Prop Issues
 

I am looking for input from Fountain owners who have or had straight bottom 35's (No Steps) and tried different props and your experiences. I came across a pair of 26 Bravo 1's and had them blueprinted. Ran them yesterday, my boat did not like them much. Had some slippage coming on plane around 3200 RPM, then they hooked up. Boat wanted to porpoise at just about every trim setting and RPM, except WOT. 4900 RPM. I had on there a set of labbed 27 Mirage +, they ran fine no porpoise and very little slip coming out of the hole. They are in need of a tune up, but the 26's were available and needed balanced and cleaned up, so I need to talk to the prop shop guy first. I am guessing the issue here is the Bravo's are lifting the stern too much and the bow and pad/stern are fighting each other to find a balance. The original props were Mirage, not plus' boat always ran good with them, but would blow out on turns. Later no steps if I remember right came with a cleaver style Hydromotive ?? All input and comment appreciated.

Mine hated the bravo one props until I added a lot of power. The best props I had on it stock were 26 hydromotives.

Maybe too much cup and trying to carry the bow

Do you stil have the Hydromotives?

Try to find a set of QIV hydromotives. My 35 (yes single step) likes them a lot. I tried bravos and the boat seemed too glued to the water I guess is the easy way to explain it.

I have close to stock power and run a set of 24 bravos or a set of 23 hydros a little faster with the 23s but better all around with the 24s boats runs 68 -70.

My boat is a 35 straight bottom with 1.36 gear ratio it ran mirages from when it was new at 465hp (23 pitch) up to 625 (25 pitch) . I increased the power to 750hp and I went to the 4 blade bravo's to get my slip numbers down , the boat loved the 4 blades , the drives did not and after quite a few broken bravo drives I abandoned the idea of bravo drives .

Quick update: Took Bravo's back to shop and he suggested adding more cop out on the edge of the blade. In the meantime before we start pounding out more cup and jacking up the really nice Bravo's he did for me, he handed me a pair of Hydromotive QIV 25's. Tried them out and the boat loves them as long as you are pushing past 3500 RPM. They like a lot of trim, no problem there, boat handles better, rides better and the have as much speed at the cruising speeds as my 27 labbed Mirage +'s. Only issue I have found with them is when you want to run easy like 3000 RPM or below, they start slipping and the boat falls off plane.

Yeah. The hydros don’t wanna go slow. Lol. I generally don’t run below 3300-3500. 4000 is right at 60 for me and the boat is really happy there.

Going to try some 5 blade hydro's and some other make on Monday or Tuesday. Have a family commitment today, and the cruiser crowd still tearing up the water on Sunday's. I don't mind running faster when I am by myself.