Changing pitch on Bravo?
 

I want to go from 28" to 30" Local prop shop says they can go 2" either way. Any thoughts?

Do you have any reference on those guys? 2" is quite a bit and done wrong, it will ruin your prop. With that amount of pitch adjustment needed, you should contact Brett Anderson of Bblades or Greg Hittner of Cutting Edge Propellers. Normal rule of thumb is +/- 1". If more can be done, it will often depend on the prop model and the condition ect. Did they say 2" without seeing your prop?

My marina said the rule of thumb is 2" on stainless. 496 Mag HO's-7000lbs stepped hull-5000rpm w/28's

I would just buy a 30 and sell the 28, what you lose in shipping will be less than the cost of reworking the props and you will have a better product in the end. Or keep the 28 as a spare never hurts to have a backup.

Are you hitting the rev limiter ? the 30's may make it lazy pulling out, lab the 28's

If you can only pull 5000 out of it with the 28's I think I would just stay there. If you were spinning like 5600 than I would concider 30's.

Why would you change???? That is exactly where you want to be???????

+2 isn't the rev limiter set at 5150 on the 496's?? I'd think going up in pitch to a 30" would pull you down to around 4600-4700 a little on the low side I'd think

A 30" here would take some labbing to work well. 4900-5000 is, as mentioned the ticket for the 496HO.
On another note, remember your 28" B1's are about 27" true pitch, if you consider changing props in the future. Before any work is done, they should be measured to determine pitch. If anything, have them balanced and re-pitched so they are the same, but stay where you are. 2 inches up will most likely take you down to 4600-4700 rpms, possibley even lower, since stock props can vary in pitch.

thanks guy's. think i'll wait till fall and have the 28's labbed.

Spoke with Cutting Edge. My goal (sorry to say this out loud) is maximizing mid-range performance. His recommendation would be to go to 5-blade, same diameter and drop down 1". Any thoughts?

No shame in doing so. Many do that. Most spend their time cruising. When dropping down 1" did he mention whether it should be to a 26" or 27" and which 5 blade prop exactly? It depends on which prop you choose. Mercs Maximus is stamped lower than the true pitch ect. The Maximus comes in three diameters, with a long and short barrel just as an example. Then there' hes own prop, Hydros, and Herings.
Testing will, as always, be needed for best result.

The idea of having a set of "inexpensive" durable non-labbed 5 blades with strong blades, together with a set of more "expensive" and fragile labbed 4 blades for PR's, speed runs, fast fun runs ect, is the best of both worlds. Not a bad idea.

i totally agree with griff

Is it better to go + or - on a pitch as far as integrity on a prop? Or does it not matter?

For prop integrity, I don't think it matters. For best performance, it depends on what you are trying to acheive.

Greg was recommending his Cutting edge III, rounded tip labbed, 27". Since mid-range is the focus i guess switching from inward turning to outward would be worth trying also.