Well, this past weekend I tried the 30" P5X's and picked up most of my midrange back, but not all of it....still down about 2-3mph at some RPM ranges, but picked up about 3-4mph on top in calm water which isn't too bad. If the IMCO shorties didn't make boat handle better with a better ride, flatter angle of attack, etc I would probably take them off and go back to the stock length Merc lowers.....So, I guess I will hang on to the IMCO shorties for now.

LFarr, Perhaps I will try some Maximus props when I get a chance, but was told the Maximus 5-bladed props were not a very good prop compared to the Hydro P5X's-----but then I guess every boat is different.

I just went to a shortie running my B1 26 lab the pick up was wild but did slip a little getting on plane is longer but I have 380s for k planes didn't have a change to open it up but I think I hit 64gps at 4000rpms it was rough out, then I NAILED IT LATER AND BROKE A ROCKER STUD Iwill be back out the 27, so would a 5 blade be good for me. and before the 2''shortie the 26 would bogg down then pick up this is starting after being on plane at 2500or2800 then mashing it. last year it topped out at 76gps,

Ian,I just put a 1" drive spacer on last week and just tried it out,the porpoising,cavitation,blowout and crappy rough water drivability is GONE. You might need to experiment with some 1" spacers and different props to get a happy medium,Smitty

What did your boat do speed wise at 4000rpm (or where ever you cruise at) BEFORE you installed the -2" shorties??? Along with myself, I have found with people who have tried the -2" shorties that they have always suffered a significant loss in the midrange cruising speed.

A friend of mine has a 34' Scarab (no steps, no notched transom, no extension boxes) with stock length Bravo One drives with 4-bladed props where the propshaft centerlines would sit about 5 inches below the hull directly in front of the drives. He eventually installed some -2" IMCO shorties and his RPM has increased by about 200, and speed increased by only about 1.5mph @WOT (his boat runs in the high 70's on the GPS), but handling improved and gave the boat a much flatter ride as my boat has done however, his midrange crusing speed has suffered by about 4mph.

He's very happy how much better the boat handles with the shorties. He is still using the Bravo 4-bladed props because his propshafts still sit below the hull by about 3 inches, but he says he experiences a little more slip while coming on plane and would like to try some 5-blades to see what happens with coming on plane and his midrange cruising speed.

when it was stock at 4000rpms I IT WAS AROUND 60 GPS, Iwon't be back in the water until next weekend getting new nickerson 1050 so I hope see some more speed and maybe try a 5 blade