stepped hull and props
 

I have a single stepped hull and am currently running a 3 blade prop turning props inboard. What are the other members doing with the stepped hulls? When I turn the props outboard the steering gets so light that it is a challenge to control the boat. With the props turning inboard I can still control at high speeds. I believe that the problem has to do with natural lift produced by the stepped hull. Any other insights would be helpful. What are prop suggestions? Thanks Dwight

What kind of Hull
 

Whitey,

What kind of stepped hull? I have had most success with stepped hulls running 4blade props. It with more air under the boat, the 4blades hook up better. Either the bravo 1, or a hydamotive, but its a crap shoot. You'll never know until you try. It also depends on what you are looking for. The four blade may cruise a little faster but less top end. The step changes the whole equation though.

I have single step DDC hull, it is on a Challenger Offshore boat if that helps at all. Dwight.

try a 4 blade
 

Try a 4 blade prop. Either a hydromotive, or Bravo 1. You will need a slightly smaller pitch prop than you are running with your 3 blade props.

If you are running say a 25 pitch Mirage, you may need to run a 24, or 23 pitch hydromotive. Call up hydromotive, they will let you know what size you need to run.

The bravo 1 props seems to give excellent cruise speed.

I remember a while back I had a customer who wanted 4 blades on his non-step fountain. He said "Everybody says the fountains go faster with 4 blades". Well he was wrong. We hit 86 with the three blades, and 81 with the 4 blades. $1800 later he learned the hard way. In doing my own research I found out that the 4 blade props run best on the Fountains with step bottoms. He got shafted by his friends!!!

See if you can borrow or set up an exchange with someone before you buy anything. I don't know how your particular hull will react.

Thanks for your input Panther, If anyone else has some input Iwould love to hear it. thanks Dwight

There has to be some other stepped hull twin engine people out there? What s you set up? Dwight

I'm runnin Bravo 1 4 blades spinning inward. Three blades don't work well on stepped hulls. The prop is always in / out of the water and in airated water. The bravo 4 blade hooks up better.

I had a single engine step hull, tried a 3 blade, and the results were total crap. The 4 blade carries the boat better, better holeshot and midrange punch and on my boat, MUCH better top speed.
Try a set of 4 blades, I think you'll find it to be money well spent.

Thanks BillR for the help.

Whitey,
Is the step similar to the large step on the 37' Active Thunders? I thought the Challenger hull was originally set up to run the Black Hawk drives.

I have a single step Fountain with the props spinning in. I have used Hydromotive props but still prefer the handling of the Bravo1's. If your hull is the large step you may want to post this question in the Active Thunder section. The same man designed both hulls.
Dan

You wana see if that thing can spin a set of labbed BRAVO 26's

It is the same step design as the AT. The hull was not necessarily designed for the Blackhawk but it does work well with it. I have the only 33 with b1 drive so it is stilla test at this point. Challenger has been helpful and they have gotten me on the water, I am trying to best dial the boat in. Thanks Dwight.

Whitey,
I saw that boat at IMTEC when it was first released. They had Black Hawks on it. The manufacture was boasting that it was the only hull that was specifically designed to utilize the Black Hawk drive. I like the lines. They are nice looking boats. Good luck with dialing her in.
Dan

BillR,

Was that single engine boat the PQ 280? Debating on trying a 25 Mirage:confused:

Whitey- CP Performance will do prop swaps with you, just for the cost of shipping each way. I used them and It worked well. I had as many as 3 sets at a time.

Thanks for the insight on the prop swap, I may have to do something like it to get where I want to be.

Candyman35,
Your right the first one did and still does have blackhawks on it the problem is that it takes along time to plane. Even with the step. The other problem was that the blackhawk program did not make it far, as we all know. It is possible that when Harry Schoell designed the hull he had his Pulse Drives in mind, or atleast a surface drive in mind. Thanks Dwight