Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Wally
with the 4 blades you don't blow out on fast sharp turns.the boat comes out of the water
quick no matter how many people on the boat and you wont blow out on hard acceleration.
I worked with the tabs and the trim on the out drives but I couldn't get the boat to stop
chine walking I called PQ and spoke with Rick G and he also recommended 4 blades.
I went with 26 pitch 4 blades that brought the rpms down from 4600 to 4450 . I can also keep the boat on plane at much slower speeds .
If you're OK with loosing 1 mph at top end I think you will like the 4 blades better.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Thanks for the info, might have to give em a try... :D :D

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

I didn't experience that at all running labbed 28 P 4 blades. I actually picked up efficiency on cruise also. I'm cruising 40mph at 2700rpm, 50mph at 32-3300 and 61-62 at 4000. I didn't experience any downside at all, other than paying for them. Maybe it depends on the application.

I agree with you though, if you loose at the cruise speed it wouldn't be worth it.

On what do you get out of 4 blades - generally less prop slippage.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Macklin
I'm with you after hearing about 5 blades I aslo want to try them.
They say it lefts the bow and that is what I need.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Less slippage more stress on the lower unit - sooner or later I can just see you rebuilding those drives - right about the same time you are doing that upper end refresh :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Ahh what the heck, we don't have anything to do in the winter anyway, and you have that nice heated storage.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

MACKLIN

Tell me more about your set up. I have a 99 Viper with HP 500's and bravo's labed. I get great hole shot , good midrange but only 76/77 top end at 5100/5200 rpm. Lots of slip. (25%)
I am told the 5 blades will put out more speed but don't have any info from a real test.
What are you running . :drink:

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Ya what she said :D :D

I would also like to know what performnce you are getting out of them

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Mine is exactly the same as Vyper340's....just different color. :D HO's running new stock 28 Bravos. That is what the factory sent on the boat. I had the original ones labbed and lost the 5 mph mentioned above. I did a bunch of prop testing last spring before ordering my new Bravos. The other labbed props I ran, 29 Hydros (hydro labbed) and 30 Bravos (merc labbed), all ran close to 5 mph less at 3500 which is my favorite cruise speed. I am now back to 50 mph at 3500 and 60 at 4000. Sure they are not as fast as the labbed props, but like I said, I spend less than 1% of my seat time at WOT. :cool:

That said, I have learned much from Throttle Up during all my testing. The weight of the boat plays into this. The heavier the boat, the more a labbed (thinner) prop blade will flex under load. Thus increasing slippage at cruise.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

I have the same results as MACKLIN. I drop 3-4 MPH in the 3-3500 range. I pick-up 2-3 after about 4600 - 5200 with the labs, net I only realize the gains in this range. I went back to my stockers. Remember, they typically remove a lot of cup when labbing, the cup is what is providing the lower-end cruise. My slip is about 12%

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

New pics for the central IL PQ guys.

Not a PQ though :D :D :D http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...=1#post1181336

Rich - that is going to be a nice sun pad over those staggered engines. Good place to put my Xmas present this year

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

John boat is looking good :D :D :D
I like the towels who are they from, the misses or your daughter? It looks like you have picked the main colors for it.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

They are acually a present from me to me. I got them at http://www.fattowels.com/.

They are incredibly thick, about 1 inch. First time I washed 2 of them right after I got them it took about 2 hours for 2 to dry. I can bring one out if you go out by your boat sometime this winter to have a few cold ones. You will like them.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Rich, go back out to the link above - they added pics of the side panel cutouts. Making more progress.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

OK, let me try this again. Check it out! I was just given this helo pic from our last poker run. It was taken by Reckless' brother who got to ride in the chopper to help out the photographer. He took some pics when he was able to. He said this one was one of the best on the roll. I would agree. :D

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Great pic.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

PWRQST - thanks for the compliments on the graphics. It took some work to get it just right but I think everything turned out great (THANKS PQ!). The deck graphic was done by a local guy when I sent him the logo with the color mods that I did myself. If you want a copy email me.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Anybody hear of Houston Propeller? Boating Mag has an article this month where they took a mirage 3 blade and improved performance in acceleration and top end (gaining 3 mph) while not impacting the handeling. They are trying to get a patent on the process they are calling the Accelerator. They cut the weight by 50%, add 2 degrees of rake and some cup at the tip. Cost = $340.

Thoughts/Comments?

