Throttle Up props
 

Has anyone switched from B1's to Julies cnc props? I have a 38' sonic spinning stock 26"B1's 4600-4700 rpm's @ 67mph gps in flat water 3/4 tank gas. I am planning on labbing to pick up a couple hundred rpm's and hopefully a little speed.
Then I was wondering about Throttle Ups new props. Whats the best top end prop, 4, 5, or 6 blades and how do they compare to B1 performance? What do they cost?

Bblades is where you need to be looking.

Don't know too much about Throttle Up, but 2x on Bblades. Brett will be able to hook you up.

Julie At Throttle Up may have set up boats like yours...
... she is very knowledgeble, and likes to help out if she can.
727.531.2255

Brett @ Bblades will be able to give you the best estimates on labbing your B1's. Call them both, so you can get a better idea of what is best for your set up.
Carder

do they have the cnc bravo styled props yet?

I have a pair of their Bravo Style 6 Blade CNC 6 blades. They work great. I have found Matt and Julie very accomodating and eager to please. I'm sure you will be satisfyed if you go with them!

...not bashing b-blades, but....... someone i know with a 38 525 Thunder (very somilar to Sonic) was working with bblades to do a set, and the boat ran slower afterwards than it did prior.. now, i don't know the reasoning behind it, but i can say that my boat picked up 5 MPH over ANYONE else in the prop business, with a HUGE amount of mid-range accelleration ---- and 7 MPH on the "big" props that they built. both sets are awesome!!!

ps: if you have a 700+ hp gladiator, 600 hp 38 or something similar, i still have my "big" set, and am interested in selling them.

PS#2: the new #6 props for my Skater are also AWESOME!!!! ------- the "big" set for this boat will be done for the Sarasota Run.

Thanks, Matt & Julie ---------- you guys are 'THE BEST', bar none.... and your "World Speed Record" propellers have proven that (2 yrs. in a row now, right?).

All the best,

Joe

--- Oh, and your committment to your clients/customers (whom all seem to become your friends) is second-to-none!!!!!!!!!!!

Exactly the opposite happened for me & several other people. Weird.

Me too. Throttle Up just never got it quite right.

I guess that's why they say competition is a good thing........ it gives everyone the ability to find what works for them! :ernaehrung004:

Joe

nicely put, Joe.

I think both are great. I too know someone that lost speed with bblades. Even the best can't be perfect every time. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to use Brett. I also have had props done by throttle up and they did more than they promised and delivered a great job for me.
I am just wondering if the new cnc props might work better than a bravo 1 labbed. I am also curious as to cost. And what gives the best combo of top end and efficient cruise rpm's, 4,5, or 6 blades.

CNC'd wheels are really the cat's ass, but who can afford to gamble on them? Julie was going to make a set for me, but no guarantees & no returns if I didn't like them. Plus it isn't just like you can send them back & have them re-worked like labbed wheels. My understanding is you get to have a new set built.

Funny, I have a new set of Throttle Up CNC 5 blades for my Comp ZR, and Julie has been willing to do what ever it takes to make me happy. Funny thing though, she hit it right on the first time!!!!! Thumbs up to throttle Up!!!!!!

BBlades is currently having a challange with a buddy's 2005 38 Lightining w/525's. That seems like a simple set up to me, but I am no expert.:ernaehrung004:

I'm new to this site and have just been reading and taking it all in and I know everyone has there preference and what works for them, I have a 35 fountain with t-502 stock, when it was tested at fountain on its maiden voyage it ran 75 at 5,000 and it has never changed, a friend was telling me about Harring props and yes very expensive 1300 a piece for a 26 4 blade but when I put them on I was asked to call after its run, and I did I told them that I gained about 2 mile an hour He then said to send them back and they did something to the prop's to give more bow lift, When they were tried the 2nd time I noticed that the bow had quite a bit more lift which turned into 7 mph on gps so I think it was worth it and it gave the boat a hole new attitude and if anything ever happens I'll order another one as soon as I quit crying over the one I damaged.

so basically noone has any real insight on the initial question!!!

