will start picking up quickly. Some people like to hammer it out of the hole but that creates a lot of cavitation and vibration to your props, drives and hard on the prop shafts. I only broke 1 prop shaft felt the vibration and stopped before it broke completely. ( luckily didn't loose the prop) Good luck with the 7 blade but I don't see it lasting. It is a scary thing when they let go almost killed some friends with the broken blade. They felt water drops when it flew over there boat we were running about 80 when it happen.

Mudslide. That is exactly how I get on plane.
I hope that my older ( 2004) XR drive uppers are better than the newer xrs.( I have been told that by many.)
As far as blade throwing. My Maximus props have been OK. I use WOT for only a couple minutes once in a while. I am trying 6 bl herings next. But I am about 0- 1/2 in below the bottom.

Rated x , Like Mudslide said, If you are 2 inches up you should have scx drives w Surface piercing props . No problem planing off and plenty of top end. Running xr's that high makes a vibration in the upper drive and Like he said, messes w propshafts. I hope this helps