My friends 2008 38 fountain stg. 525,s brakes props and shafts but only on the left side. everything is set up and level . And we dont over trim it. 4 is level but wide open it needs more prop. so we only run it at 3.5. It came with merc. raceing 5 blade 35 bravo,s and thay are not cheep!

Be thankful it didn't come with titanium Herings.........

That seems like a lot of prop.

No not enough prop thats what came on it. The right side is the original .

does seem like ALOT of prop

Now I am by no means an expert but based on a couple of conversations I have been in I am with the others that it is too much prop. Call Merc Racing and get their side of it... they will know for sure.

Another thought... are both sides running even, could the left side be running ahead of or behind the right side. Maybe it is under more stress because it is out of sync with the other???

Agree with the other comments too much prop, I have the same set up.....merc 5 blade maximus 32's, 6 blade hering 31's and 7 blade hering 30's......I have not run the 7 blade yet. I too threw 3 blades last summer on the maximus.

Seems like the issue is the drive heights. Fountain gets great speed out of those 525 boats by running drives so high props end up surfacing. I don't think the Maximus is designed to be a surfacing prop.
The only way that 38 could swing a 35P is with high slip numbers due to the high drive height. That is what stresses the props.
Has anyone tried spacing down to lower slip then run a lower pitch prop ? May cost a couple mph top speed but the boat would plane and handle better and quit throwing blades.

Kelly O hit it on the head speaking from experience, the drives are high but thats how it runs as fast as it does. if you want to try to keep your speed try a half in. spacer, if it doesnt solve your problem it will take a 1 in. but you have to reprop and loose speed, sorrry to say it but its fact.