Marginmn

iTrader: (1)

Im running Hydromotive 4-blade props on a 35 Fountain with stock HP 500's. Was thinking about installing blowers on them and was wondering if the new 5 blade props are suppose to give better control at high speed?

What is the advantage of 5-blade props over the 4-bladed variety?

Beak Boater

Marginmn...I ran 2 sets of five blade Hydros, on a 35 Fountain twin step. It had 500 h.p. EFI's with Whipples. Running Imco Xtreme SC's with 1.36 gear ratios. What we found compared to the 4 blade Hydro's, was faster planing time, 3-4 mph faster cruise at 3300-4000 rpm and faster acceleration in the mid range from 50 mph to 95 mph. They were about 3 mph slower on the top end. Hydromotive says you can modify them, remove the flare ring, and lab finish them and get the top end very close to the four blade. The real advantage is you can run a shorter gear case and increase your mph with less drag and still have all the advantages because of the extra blade area.

Marginmn

iTrader: (1)

feel more solid (handle better) in chop and at high speed with the 5 blade props?

And what is your feeling on supercharging a 35? Has it been reliable? Is the boat more fun? Does your 35 feel safe at 95 mph?

I was thinking about procharging mine but wonder if the boat will be a headache to operate and if the hull can handle those speeds.

Beak Boater

Marginmn..The five blades felt different in chop they stayed hooked up better. The boat, to me, is more fun, still reliable, but anytime you modify stock motors you run the chance of making it less reliable. Its hard to just bolt on blowers, prochargers, or whipples and not change other things. Headgaskets, drives, ect. The hull has no trouble handling the horsepower as long as you dont try to trim it on the ragged edge to run a number.

Marginmn

iTrader: (1)

Thanks for the info Beak Boater. I'm still debating weather to put pro-chargers on my 35 or spend the bucks to upgrade to a twin step 38 with 575's. I've even considered going to a Donzi 38 ZR but those things seem so dam impratical with no cabin and only 5 seats.

I love the 20th Anniversary Edition Graphics on my boat so I'd hate to get rid it it, but I have become a little bored with just going 80-ish. I guess I'll have all winter to think about it.