were re-powering two fountains with hp500s, one is a 96 29 and the other is a 2000 27

my question is what pitch prop would you run?

from what i have been reading most are running 26bravos and 28 bravos

both are stock mercury sealed hp500s with a little less than 200hrs

and what do you think they will run for speed?

hoping to be in the ballpark of 70-75 for each

Had a 97 27 with a 500 hp Carb motor. Think it came from Fountain with a 26 pitch Hydromotive 4 blade. It ran about 73 mph on the speedo.

Contact Brett at BBLADES. He will hook you up !!!

28LH Bravo,, VP 112 fuel , 78 GPS.. best run.
pump gas 93 octane 74 / 75 mph. 1997 fever 27' 500HP carb

With anything more than 91 octane you lost speed.

You will be over 70. I had a carb HP500 in my 27 (non step) using a beat up March Sterndriver 14.5"x24 and got 70+ at 5300rpm. I would go with a B1 26 or 25/26 Hydromotive.

2001 500 efi xr drive. Right hand rotation here. I run a 26 bravo1. Same prop as my Reggie report but I bought it new last year since the original was 12 years old and has been repaired. I believe my x dimension compared to the 90s models is a little higher. I run mid 70s all day, depends on load and fuel of coarse, and I do have a bit of current influence depending which direction I'm running. The best I saw last summer was 75.7 with 1 passenger and 1/3 tank of fuel. At wot I run 5250rpm so my slip is very good.

Looks like I should meet my 70 mph expectation so that is good, thanks for the replies guys.

Has anyone played around with different cams, carbs, port work etc. etc. and what were your hp difference? What's the biggest bank for the buck upgrade for these engines?

The 2000 27 and 29 with a hp500 come stock with a hydromotive 24L

We are both running 24 bravos now