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

They are well known. If you search on them on this site you will find lots of references to them. You may want to post something int he general or technical thread and ask if anyone has worked with them, and their experience. My bet is you will hear all good things. My understanding is you call them and tell them what you want (speed, midrange efficiency etc) and they will tell you trade offs and you decide. I may consider going to them on the new boat rather than buying lab finished from Merc. Maybe I should post a thread :eek: :eek: :eek:

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Hey Macklin it looks like there's some action going on in the back seat of that helo shot of yours. Appears your guest pax were taking advantage of the sea-state while you were eyes straight.... :cool:

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Some things happen and are not posted on the board maybe out of respect for someones bad judgment or many other reasons :(

I have been on this board a long time and read a lot I also know a lot of people off the board and we all share our experiences. With that said I would not recommend Houston Propeller.

The best service I have found so far came from Throttle Up they seem very professional and have nice modern equipment to do the job as precise as possible.
They also offer an MRI shot of your prop so that when a blade goes flying off when you hit that big rock an exact duplicate can be made of your favorite prop. The MRI also gives a nice reference point for dialing in to get that perfect prop.

I noticed some other thread on hear about lowering the drive with spacers and that info came from Throttle Up! This would NOT be my first choice to solve a possible blow out problem when coming up on plane. The over all performance would suffer. If it was me I would call PQ and discuss X Dimension and prop selection in great detail before waisting time trying to do what they have already proven to not work very well.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Scott
I am the one with the spacer recommendation from Throttle up. My issue isn't blow out it's top speed. I have major slip. 22-23%. When I went through all the data they felt I just wasn't getting enough of the bravo 1 in the water.
I agree that the factory probally has done all the X dimension work thus It seems odd anyone needs to change it. I plan on calling Powerquest before making any changes.
Thanks for the advice.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Great! Feel free to share the info with us :cool:

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Scott, thanks for the info. Throttle up seems to be the choice for most .........

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

BOATNT - I see she is forsale on boattrader....... and you have reservations already for the ozarks.....

I also saw you are interested in the 32 Sun...are you looking at Mental's?? Seems like you couldn't go wrong there......

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Just playing around with the idea.
Theres 2 boats I'm interested in, Mental's and a 34 vyper.But I like to find a home for my 29 first, I don't want to be a 2 boat owner. :rolleyes:
I'm going to the ozarks ,I have never been there before it should be fun.
will have to get together for a drink or two. :drink:

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

You will be able to find a ride at the lake regardless of your boat status at that time. Just post something out here. We will definitely have to have a cold one when you come down.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

My advice: Don't start shopping until yours is sold because you will end up finding something. I owned 2 boats but only for a month, had the old one sold within 48 hours of the boat trader listing to a guy clear up in Detroit.

If you take care of your stuff (which from the shine on that trailer I know you do) you will find a new owner quickly. Hell I would have been looking at yours if I hadn't stumbled on to the one I bought in Nov.

Some advice for your ad though: You have a sweet boat, let them know about it. Plus, I had a ton of high quality pics I could email to interested parties and stated that in the ad, that seemed to get a lot of interest. Then the pics do the selling for you. Good luck. I have never had a ride in a vyper.....maybe the shootout????

-Wally

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

BOATNT
Say if you are looking for a Viper mine may be for sale. I would like a 38 Avenger but before I make the move I have to convince my wife and sell my Viper.
It's a 99 and very very clean, HP 500's with only around 60 hrs. I am a fanatic on keeping it nice, inside and out. It is a great boat. Let me know if you would like to hear more.
One picture attached
The Viper is my second Powerquest, had the 28 before. Both have been wonderful.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Macklin

Do you have any pictures of your dash. If so could you post them. My boat has similiar colors as yours. Thinking about having them painted.

Rick

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Here are some pics the day I installed the new ones. The paint on the original ones did not cure properly so PQ sent me these. I picked the color to complement the gray on the dash pods under the windshield.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Thank's Macklin,

Looks great....

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

What about Michigan on Lake St. Clair ?

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Fletch-quest
What? More info

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

My buddies 38 Avenger, nice boat.....

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

I found some pictures while dreaming about boating.......

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Bill read this thread if you want to know why I'm not happy with you.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Any new owners out there this year with something to show? :D

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

My new Toy:D 38 w/500's

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

Very nice - congrats.

Re: It's time to see your PowerQuest
 

There are a couple of new guys on here so I thought I would bring this back up :D