articfriends

iTrader: (1)

Yes,its hard to believe that only 1 inch of x-dimension difference could screw my boat up so bad,Smitty

birdog

Steve Enmons {spl?} did it on his Bullet and helped alot...Bullets are set real deep {At least mine was}. I was going to try it but I was afraid i would lose some rough water handling....Just throw more engine at it....

dirtlawyer

you should not lose any rough water handling capabilities - if anything it should run/fly flatter and smoother - at least that is what I experienced on my Fountain.

Canada Jeff

If you can turn a three blade, I would say a one inch shorty with four or five blades would beinifit you!

I can't turn a three blade, I keep blowing out trying to get on plane. Thats why I am leary to fork out the cash to buy one only to find the same result I have with a three blade.

birdog

I kept thinking...props out of the water more often = less speed & handling....I may have been wrong tho...
I did want to try a pair, just wasnt willing to drop the $ without
knowing....

Smitty

iTrader: (1)

dirtlawyer-

They worked for you because fountains rely more on transom lift for speed. Most other boats rely on bow lift for speed.

Smitty

Panther

I've never tested a three blade. I'm only going by the measurements I gave to Bob. He said those measurements were what he used on his Mirage Plus boats. Plus, I've never seen a 36 Apache with shorties or extension boxes for that matter, so no real world experience for me to draw from.

BMax wants me to stick my head over the back of the boat at WOT to see where the water is hiting the cavitation plate. They said if the water comes over top of the plate I can use a shorty, if it's under the plate I can't. I've been too chicken chit to hang off the back of the boat at WOT to see. I need one of those clamp-on cameras cause I ain't doin it...

BenPerfected

There are a lot of bottom variables (hook, rocker, flat) that effect the testing. My experience is that if you can get on plane with a 3-blade prop you can pick up top end MPH with a raised "X" ... and a 4-5 blade prop. The significant benefit of an Imco or Merc "shorty" is it they are an inexpensive way to raise the "X" vs. a total re-rig.
The increased speed is really due to the development and understanding that the 4-5 blade prop allowed the use of an elevated "x" (less gear case drag not to the marketing hipe )
The efficiency (more MPH) of the Imco or Merc lower unit may come into play at higher speed if your V-hull boat can exceed 90-95 MPH. The improved hydrodynamics's of the "shorty's may add addition top end results beyond an raised "X" at these speeds.

Canada Jeff

When we got our 36, the drives were so high we could barely run it! B1tch to get on plane and if we came out of the water when running, the props wouldn't grab agian, had to come off plane and start again. We bought one inch spacers and she is perfect now. We were told our pache ran 90 in Lake X . We now run mid eighty's . I am scepticle about it running 90, we weren't there to see it.

AIR TIME

I hope to get out on sat to try my 2'' shortie 24 ol 650hp been waiting for some missing steering parts last 4 weeks so the old steering is back in for now. I'll post sat night