4/5 Blades on a Formula 252?
10-11-2010 | 09:17 PM
#1
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From: Southern Marylend
4/5 Blades on a Formula 252?
I started this post over on the General Q&A section but decided it fit better over here.
I just picked up a 95 Formula 252LS with a 7.4L EFI Mag and Bravo I that was just too good a deal to pass up. I splashed it this weekend to get some baseline runs. On REALLY smooth water with just under a half tank of gas and only two people she'll run 52 MPH (on the gauge) at 4600 RPM, fully trimmed up (and it took forever to get there). That's with a 25P Mirage 3-bladed prop. According to the factory literature the original prop was a 21P Mirage but someone decided to change it out. It does seem to be somewhat over propped. My gut tells me with a full fuel load it probably won’t hit 4400 RPM. However, I've spent more time recently waterskiing and wakeboarding than fast running and I really would have preferred a Bravo III for the better holeshot and better turning performance. I remember the nice cruising but lousy holeshot of my old Baja 252 with the same powertrain and this sucker is very similar. Since its 600lb heavier it’s actually probably worse.
Since I don’t have a Bravo III and probably won’t ever swap it what are my options? I understand a 4 or 5-bladed prop might get me a substantially better holeshot, get me up on plane faster and get better acceleration and maintain dig in turns, kinda like the Bravo III. The Revolution 4 looks like a nice prop and the mercury calculator suggested a 14.75x21P. I couldn’t get the calculator to kick me out a suggestion for the High Five but I’m open to suggestion on that. It’s kinda interesting that the High Five is a 13” diameter…
Any thoughts of suggestions?
I just picked up a 95 Formula 252LS with a 7.4L EFI Mag and Bravo I that was just too good a deal to pass up. I splashed it this weekend to get some baseline runs. On REALLY smooth water with just under a half tank of gas and only two people she'll run 52 MPH (on the gauge) at 4600 RPM, fully trimmed up (and it took forever to get there). That's with a 25P Mirage 3-bladed prop. According to the factory literature the original prop was a 21P Mirage but someone decided to change it out. It does seem to be somewhat over propped. My gut tells me with a full fuel load it probably won’t hit 4400 RPM. However, I've spent more time recently waterskiing and wakeboarding than fast running and I really would have preferred a Bravo III for the better holeshot and better turning performance. I remember the nice cruising but lousy holeshot of my old Baja 252 with the same powertrain and this sucker is very similar. Since its 600lb heavier it’s actually probably worse.
Since I don’t have a Bravo III and probably won’t ever swap it what are my options? I understand a 4 or 5-bladed prop might get me a substantially better holeshot, get me up on plane faster and get better acceleration and maintain dig in turns, kinda like the Bravo III. The Revolution 4 looks like a nice prop and the mercury calculator suggested a 14.75x21P. I couldn’t get the calculator to kick me out a suggestion for the High Five but I’m open to suggestion on that. It’s kinda interesting that the High Five is a 13” diameter…
Any thoughts of suggestions?
10-12-2010 | 01:14 PM
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From: Denmark and hopefully some place nice
My guess is, that the High5 is too small in dia. for your boat. It's made for the smaller outboard and alpha market. That being said, if your drive is deep enough, it might work.
Try the rev4. It's a big prop, with lots of bite.
Another suggestion is the bravo1 in a 22".
Maybe a Hydromotive P5X 23", but I haven't been on a boat with that prop.
Try the rev4. It's a big prop, with lots of bite.
Another suggestion is the bravo1 in a 22".
Maybe a Hydromotive P5X 23", but I haven't been on a boat with that prop.
