I'm looking for advice on the issues of drive damage I here about with the new 5 blade props on standard prop-shaft Bravos. I have a '99 382 with 500 EFIs bumped up a bit, (about 520 at the prop) on stand-offs. I am currently running about 76 on GPS with Lab 28 bravos on the limiters at 5500 rpm. I am considering a set of 28 x 15 1/4 Maximus, but fear drive issues. We are primarily easy cruisers, but like to feel the wind now and then.
Any helpful advice would be much appreciated.

I don't have any advice on you applicatio, but i have a brand new pair of 5 blade Maximus that have been labbed. They will fit standard and shorty drives and are 15 1/4'" and the blades have been thinned and lots of weight taken off. Make me an offer if you can use them

What pitch, I may be interested

We have been putting 5B props on standard shafts for about 1.5 years now. ONE prop shaft failure has been reported to me...but I cannot substantiate that it was due to the 5B propeller. So all in all it has not triggered the alarms!

Julie

Thx Julie,
I have to put the boat away for the off season but look forward to testing next spring. I'm not expecting anything major on the top end (although 80 would be good), but hope for more efficiency in the mid-range.

Be careful. Docmanrich37 (Active Thunder) has gone through a couple drives since adding 5-blades, and he has XZs. Its not the prop shaft that's going to chit a brick, its the upper and lower gear set.

Are the upper and lower gear sets on the 2005 XR's any better or stronger ??

That would be a great Colabella quetion question...I will ask him next time we speak.

Julie

Sorry 28" pitch

I needed to call Craig to tell him about some drives I'm sending to him so, I went ahead and asked him about the gear sets. He said there are no changes to the 2005 XR sets. They are the same as the last few years.

On a separate note, the gear sets for the replacements on standard Bravo drives have been upgraded to the XZ sets.