Need prop recommendation, non-step Fountain 38SC
 

New motors are in a mostly rigged up, just have to get the exhaust and some other small odds and ends buttoned up.

Now then, my existing props are going to be pretty much useless.

I went from (yes, it's embarrassing) stock 330's to mags which we built pretty much to the old HP425 specs. I was spinning 3 blade 21p's to an earth shattering 48 MPH in perfect conditions. Now that I am a little better off on power, I need to get myself into a set of props that will work best on this behemoth.

Looking pretty much strictly for the best cruise speeds, top end matters only in the sense that I want to limit the R's to around 5K or so max. All I really know is that a 4 blade is a must for this boat.

Thanks in advance for any tips, I'd really like to hear from some other SC owners if you are out there........:rolleyes:

Hi PJ, We communicated here once before. I have a stepped 38SC with gen and 415 Mags. I'm running 23 Hydromotives Quad 4s and turning 5000 on one engine and 5100 RPMs on the other with full tanks of gas. I could probably go up to 24s. If you figure you're a couple MPH slower still the 23s would be a good start. Maybe you'll turn 4800 which is minimum to be in the 425HP RPM band.Supposedly the bravo 1 prop is better for cruise but slower top end. Bravo1 is supposed to be easier to turn by 1"so 24 might work. Fountain said they used 24 bravo1s in 2003. I couldn't get any info over the phone from them about the older SCs but Hydros were used in the late 90s.

Hey, Pat. Yeah, I read back through that thread of yours from last fall, it's the reason I started my own.
Funny, we were saying how gas prices kept us close to home last year, we are hoping to be able to stretch our runs out a little more this season.

I'm thinking maybe a Bravo1 24, like you said. Aren't the Bravo props a little under what they say (i.e: a 24 may actually perform like another brands 23)?

Yes the 24 is closer to 23. We have these props for testing if you are interested.

It would be interesting to try a bravo 1 24 and a hydro Q4 23 and see speed vs RPMs at cruise and top end. All this web talk is interesting but who really knows how your particular boat will run?

I've had such a run of bad luck with this particular boat, I'll just be glad to get it running decently.

I contacted BBlades for details about their prop test program, probably go that route next week.

Fountain said the stepped SC with 415s should run 68-70 MPH but best I see is 65 on gps in real world conditions.There was a guy on here with the nonstepped 38SC with staggered 390HP /502s running 24 Hydromotives 4500 RPMs@ 60MPH.He had his phone #on here somewhere in a thread.

Found a set of nice (used) Bravo 24's. The guy who has them says they will push a boat to around 70. He also said with around 420-450 HP I may not be able to spin them up past 4600. I would prefer they run through the whole range (5K). I can't imagine a 22 is going to fair well, considering the 24 is claimed to act more like a 23.

Not sure what the effects of that are, but I think I am going to pick them up and give them a whirl.

If you get a chance post your results. I run 40 MPH @ 3300-3400 RPMs. 3500 gets me well into the low 40s. Curious how the 24 bravo 1 will compare?

I need to get my gauges straightened out, I ran it yesterday, but was afraid to really keep it wide open. Ran 56 with the 3 blade 21's.

Hoping to see around 62, I have the rest of my gauges ordered as of last night, have to get some reliable tachs in there before I get crazy with testing anything.

I will definitely post back when I know more, it'll be a week or better though.