This may be partial to the '08 38' that I'm used to running, but I've noticed something a bit non-conventional with the higher X, staggered late model Fountain. It seems they spin a lot of wheel and blade to keep the slip down, but that makes them a dog up top. The boat I run often, has 5 blades on it, and if you roll on it with neutral trim the boat will go 4900-5000 RPM like a slug, hit a wall and it's all said and done. To get the boat to make a good pass I have to roll on the throttles with above neutral trim, say 4-4.5 on these indicators and let it build RPM. As it begins to build speed up top I'll slowly bring it back in to around neutral and you'll feel the boat continue to pick up. It's a 5-8 MPH difference in the boat I run. I don't think the smaller motors (525 etc) have the torque they need to get the big wheels up and spinning when they're buried in that RPM range, but once past it they'll sustain the RPM while reducing slip as you trim back in.

It's a weird practice I know, but I even mentioned it to RFIII and he said that was correct in practice. It's a far cry from running my old 38' side by side, just trim it and put it to the dash and eventually it's gonna do whatever it does...

I'll have to try that and see if it makes any difference.

What diameter were the 5 blade max 30s? Going to maybe try a set.

Had it out this weekend. Still getting better. The 30p throttle up 6 blades are working good. Ran 85 gps at the rev limiters 5300. It was nice and cool out with some slight wind chop.