Experts Speak Up !!!
 

Shot in the dark here.

Prop advise, best set up.

2006 Fountain 35 Lightning, twin step side by side, Merc 525 EFI Bravo XR 1.50.

Runs 90 on stock 32 Bravos touching limiters on fair to poor day. Has run 94 on 5 blades, has run 92 to 93 on a mixed bag of 5 blades. Lots of data, looking for the right prop wizard willing to take this on and build the right set of props for this boat.

This is a pretty common boat, seems to me that one of the experts should be able to nail this. Perhaps?

Blueprint the pads and the drives. That will be low maintinence once it's done ;) Then you can put 34's on it

Sory, to interrupt theme, but:
- I know lot about of fluids, it mean aerodinamic, hydrodinamic etc, but on boating I find lot of mysterious becouse of to much factors in one time and at the end I find, that there are experiences much more important like good scienitific accesion (it is important too, but...), and there on forum is ton of experiences!
- I am from europe, wher you have more chances to find diamnond that other speed freak.
- I would like to do speed monster from my boat with relaitwely weak engine. (I know, power is No.1, but, it is not alone...)
- on this forum I find lot of good advices



Tell me please something round of blueprinting, for example.
- what is acceptable tolerance for bottom and pad?
- what is acceptable tolerance for drive?
- blueprinting on drive mean only keep original linhes, or change of basic lines...?
- what is acceptable end radius in corner betwen bottom and transom (I know smaller-better, but, where is the limit betwen technologye and effect?

I will be really happy when I read constructive answer.

Just to clarify, not just looking for the fastest set of props, but the best overall combo of speed, handling and on plane ability.

My x is -1 propshaft cl. the higher the better. W 9 people and coolers I get on plane at 2900 rpms like butter w maximus. If I want to go fast I put herings on. ( 3 more mph) it was really hard to get on plane w herings (because my high x) then I sent my lowers to wilson and the boat planes a LOT easier w the herrings and the maximus. My boat ran 98 just like you said but it will do over 100 now after wilson

Here is proof.. ( 2 weeks ago) count them up, 9 people. (only 3 men though) I have a friend that had a 03 38 w the same motors as yours and it mid 90's all day long. You should be able to do at least that w the right set up

I just wrote abook and then lost it by looking at mc's picture...........oops.

Long and short is we have done dozens of 30 something to 40 something Fountains with Labbed Maximus's with great all around success.

mcprodesign did not mention (Ihope it's ok that I do) that his Maximus props are stock. Lab Finishing those props would allow them to beat the Hering propellers across the board.
No doubt these are the best all around props when Labbed to 15.25-15.5" diameters with the correct recipe determined by your current propeller performance.

Brett

Exactly what I was Hoping for here. Thank You for taking this up.

Guess the next question here is are you willing to take this on?

Is the "correct recipe" a known? Once the current prop data on the table?

I have plenty of prop test data to offer up, what would be most helpful for you to know?

MC,

The 38 hull in a staggered configuration is faster than the side by side 35 with the same power. My goal here is to run a solid number with killer handling and not be F'n the chit out of things just to get the boat on plane. Thanks for the input here, keep things coming, this could be a learning deal for many of us here if the prop wizards get into this.

Ragged

Ragged,

Testing 5 blade stock propellers is the next move.

Let us know if we can assist in that realm.

Brett

Brett,

Have done some testing with a number of different 5 blade sets and have a chit load of data. What kind of info would you like to see?

Please do not think I just some hoser here, I want a good set of props for this boat and realize real good chit comes at a price.

Ragged

Fwiw It aint that expensive, the next page in development for my rig is Brett and I working on out doing my set of herings on the top end numbers. The 38 i taked about is a semi stagger. And it weighs a ton more than your flyweight 35.

Please email me your 5 blade test data. [email protected] I'll go through it and we can talk on the phone from there.
We can cover much more ground without me typing.

Brett

We have had good success with our P-5 X's on the 35 Fountains. The labbed Maximus props end up close to our stock P-5 X's. We have a 1 year warranty, and can ship out of stock at prices lower than labbed 5 blades. Also, labbed props generally have no warranty. With our 30 day return & exchange program, and props available in every inch of pitch, you can't lose.

Thom

With all due respect Thom, the P5X rarely, if ever, out perform a Labbed Maximus. Maximus propellers have a huge canvas to work with. The P5X is small. They are great props in the right application but beating Labbed Maximus, nope.

Thank you for posting. I do not want to start any crap here but. My side by side 38 ran 89.9 @ 5300 rpms w the p5x. It planed great and hadled great.Then i put sportmaster -2s on it and it ran. 90.2 @ 5400 rpms wouldnt plane very good at all and chinewalked. I put stock maximus on and hit 94.8 and got on plane great and handles remarkable

Brett aka BBlades and Thom aka Hydromotive thank you both for the responses here. I have data with Merc props as well as Hydromotives. Both brands have their plus and minus traits on this hull.

So where would we go from here? I am looking for a set of real sweet all around props, all around being the key here, so how do I get there?

Let me throw this out there, I'm looking for a set of props that will run a decent number, 90 in this case is not a big reach for this set up, a solid running attitude, able to come on plane without a whole lot of F'n around, boat has a very high X and I do not expect it will come up like a Sea Ray bow rider, but should not take a country mile to get it there. If I am way out of it here feel free to tell me. Speak to me, please and thank you!

Evidently you have not called B blades. You should call them if you want to get on plane like gravy and run mid 90's w the same props. That is all I will say on this..!! Listen to me this time ;)

Labbed Maximus by BBlades have been the best all around prop on every stepped hull, high X Fountain I've run them on, from 32-47'. Some props may have been faster (but not usually), but none have planned, cruised, and handled nearly as well as the Maximus. Let Brett set up a pair for you. He knows the recipe for the best all around prop for your boat.