Repropping
 

I have a '99 35' Fountain lightning with factory-installed stellings extension boxes on 1:1.5 bravo 1s. The boat came dialed in with 28p hydromotive Q4's. I have recently repowered, 470 to 585 hp, and am looking at prop options.
Does anyone have experience with the Bravo 1 props vs the hydromotives on this high X dimension set-up?

it has been my experience that bravos work better than the hydros. i would say a set of 30 lab 4 bld, 14 3/8 or 14 1/4 will rok maybe even a set of 32's.

Bravo 1 Labs will work better as a all aroung propeller. However, do not reduce the diameter. Leave them at the full diameter

on the single step fountains we have seen back to back improvement in handling, acceleration times and turning. it tends to diminish any skitishness with these hulls due to being a single step.
i might agree with brett if it where say a 35 or 38 twin step , especially with 525's.

Have you seen any top end gained with 5b vs 4b?

With high slip % pleasure boats, a 5bl may improve top end speeds. It really becomes some what of a band aid.

On race applications with even more agressive X's, a 5 blade may out perform the 4bl across the board.

In general, less blades mean more speed if the over all set up is corect.

Thanks Matt and Monstaaa!
I am tending towards a 4b bravo 1, 32 for starters, that may be in need of some labbing/ thinng down if it tests a little large
Carder

Oops! I mean thanks Brett! Freudian slip?

Carder I will look at your emails when I get to the lab...we need to be sure the engine issue is resolved and then run thru the slip calculations. We will correlate them with dirve heigths and go from there.

Julie

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Uh NO.....I agree with Brett on this. A 14.25 inch diameter Bravo I propeller is not the way to go!

Julie

the number was a type o, as with other post have fat finger and pushed 4 instead of 5.

Tough crowd...

on average yes. this is more so for he newer boats as they are pushing the envelope on x- dimensions as time passes.

i have run the 4 bld merc, max, hydro and herring back to back to back to back.

on 35 singles.

on 35 twin steps.

fountains.

this week i will be dialing in an icbm( 35 full stager 525 twin step) . how ever we are looking for 2 set ups top speed, and acceleration under typical consumer operation. 3/4to full fuel, 3-4 or more passsnegers, etc,,,,.

please make no mistake my posts are not to be taken arguementatively, rather from MY experiences With fountains. as every day i work dial and play with them. and every so often i get to go play with the king.

You indeed are a lucky man to run with the MAN! I to suffer from well fingers with a mind of their own! No worries!

I to have dialed in many a Fountain as there are so many in the market place..nice job Reggie....and most will experience there fastest speeds with cleavers. But not every captain will appreciate the stern lift that a cleaver gives a vessel. One has to remember that you have to not only dial the boat in but you must dial the boat into the captain as well.

Julie

well said

Jule, Did you a get a word with Tyler today?
Carder

Reggie? THE man?

Well the man that built a respectable empire anyway!

So I take it that you would refer to him as somethng different, Brett?

Julie

Empire, well maybe.

No direspect intended. I have mucho respect for the man! He was a great racer and a good business man. The ups and downs with Mercury were fun to be part of. The whole Labbed Bravo 1 vs. Hydro deal was played in my sand box. Reggie walked away like a scorned child. And Mercury acted like the big brother holding the basketball.

I happen to have seen a different side than many have. Having worked at Mercury Racing allowed me to see the family and a buisness side many have not. The relation between him and Fred K. was interesting to say the least. Talk about big egos in one room. LOL It's all good. I just don't get all ooooo and aaah over him. He is fortunate Merc came and picked up the pieces a few years ago.

He is a legend and deserves much respect.

maybe , but without doubt he has done more for the industry as for manufactures than anyone. and continues to be a gentleman about it.

and i agree the hell with oooos and aaaahhs

[QUOTE=bbladesprops;2151425]Empire, well maybe.

No direspect intended. I have mucho respect for the man! He was a great racer and a good business man. The ups and downs with Mercury were fun to be part of. The whole Labbed Bravo 1 vs. Hydro deal was played in my sand box. Reggie walked away like a scorned child. And Mercury acted like the big brother holding the basketball.

What was the Merc Bravo 1 vs. Hydro deal? I was talking to Tom at Hydromotive and evidently brought up the wrong thing, and he went off on a Tangent about Reggie Fountain politics.. I was, and am now, clueless.

In a nut shell. Reggie wanted Labbed Bravo 1's at a certain price as standard equp. delivered on all Lightnings etc. in the late 90's. Dennis and I said yes, Merc bean counters said no. Reggie said, "I'm calling Hydromotive". There are deep roots good and bad between Merc and Fountain.

I don't think it is apropriate to discuss this any more. I explained the whole story a year ago in this forum. As I said earlier, Reggie deserves alot of respect for various reasons.

Thanks for the insight... at least I can avoid pushing Tom's buttons again.
Carder

His bark is louder than his bite!

Julie