Normally I'd stay away from this kind of thread but.....

markt111, in any and every boat application, drag slows you down. Wheter it is a pitot tube or gear case depth, wetted surface area or BLADE AREA, drag is drag. Cutting to the chase, less blades in the water will make you go faster. A 3 blade is faster than a 4 blade. A 4 blade is faster than a 5 blade. Period. Oh yeah, there is one other most important factor................ This proven therory can only prove itself if the propeller with the lesser blades can hook up, remain hooked up, and carry the boat at the best attitude for the boat it is attached to. Therein lies the issue and the balancing act. A 50' Mystic with a ultra high X dimention won't hit a buck 50 with a Mirage +. But, a 30' Outlaw won't breach 70 mph with twin 525 and 6 blades bolted to the back. Boat personality limits propeller selection. Determine your ultimate goal when choosing propellers.

Point is markt111, you have a 9.78% slip number with 4 blade props. My (excuse me) educated guess is that going to more blades will not increase your top end. It very likely will help the low to mid numbers. Now, if you do go to more blades, a decrease in slip will come into play but with the current number you have, the additional drag from additional blades will hurt you. Next, factor in the boat design you have which doesn't love stern lifting props and it will direct you right back to 4 blades.

joe,organized etc., I didn't realaize that this was a competition. I thought there were options like McD's, Wendys and Burger King. However, after 12 years at Mercury Racing, I'm very familiar with competition. We have been winning and coming in the first loser on the race, poker run and KILO courses for years. Some of the fastest propellers we have seen are the most untrue props we have seen. I've said it a bundle of times, Every identical application is different. Bill Seebold once sent Dennis and I a prop for his tunnel boat. He said it was the fastest prop ever. It was so out of wack that none of the blades matched. CNC'd props definately have their place but minute intricate tweaks require hands, not buttons. Matching that prop by hand was quicker, cheaper and much easier than reverse engineering it (like some have and are doing) to write a program and cut it on a CNC machine. In fact, it couldn't be done (for various reasons) and certainly wouldn't be cost effective.

hahahahaha.... LOL ---------- Sorry, I was trying to make a point, and I do believe most everyone reading understood it... but, since you've tee'd it up, I'm hitting this one over the fence ------------

Sorry for the disagreement, but, I prefer filet mignon's over McD's, Wendy's and the like!!!!!!! :eek:

LOL That is funny.

I should have referenced 5 star bisto's.

Sorry, Brett.... that one was just too easy to pass up! Glad you took it in the right context.........

All the best,

Joe

Brett, this was not my thread I was just following it and noticed noone had any actual comparisons

this was GO4BROKE's thread

Thanks markt111. It does seem as though there have been no direct comparisons.

Brett, you're a class act, thanks for the info. If I may pick your brain a bit more... I figure I am right around 12% slip, and just a bit over propped. Would a 5 blade be a consideration for my application (386 sonic, 496HO's, gear for 3 women)? Rough water handling is as important to me as top speed.

markt111, sorry I meant GO4BROKE.

Direct comparisons on the same day with the same loads (fuel, people, fresh water, air temp etc.) are indeed the only way to make exact comparisons. Because we don't make #6 propellers as of today, it would be difficult to compare ours to TU. We do however sell the Mercury Racing CNC'd propellers. We also repair and modify them as needed for various applications. Now, one of our modified new Merc CNC's compared to the other guys would be fun. Also, 3,4 or 5 blade Bravo props hand Labbed to a specific application versus CNC'd would be fun. My guess is, some times we would win and some times any of the other folks out there would win. Back in the 1994 era when B1 props first came out, we only had 1 Lab spec. at Mercury Racing and we were the only guys doing it. We sort of had the market cornered. We now change the recipe to fit the case. It is still funny when I see some shops versions of Labbing. Making the propeller directly to fit the boat and possibly fine tuning it after testing is the key.




GO4BROKE,

I like to see the HO's propped in the 5000 range. The 5 blade will aid in the cruise speed and fuel economy but will hurt on the top end with a 12% slip number and a 4 blade. Depending on the R's and speed at WOT, work the 4's.

B

Adding blades will more often than not increase cruise speed

Thank you Brett. I figured being low on rpm's would give me room to gain rpm's with some prop work. I also like having the room to gain rpm's and speed when fuel and gear load is light and the air a little cooler. I gain about 150 rpms, so I would like to get the props tweaked to get near 4900wot under full load. I'll be calling you soon. Our season is almost over.

GO4BROKE I have both 26p stock and labbed,for my 31SS. The stocks run 4800 at 68mph, and the labbed 5050 at 72. Hope this helps on your question.

Who labbed them for you?

Hey Bret, what do you recommend for a Cat/Deckboat? I'm picking up my boat this weekend and it is coming with a 26P Bravo 4 Blade?

I'm not sure they came with my boat, I guy I bought it from didn't know either??