Steve Zuckerman

xcpilot,
In most cases they help, and particularly with high X dimensions, they are often faster. The factory has been building the late model Heats anywhere from 19.25" to 18.25" XD. Since these boats are about as big as you can go and still run fast with a single, they require more blade area to lift the hull than a comparable shorter/lighter hull.
The old paradigm that more blades = better handling and planing, but are slower on top end doesn't really apply any more. The Hydromotives and Herings are really fast propellers. The Mercury Maximus is a windmill (thick blades/large dia.) and so far takes a lot more work to make it run on our boats. The Bravo 1 has been one of the better 4 blades on Nordics, but they usually require attention to XD and some custom work.
You'll have to do some testing to see for your application.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Regards,
Steve

CB-BLR

I have found the P5x and the Hering 5 & 6 blades to be a couple of mph faster than a Bravo prop. The Herings are the fastest, but dont hook up as well coming on plane as the P5x. Meaning that I can regularly do between 91-93 with a p5x, and 92-94 with a 5 blade Hering. I can also do a consistant 89-91 with a labbed bravo prop. I pull my kids on innertubes and such.. all the time. I think that the p5-x is a more versatile prop overall on my boat and that is what I am running most of the time. When I do a poker run.. I saddle up my Hering.

Hope this helps,
Chris

90mphRAGE

Here's some of my experience. I have a Rage, B1XR, & whipplecharged HP500 EFI. We guess 750hp range. I run a 32 labbed at Havasu. 5500-5600 & 91ish. The same prop at my 4500ft elevation gets me low to mid 80's @ 5100-5200. I bought a 28 labbed thinking it would help. It doesn't make much top end difference, but runs in the 5500rpm range. I usually keep on my big prop to keep me from running such high rpm & I like the 60+mph cruising speeds. I have skied behind it, but take a deep breath & hang on for a while! The 28 should suit you fine, but if you lab it, you may want to step up to a 30. I would like to get rid of my 28 labbed, & if your interested let me know. And by the way, no chine walk at any speed. Trim tabs up & single IMCO steering. My B1 props were labbed @ Merc.

Rage

Thanks for the info.

Do you push your drive trim out to the limit to get your best top end speeds?

Who labbed your 28?

90mphRAGE

On my mechanical trim gauge, I'm about 2.5-3 up. Any more just gets rpm, not mph. Of course this all depends on conditions. 1' chop head on is best. I bought the 28 from Teague & it was factory labbed. I liked the results, but it's too small for my HP, so I sent my 32 to Merc. It was about $300 + shipping. Everyone told me I needed a 26. Prop calcs told me 30, so I split the diff. Should have gone w/ 30.

xcpilot

Are all your props 4 blade Bravos and no chine walking? Good for you, wish I could say that.

CB-BLR

Labbed Bravo props tend to chine walk less than non-labbed props, because of the reduction in trailing edge cup and the thinner blades.

Chris

xcpilot

Prop has been tried and unfortunately the pitch was to far off to work on my boat. I normally run a 30 and this one was only a 26 so we didn't learn much. What does a new Hydromotive 5 blade cost? I think I want to try one.

CB-BLR

I think the P5x's are around $900 +/-

You can demo one from Hydromotive for around $50 plus shipping.

Chris

xcpilot

Thanks Chris. I found a 31 P5x here in Havasu. Should be able to try it out tomorrow. The other P5x was a 25 (not 26). It was only good for 75 on my boat. I think I need a 30 but this 31 should give me a good idea what I need.

Terry