So do you think it's normal to drop that many Rpms going from a 4 to a 5 blade. Drive trim was only at 4.5 so I'm thinking it will turn up a little more. I'm just trying to make sure that is normal and not something wrong. I had the motors scanned and compression test and all was good.

Look back to the test report fountain sent you and see where they had tabs and trim.

Most fountains 3 is neutral (even with bottom of boat).

While it is on the trailer confirm that using a long level. You need to make sure that the cables are adjusted correctly before you get to far into this.

Yes, adding a blade can have a dramatic effect. Refer to the original Fountain report for trim settings as they are usually spot on. At 4.5 you are pretty close to max trim I would guess. Anymore trim and you will start surfacing the prop, losing bite, and putting strain on the u-joints, for little or negative gains.

Personally, I would get rid of that 5 blade and go back to the stock props or work with a prop shop, like BBlades and determine your performance goals. But to be honest there isn't going to be a magic trim setting or prop that will get you anymore top speed without adding HP. I am firm believer in trusting what Fountain determined was the best setup for their hulls and power train when it left the factory. If you have a stock setup and no plans to modify your engines and drives, find yourself some 32 Pitch B1 four blades and enjoy!

Lots o'chit to come into play here. What 5 blades? Stockers or modded? What diameter? You need to know exactly what you are working with before you can figure where you need to go. I have 32 four blades that turn 5400 every day, I have 30 five blades that turn 5400 every day, I have some real wild modified 31 five blades that I have never turned past 5000 but still run within a couple mph of my best top number. I have tested props, four blades and five, from 29 to 33 and they are all over the map. Actually tested a set of five blade 33's that I put on the limiters. Go figure.

Like techman said, get yourself a set of 32 Bravo four blade stockers, note the stocker not been f'd with, and get some baselines. They will be real close.

I have tried 2 sets of 32 Bravos and both hit the rev limiter and the best I have seen is 75 on GPS,I am thinking of trying a set of Hydromotive 30s 4 blades,
Hydromotive was always the props Fountain sold their boats with and I thought they ran great,
They switch to Bravos once Fountain and Mercury got together so I am not sure if they switched to Bravos because they ran better or because they partnered up. anybody ever try Hydros on a 35 EX?

I've got a set of 32 Bravo I's for sale in excellent condition.

I'm not sure what kind these are. I was told he got them from BBlades. I'll stick with these for now. The cruise speed was perfect for me. I'm willing to give a few on the top end for that. I think I may get a little more out of it by trimming the motor a little more. I just have to wait a few more days to pick it up and find out.

If you can only pull 4400 rpm max, even cruising at a lower rpm is still lugging the motors and it will wear them out in a hurry.

Our 03 - 35 EX, W/32s 496s, tab 3, trim 5.5, 78 mph on gps, 2 people, full tanks so ma bee + 1 w/1/2 tanks

does it need time to get to 78mph or does is get there pretty quick?

I might need to try another set of 32s