DCB F26 O/B w/ Bravo I's: Diffuser Rings or Not?
 

I have a DCB F26 running 300X's. I use two sets of props... Mercury Racing 32P 4 blade cleavers and labbed Bravo I 32P with 1&1/16 holes drilled in them. I prefer the efficiency of the Bravo's so I run them unless I'm looking for top speed. However, contrary to common logic they are harder to get on plane than the cleavers. The cleavers spin at 5000 RPM until they grab and then the boat takes off like a rocket. Time to plane with the cleavers is a matter of about 5 seconds. With the Bravo's, my time to plane with a load can seem like an eternity... spinning at only 3000 RPM until the nose finally rolls over.

I am wondering about cutting off the diffuser rings... again contrary to what common logic might dictate. My thought is that the diffuser rings are hampering time to plane in my rig because they are not letting the props aerate enough... i.e. too much bite and bogging the boat down. I wonder if the props wouldn't spin faster coming on plane without the rings and behave more like the cleavers.

Any thoughts from the prop experts or O/B cat guys?

Yes, remove the diff rings. This can cause additional ventilation on hole shot and ramp up rpm quicker. If it over ventilates, we can put the diff rings back on.
I'd also open the vent holes a little more if there is room to do so.

Brett

I cut them off and ran them this weekend. Worked like a charm... spun up to 4800 RPM and on plane in 1/3 of the time it was taking. No issues at speed or in turns with exact same slip numbers as before.

Great!

Brett