29' fountain what prop to run?
 

I bought a 05 29' fountain with 525efi over the winter and took it out over the weekend for the first time. I took forever to plane out. There was 4 adults 1/2 tank of fuel and really nothing else as it was a test run. It has bravo 1 28p on it that was brand new(never seen water). I tried tabs up down and all over nothing helped. Tried turning back and forth nothing helped. Seemed to be the best just leaving straight and waiting. Once on plane no issues. Was on a smaller lake so I could not fully open up and get full RPMS and get trim set to exactly where needed but had good performance throughout. I got run sheet from fountain and it was run with same 28p merc. Not sure what everybody with a 29 is running or any suggestions.

My 05 29 ran best with a Bravo 1 26p. I also had a 28 but is was a little to much for the factory setup. I have since upgraded the motor. so I can't run either. I now run a 30.

Omaha - You need to take it out on the river and open it up and see what your top RPM is. Call Bret at BBLADES and try there prop loaner program. He will get you dialed in probably the first test prop.

I assume by your post that you are running a single 525. But either way, Outdrives all the way in and tabs all the way down. Throttle up to around 3800-4200 RPMs When the boat starts to plane pull your tabs to 3 and outdrives to 3 or 4 depending on water conditions and load. Adjust throttles to desired speed. Check out Reggie running a fountain on youtube. ( Fountain Powerboats - Secret to Speed )

I've got the same set up '04 29 with the 525EFI, mine also runs great on a Bravo 1 26P. Planes right out full tank and 5 adults. If you had your 28P labbed it may act more like 26.5-27P, but then you'd really be pissed when you do put a nick in it, lol. I know when mine was tested straight from the factory it was tested with barely enough gas in it to make it back to the dock and 1 guy in it, if they did that they may have got a 28 to work.

I have ran it up river and down called bblades and ordered 26. After all the research I did I think it will work best. I have it on the boat now but with the weather have not been able to run. Hopefully in the next couple weeks I can get it out. Will let all know how it goes.

What was your top end rpm? I wouldn't run any less than merc suggest for 525 efi. Having to much prop sucks.

At wot and top speed I was at 71 mph and 5100. 3 people half fuel and nothing else on the boat. Hey river rat what speed are you getting with decent fuel and people.

I think I was getting 72-73ish with a decent load, I know I hit 77 with just 2 and 1/4 tank of fuel.

What Octane gas are you using, friend has same boat, 2006, he runs 26P Bravo1 one prop, 28 P takes forever to plane,,, he switched to 93 Octane it really helped,,,, don't use 87 Octane like he was using.

Really? I ran 87 Oct in my 525efi, no issues. That's what the manual calls for.

I have a labbed LH 26P Maximus for sale if you are interested.

Yes the book says that, he switched to 93 octane and his runs much better, planes out faster, he is amazed at the big difference,, like a different boat.

Are you sure it's not the beer? Just playin... Typically when an engine requires a particular octane ordinarily it won't affect the engine performance wise rather can actually build a little more heat from higher octane. More so with two cycle small engines. I'm not trying to say your BSing cause hey anything is possible. Did he buy his boat new? Just wondering if it's possible if someone owned it before him maybe had the heads decked etc? I know I tried 104 In my lawn mower and all I got was a woody and smelt like red neck cologne. Ha

Ya he got it new, and always used the cheap stuff 87 octane, we boated together for 15 years now, last July he filled up with 93 octane , runs much better, one Merc. mechanic he asked said the knock sensor was probably keeping the timing cut back with the cheap 87 detecting spark knock on the 525 efi engine

Is the 93 non-ethanol and the 87 ethanol ?

That I don't know, all I can find for my boat in our area is 10% ethanol

on that engine should not make that kind of a difference...smitty been dynoing a EFI engine, tried 93 and lost 10hp so ?? unless was some really junk fuel he was getting

I know he always bought the cheapest 87 octane he could find , at off brand, cut rate gas stations . so he most likely was getting junk 83-84 octane in reality.
Last summer he filled up with Shell 93 Octane, same thing I used for 15 years,, it runs tons better.