I'm not running it anymore as I added a Whipple, but on the stock 496HO vs a 24P bravo it gave me 2mph on top and even more at cruise speed. Less cavitation coming onto plane too. I was very impressed. They are expensive though so this round I went with a cheaper option from Cutting edge. They make a very similar prop to the Max 5 for about $750. It works great too.

Sounds good. I paid $1,300 for mine but it will have to be sent out and the blades cleaned up. Gotta test run it first of course.

Hi guys. Sorry for missing this thread.

Your prop is a Max 5.
The Maximus was actually a last minute propeller modification by Mercury Racing in order to have a propeller offering for the 400R when it was released in Miami a few years ago.
It certainly can be run on a stern drive but that was not the original intention. It is indeed made from the Maximus tooling we created in 2002. It is literally the same prop. A Bravo 1 casting was used to create the blade area for the Max 5. Funny to me because when we were developing the Maximus in 2001 we created a 5 blade Bravo 1 but ultimately shot it down. Mercury mainline was the one pulling the trigger and changing the design. So the Max 5 is a offshoot of our original 5 blade stern drive prop.
The original Max5 version was made at 15" diameter. and with a reduced diffuser ring length. When they started to decrease the diffuser even more they realized the 15" diameter doesn't play well with the shorter tube. So, 15" diameter Max 5's are now only available with long tubes (shorter than stock Maximus but longer than the short tube Max 5 version.

At BBLADES we began making Max 5 right away as we are all Ex-Merc Racing employees and know how things are done there. Just start with a Maximus casting. and match the blade area, thickness curve, pitch progression, cup heights and you have a Max5. But, we started at 15.25" diameter because we knew the Maximus is a real sweetheart at 15.25". Anyway, Mercury then began to make 15.25" diameter and mess with tube lengths.

We also make our own version called a BBLADES R5. Made from our 5-SPEED casting. Testing proved to be awesome on single engine offshore OB race boats in Europe as well as Pilini cats in the US but we had a foundry issue (as some of you probably know) and we are not in production with those untill we can the foundry online again.
But, we can build Max 5's from scratch and sell them new at $1999. Our version R5 is a couple hundred less.

I could go on and on as you can tell but if anyone needs more specific info, email me. [email protected]

thirdchildhood, chips and dings and dents can and should be repaired by welding on new material and using templates and pitch blocks to maintain original specs. to insure performance. We can help you there.

Brett

Thanks Brett. I know you have been busy as I talked to you on the phone not long ago. At that time I had given up on a Max 5 because of the cost but I snagged this one for a decent price. I look forward to testing it in the spring and if I like it I will have some accurate baseline numbers and will ship it to you to fix up and maybe tweak. The one chip pictured is the only one that should need welding up. I also have a 28p Bravo 1 to test that may need to be up-pitched to a 29. Or I may just be back to running my 30p Bravo 1 which was purchased and labbed at BBlades. I look forward to the lakes being liquid again!